... How to select tubes for line level preamp ...


Hi to all...

Kinda happy with the sound of my present system: older Marantz SA-8001 SACD, into Wolze Line Level preamp with 2- EF86s and 2-12AX7 tubes, and pre-out to a discoed Yamaha HTA-5550, into a pair of KEF Q1s. The sound is really nice )
amazing midrange ( would be happier if the center/vocals were pushed more forward), adequate bass and thumping drums - but the upper sparkle (cymbals and other higher pitched sounds) just don’t sparkle in comparison (or like I think they should).

How do I keep everything I really like and expand what I want to find? Is there a chart or reference guide to tube characteristics? Sounds like strict experimenting is an expensive guessing game...

Help? Suggestions?

insearchofprat
Buy vintage EF86's and 12AX7's! Avoid present day tubes! That tube "magic" existed in decades past - not so much today! And the old production tubes will last longer in use!
Was you preamp modified?

The original Wolze used a 12au7 "type" along with EF86.

DeKay
DeKay

Did you /do you have one of these - it’s been "rumored" there was less than 10 ever available: any opinion /review from your memory?

If you can explain please what is the differrence between a 12au7 and
a 12ax7 (other than having this one Wolze piece - I have no reference to tubes what so ever).

Thanks...