2. amps-preamps
  3. 193152-1301

12au7 tube?

Looking for a good 12au7 (JJ ecc802s currently). I know the Telefunken ECC802s is the holy grail, but it comes at a price that is just too steep for me to justify. Many will recommend Mullard, but I always find them a bit too "wooly", lacking in definition. They're going in a Mastersound 845 Compact.

 

What tubes would you recommend that fits between the clarity of the Telefunken (without the price...) and the Mullard? I don't mind spending a bit of money on a pair (let's say max $500 for the pair, prefer to be lower if at all possible).

128x128audiojan
whittaker777
7 posts
 

50”s VALVO.

bigfishhk
12 posts
 

The OS (used) Mullards I got from Andy Vintage Tube Services are fantastic, and not woolly. If you buy slightly used from Andy you can get great vintage tubes for much less than your budget. Recently I bought a quad of Rays tubes, the EL 34. They are the best new tubes I’ve heard in a long time. Their 12 AU7 might be worth trying too

andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
170 posts
 

I've had really good luck with the new-production Apos Ray 12AU7s. They come with a warranty and sound very good compared to the leading NOS 12AU7s I have in my stash...

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 

There are so many variations in NOS Mullard tubes (different factories, different styles, a whole range of dates of production), that it's impossible to generalize about them.  I wasn't impressed with the pair that I got, but that doesn't mean that some other pair might sound fabulous.

That's one positive vote for the Apos Ray.  I'm feeling tempted.

 

jmac7's avatar
jmac7
59 posts
 

You Can't beat Andy @ Vintage tube services.

More to discover