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Let's roll: what pre-amp tubes should I consider next?

I am looking for some guidance from experienced vacuum tube amp users. I have a Unison Research S6 (most recent model) which runs six x EL34 power tubes and two x 12AX7 pre-amp tubes.

Having gone NOS in the pre-amp section, I've had great results over the new manufacture Tung Sol 12AX7s that come stock with this integrated. The tubes I've played with are the Philips Miniwatt 12AX7s and the Siemens 12AX7s. I like what both have to offer, but there are differences. The Miniwatts being warmer and contributing to an overall more subtle listening experience whereas the Siemens are more precise, producing a sound that has attack, excitement and thrill in abundance. However, I find the latter can be a bit too much in the upper mid/lower treble region some times. Is there another new manufacture (thinking Psvane?) or NOS (Brimar, Mullard, Mazda) that would give me the best of both worlds? Good tone and timbre while maintaining a sense of involvement through speed and attack?

What are your recommendations?

funcrusha


funcrusha
rodman99999
6,206 posts
 
"3 times"?   Nonsense!    However; the confidence that I will receive actual NOS tubes, that have been comprehensively tested and will provide the performance paid for, is worth a premium(to me).   There are some other tube mongers, that provide equivalent service/product, and their prices are consistent with his.   
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
I do have limited experience with tubes (I’m a solid state guy). Though, I do have some comments:

I do like the PSVANE tubes very much. I would say that they are just about the highest resolution and least colored tubes that you can get. I don’t know how this will turn out in your particular system or how it will compare to your Seimens. I will say that the PSVANE are very clean and clear. If you are getting a harshness/brightness in the upper mids/highs, I would say that there is something else in your system that is contributing to this (such as silver wire, metal dome tweeters, metal cone midranges, etc.). The PSVANE could definitely reveal flaws in other sections of your system.

That being said, I will say that the true old Amperex Holland 12ax7 tubes are just excellent. They do not have the resolution and clarity or speed of attack as the PSVANE, but there is just "magic" about them that makes the music so emotionally engaging and so "live" and "naturally analog" in a sense. However, it is extremely difficult to get the "real" Amperex tubes without being screwed over with fake tubes and fake sellers. They can be very expensive (like $400-500 for a pair of 12ax7).
facten
2,910 posts
 
I'm a repeat customer of Brent Jesse , he provides quality tubes and reasonable prices
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tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,615 posts
 
I think the Phillips/Amperex tubes that people are recommending are tubes made in the Amperex factory at Heerlen, Holland. Phillips sold these tubes with many different labels. Phillips owned many tube factories, Amperex, Siemens, Mullard, Valvo and many more, and tubes made in one factory were often labeled with another factory’s "brand." Your Phillips Miniwatts could have been made at Heerlen.

You can tell a Heerlen, Holland tube by the left facing right triangle that is the first symbol in the bottom line of the etched tube code. You can read about these codes here:

https://frank.pocnet.net/other/Philips/PhilipsCodeListAB.pdf

Any tube you’re likely to come across these days would have the ’New’ Code, illustrated on page three, etched on the side of the tube. The "tube type" code for a 12AX7, the first two symbols on the top line, would be I6.


The correct spelling for Brent is Brent Jessee.
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