Tube 'Interchangability'
Dec 13, 2007 at 1:37 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 9

Jussei

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Not sure where to post this, sorry if this isn't the correct section...

Can anyone offer up a good site or article that addresses which tubes can be substituted for others.

I'm really only concerned with a few:

1. Can EL34's and 5881's be interchanged? If not, what could I use in place of EL34's? 5881's?
2. 12ax7 = ECC83, but what others will work?
3. 12au7 = ECC82, but what others will work?

Thanks
 
Dec 13, 2007 at 2:08 PM Post #2 of 9
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jussei /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Not sure where to post this, sorry if this isn't the correct section...

Can anyone offer up a good site or article that addresses which tubes can be substituted for others.

I'm really only concerned with a few:

1. Can EL34's and 5881's be interchanged? If not, what could I use in place of EL34's? 5881's?
2. 12ax7 = ECC83, but what others will work?
3. 12au7 = ECC82, but what others will work?

Thanks




12AX7 Substitutes

Close or identical 12AX7R, CV10319, CV492, ECC83

Different rating or performance 12AX7A, 12AX7S, 12AX7WA, 5751, 5751WA, 6057, 6681, 6L13, 7025, 7382, 7494, 7729, B339, CK5751, CV4004, CV4017, CV8156, CV8222, CV8312, E2164, E83CC, ECC803, ECC803S, ECC863, M8137, QB339

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

EL34 Substitutes

Close or identical CV1741, EL34G, EL34WXT, 6CA7

Different rating or performance E34L, E34LS
 
Dec 13, 2007 at 2:14 PM Post #3 of 9
Quote:

Originally Posted by sacd lover /img/forum/go_quote.gif
12AX7 Substitutes

Close or identical 12AX7R, CV10319, CV492, ECC83

Different rating or performance 12AX7A, 12AX7S, 12AX7WA, 5751, 5751WA, 6057, 6681, 6L13, 7025, 7382, 7494, 7729, B339, CK5751, CV4004, CV4017, CV8156, CV8222, CV8312, E2164, E83CC, ECC803, ECC803S, ECC863, M8137, QB339

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

EL34 Substitutes

Close or identical CV1741, EL34G, EL34WXT, 6CA7

Different rating or performance E34L, E34LS



Thanks a lot, Ill print this out. Any subs for the 12au7's and 5881's that you know of?
 
Dec 13, 2007 at 2:20 PM Post #4 of 9
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jussei /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Thanks a lot, Ill print this out. Any subs for the 12au7's and 5881's that you know of?



12AU7 Substitutes

Close or identical CV10323, CV10666, CV4003, CV491, CV8155, CV8221, ECC82

Different rating or performance 12AU7A, 12AU7WA, 5814, 5814A, 5963, 6067, 6189, 6680, 6CC40, 7489, 7730, B329, B749, CK5814, CV3900, CV4016, CV9092, E2163, E82CC, ECC802, ECC802S, M8136

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

5881 Substitutes

Close or identical 5881WXT, CK5881
 
Dec 13, 2007 at 2:25 PM Post #5 of 9
Quote:

Originally Posted by sacd lover /img/forum/go_quote.gif
12AU7 Substitutes

Close or identical CV10323, CV10666, CV4003, CV491, CV8155, CV8221, ECC82

Different rating or performance 12AU7A, 12AU7WA, 5814, 5814A, 5963, 6067, 6189, 6680, 6CC40, 7489, 7730, B329, B749, CK5814, CV3900, CV4016, CV9092, E2163, E82CC, ECC802, ECC802S, M8136

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

5881 Substitutes

Close or identical 5881WXT, CK5881




Awesome! Your help is greatly appreciated.
 
Dec 13, 2007 at 4:36 PM Post #6 of 9
Dec 13, 2007 at 5:10 PM Post #7 of 9
Thanks for the link Skylab.

So, if the tube is 'different rating or performance,' will it be a suitable substitute?
I'm assuming that they'd have substantially different sounds, but would their 'ratings' make them inappropriate for certain amps (i.e. cause damage with wrong voltages, etc). Or is this a case-by-case basis?
 
Dec 13, 2007 at 7:02 PM Post #9 of 9
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jussei /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Thanks for the link Skylab.

So, if the tube is 'different rating or performance,' will it be a suitable substitute?
I'm assuming that they'd have substantially different sounds, but would their 'ratings' make them inappropriate for certain amps (i.e. cause damage with wrong voltages, etc). Or is this a case-by-case basis?



Case by case basis. Some ratings that are different are things like an increased maximum plate voltage or a different gain. Take the 5751 .... this tube is essentially the same as the 12ax7. But, THE 5751 has a gain/ mu of 70 vs a gain / mu of 100 for the 12ax7. The 6asn7gt has a max plate voltage of 300 volts while the 6sn7gta has a max votage of 450 volts. The 6sn7gtb has the 450 volt max plate voltage and adds an 11 second controlled warmup for longer tube life.

Now, you can use any 6sn7gt type 6sn7gt/gta/gtb in a 6sn7gt circuit. But, for a 6sn7gta/b circuit that runs the tube near max plate voltage a 6sn7gt would not last long.
 

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