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What makes Telefunken tubes sound better?

I've reached the point in sampling 12AU7 tubes below $100 per tube where I'm having to buy tube crates to keep the pairs I've sampled. I've tried NOS and new, but out of all I end up back with Telefunkens as having the least distortion and fastest transient response. Yet the Telefunken internals are not the best materials/quality; NOS Mullard CV4003 or the new Gold Lions have higher build quality for materials and precision.

Are there links somewhere that talk to what is different for the internal design/construction of a Telefunken tube? I'd like to support newer tube manufacturers based on educated consumerism, and hope that we can get someone to replace Telefunken at an affordable cost before NOS stock is no longer an option.
davide256
rodman99999
6,206 posts
 
I might mention, as I have elsewhere; the EAT tubes are the
closest anyone has come, in recent years, to the quality of
the earlier products. But then the OP mentioned cost!
(http://www.musicdirect.com/c-673-vacuum-tubes.aspx)
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
My favorite tube for "least distortion and fastest transient response" is a pair of Sylvania 12AU7WA mil spec. This particular pair came in unopened boxes used by the US military back in the 60s.
I've tested quite a few, but must say, never Telefunken.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,664 posts
 
It's a good question.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,664 posts
 
I suspect it has to do with the companies size, long history, and demands of the various applications its tubes have been used for over the years.
opus88
530 posts
 
Regardless of how or how well they're made, what do Telefunkens sound better than? Amperexes? Mullards? Siemenses? Brimars? Valvos? No definitive answer.
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