I hate to say it, but now I think maybe I like my amp in ultralinear mode versus triode

Meaning that I guess he probably "voiced" the V12 in triode, but for at least the present moment, I am preferring UL.

@immatthewj IMO 'voicing' is a bad practice. I very much doubt this amp was 'voiced'.

I think the term ultra linear is marketing in nature and I dare say most people have no clue what they’re buying when they do.

@emergingsoul The term 'ultra-linear' was used to describe the invention that is the subject matter of US patent number 2710312A. You'll see it used in the text of the patent. Its an accurate description of  the time about a break thru in amplifier technology. Diagrams of how it works are at the link.

Loudness controls have to do with how the ear's frequency response changes with volume. Its a tone compensation.

WRT UL, It can be made switchable by having a switch connect the screen of the power tube to its plate as opposed to the tap on the output transformer.

Its not a marketing term any more than the word 'triode'. Its part of engineering lexicon.

Ultra linear is a sexy term used by the manufacturer. Cary has not done a very good job to explain it on their website.

I think they’re taking advantage of the technology to promote something that is questionable as to sonic credibility. It’s not a very popular feature. I have never seen it before. Most people who buy this have no clue what it actually does only that it sounds different. It’s a rabbit hole and it’s clear when you read through this thread how confusing it is. Again a nice diagram would be nice.

Genius is the ability to explain involved complex things in a manner that can be understood.

@emergingsoul ... Audio manufacturers do an abysmal job explaining what their products do. It’s a mystery box and you really have to dig in to figure it out. ...

 

Ultra linear is a sexy term used by the manufacturer. Cary has not done a very good job to explain it on their website. ...

What you are not aware of and dont seem to understand is these amp circuits and designs were intentionally kept secret, undocumented, not openly shared by the original owner, founder, designer - so others dont try to cheat, steal, copy them.

For your awareness, its done this way on purpose. As you research more, you’ll learn more about what these circuits of strapped triode, ultralinear, actually represent beyond the uninformed nonsensical marketing jargon you are trying to make it out to be. When you own and use one of these amps, you'll understand more that its not just marketing.  They truly can sound different, and people pay up for them just to own one.  

@atmasphere , I probably used the term "voicing" in error. I probably do not even have a layman's grasp on the subject that we are discussing, but at least I keep a relatively open mind and I am always trying to learn more.  What I meant was that, although I cannot speak for the designer of the V12, was that maybe he probably designed with triode being the optimal mode and the EL34 being the optimal tube, even though he also designed it to be switchable to ultralinear via six toggle switches and that besides the EL34 he lists a few other octal tubes that he says can be used?

As an aside, back in '20 I contacted Jim McShane about retubing that amp, and I had heard so much about the Gold Lion (reissued) KT77 I told him I was interested in them.  He emailed me back and gave me the impression that he wasn't crazy about selling me anything but EL34s for that amp.  I emailed him back and said that 'you know more about it than i do, so if you think I'd be happier with EL34s  than GK KT77s, let's do EL34s.'  He emailed me back and said something to the effect of, 'That's not what I said.  The GL KT77 is a fine tube which I can sell you, but there may be issues with biasing it in that amp.'  Which, with my limited understanding & knowledge of the subject, was good enough for me, and I bought a dozen of the reissued Tungsol EL34Bs from him, which I am still running today.

Anyway, I appreciate the time you take explaining things on this site.  

@immatthewj having dealt with both of these characters on amps, different tubes, options, I’ll say you are a bit on your own until you partner with a great local tech who can open up these amps and tell you what’s really going on inside of them.

I’m always leary of tube resellers who are likely trying to sell you what they have on hand or can get easily vs something they dont’ have on hand or need to order or cannot get so easily during different cycles of tube availability any given month of the year. Yes, and, Dennis did and still does "voice" his amps [in his own mind] trying different circuits, tubes, transformers, and more to achieve a different sound that he likes. Having owned various Cary Audio and Inspire by Dennis Had amps, all of them sounded different in triode, strapped triode, ultralinear modes too. And, my other ultralinear circuit mono tube amps sound different yet again from the former Cary and Inspire amps. Voicing, Marketing, whatever - back to listening to be the final judge of what you like and hear for your own system :)