2. amps-preamps
  3. 190421-3592

Gold Lion AX7 in tube preamp

Bought a set of these for my tube preamp thinking it might be a nice upgrade. It’s not. They seem to have very high gain and the frequency response is just bad. Vocals are very forward and if you turn things up it gets pretty piercing. I was thinking this would be a warmish preamp tube. What is the break in time and does it really make much difference? They probably have about 40-50 hours of preamp on time. I put the old Tungsols back in and all is good again. 

mofojo
mofojo OP
2,301 posts
 

I have a 12ax7 Tungsol in there right now and it’s sounds really good. I just thought the Gold Lion would be an upgrade. Bought from the Tube Depot. It’s says it’s a Russian one on the tubes. 

mofojo OP
2,301 posts
 

Mullard for the 12A7T tubes which are also new. Since they are just driver tubes I only swapped the Tungsols back in and everything was good again. It it safe to leave a tube preamp on for days at a time? I’m leaving for 4 days over the 4th and could let them cook in. 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 

Turn off if leaving the house for holiday.

paulcreed
559 posts
 

It’s not a race run it in when you get back. Odds are nothing will happen but if it red plates it could smoke your amp and worse smoke your house.

 

When you get back run it 100-200 hours see what happens. It’s a very detailed tube and should smooth out. If your looking for a clean and detailed tube the GL is it, if you want a Mullard sound you will never get that.
 

if  you are looking for Goldie locks tube the RCA may be it even though it’s more of a guitar amp tube. It falls between the Mullard and Telefunkens Everybody’s taste is different.

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