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Tube rolling in the Candela

Hi all. For the Candela owners out there-what do you find to be the best sounding 12au7 and all its myriad variations in your system and what tubes have you tried? Also, I just picked up a Telefunken ecc82 red tip date coded Berlin, 1956. Are the red tips some special designation like medical equipment?

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stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,487 posts
 
I do not have the Candela, but in my tube equipment I have found the Mullard NOS cv4003 is the best sounding  12au7 tube for its rich midrange and fatigue free treble.  The RCA cleartops come in second.    Thy will take a lifeless sounding piece of equipment and make it sound great.  
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
The RCA cleartops come in second.   Thy will take a lifeless sounding piece of equipment and make it sound great.
I rather doubt Any tube can do that!
limniscate
241 posts
 
I liked the PSVANE for new tubes.
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
I liked the sound of the Psvane tubes and rather rapidly went through three matched pairs.  Good sound but they got noisy quickly.
italian
126 posts
 
 I use amperex bugle boy primarily or its Philips and valvo variations. The German valvo are equally good. Also When
i roll them it with a tungsrum that is very nice. Both seem to me very balance presentation. Mullard and clear tops are also very good depending on your tastes and equipment. I have tried the telefunken but for me they are a cold sound. Have not tried modern types as I have a lifetime stash of nos. The candela is one of those animals that is very balanced and allows for a wide variety of tubes to experiment with. 

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