Rays Tubes

In many cases, in phono stages, 12AU7 is used at the output, as a cathode follower. The CF is needed to reduce output impedance, so the stage can drive a linestage or amplifier. The CF adds no voltage gain, so the choice of brand or provenance is relatively inconsequential. Same applies to an amplifier where a 12AU7 may be used as a phase splitter. In a linestage, 12AU7 may add signal gain, and there it may pay to use a select tube. But just remember that tubes age and over time that wonderfulness you think you hear may fade. Real Amperex Bugleboys are the best 12AU7s I’ve heard, but 12 or 6FQ7s were better.

Amperex 7316's for me. 

with PSVane Horizon’s in my Backert Labs preamp. I am very pleased with the results.

@markmuse +1.

My Mazdas sound a bit more fuller. But someone can attribute that as "warm" compared to the Psvane Horizons, which have a tighter bass.

@milpai  I have the Mazda's too, but haven't tried them in the Backert. Thanks for the info. 

Just found this discussion. I have a Mac MA352 I’ve been waiting for them to finish building and have read at least one person here with a big improvement replacing stock 12AT7 & 12AX7 with PSVANEs. Chinese tubes on Amazon at $50/pair, matched. They look a lot like the Ray Tubes which are 4-5x that. Anyone know anything about this, and I’d also like to know where Macintosh gets their rebranded tubes.