Best 12AX7 for phono preamp

You will find there is no best.You'll have to go through trial and error. Most good quaility NOS tubes will work but each peice of electronics works differently so only take tips on tubes for starting points.If your lucky you can find someone with the same unit your using for a better starting point.Good Luck!

Go to the "tubes" section at audioasylum.com. Do a search for "12ax7". You'll get more opinions than you probably want. This has really been discussed to death. Good luck.

So far I have tryed the Telefunken NOS, Dutch Amperex NOS, RCA, GE, Tesla, Sovtek (WA, WB and LPS versions), Ei and Electo-Harmonix. To my ears the Electro-Harmonix are very good but the inexpensive Ei 12AX7s that I bought from Parts Express for $6.50 each sound the best.

I have to agree that the Ei's sound great.I've tried a number of NOS types in my CAT, but the dynamics, drive and tonality of the Ei's have been the best so far. Jim