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VAC Signature MK2a pre "phono tube questions"

Hi there I have a VAC pre with MC/MM, upon opening noticed there are two roles of 3 12AX7 tubes in each totaling 6.

Question;

1. Anyone have any experience tube rolling these and if so with what?

2. Are they three matched pairs or all matched?

3. They are a Chinese tube that came standard with the pre., anything special about them?
I have found on other gear which came with Chinese 12AX7 tubes they were nothing special and by substituting I found the sound was transformed, sounding allot better using other tubes.

4. Can you mix and match, say the first role Bugle Boys, second Tel for examaple or best to stay with one brand through out.

I have allot of really nice matched pairs but only that.

Any assistance would be appreciated.
dev
wrm57
1,079 posts
 
I asked VAC. VAC recommended tube rolling. In fact, Brent strongly recommended (three times!) installing the switch to accommodate the 6DJ8 family instead of just the stock 8416 tubes primarily because the latter was only made by Amperex and the former would give me a wide variety of "sonic flavors" (his phrase) to choose from.
lewm
13,599 posts
 
I have no idea about the particular Chinese 12AX7s that VAC supplies, but don't dismiss them just because they are Chinese. Some of the best 12AT7s I have ever heard were made in China, supplied to me by the Billington company in England. Admittedly, they were "select" types. But they killed Mullards, GE Gold Star 6201s, Philips, and a few others I compared them to. (The Gold Stars took second.)
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Good luck finding real NOS Amperex etc.
inna
7,923 posts
 
Yeah, luck is indeed needed with NOS.
wrm57
1,079 posts
 
Hi Lewm,

My preamp arrived and I checked out the VAC 12AX7s. Construction looks identical to my Psvane 12AX7s without the gold plating on the pins. So that means they're almost certainly made by Shugang, which also makes the Psvanes. They're really quite good!
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