2. amps-preamps
  3. 1264690151

How are Mullards supposed to sound?

System: Rogers Studio 7, Prima Luna Prologue One, Marantz SA-8003

The stock (Chinese?) tubes in my Prima Luna Prologue One finally wore out after two years. The stock tubes sounded really excellent.

I decided to "upgrade." First to Electro-Harmonix tubes, which sounded decent but not as good as the stock tubes, and now to Mullards.

I know that tubes take a little while to "burn-in" but these Mullards sound awful.

They have a hard, clangy, echoing (microphonic) quality that none of the other tubes ever had. The soundstage seems to have receded backwards by a hundred feet. Everything sounds small and far away.

Is this how Mullards sound? I thought they were supposed to sound romantic. Is this all part of the "burn-in" process?
layman
layman OP
34 posts
 
Update:

Thanks everyone. Thanks to your comments, I now realize that I goofed.

I ordered NOS Mullard 12AT7s rather than 12AU7s. That could explain the weird sound.

When I get home this evening I will replace the 12AT7s with 12AU7s and see how that goes.

Thanks a lot.
br3098
997 posts
 
As for Kevin Deal...

I have had similar experiences with Kevin. I know that there are a lot of folks here on A'gon that give Kevin high marks, but every time I have called him (and actually been able to speak with him) he has basically shoo'ed me away.

Ex: I called Kevin last year to see if I could arrange to demo of a Manley Steelhead. Kevin asked me about my other gear and inquired where I had been buying my audio gear. He then asked if I ever bought gear off of Audiogon, and upon answeing him truthfully ("occasionally") he proclaimed that he didn't waste his time with low-ballers who shopped on Audiogon and hung up on me.

Incredible but true!
unsound
7,333 posts
 
Why are you surprised? As an Audiogon seller I regularly ask potential buyers if they ever bought gear in a Brick & Mortar salon. If they they admit that they have, I tell them that I don't waste my time with high-ballers and hang up.
br3098
997 posts
 
Unsound,

LOL
trelja
3,224 posts
 
Attaguy, Unsound! Thank goodness there are ethical sellers like you left in this hobby. It both serves as an example, as well as provides hope for the rest of us.

By the way, Mullard (the real ones - from the past) small signal tubes like 12AU7 and 12AX7 should sound warm, rich, full-bodied, and easy to listen to overall. The EL34 should sound very well balanced from top to bottom, with a combination of great bass, midrange clarity/sunny disposition, and a nice top end. Never biting or glary, but definitely not veiled, muddy, or rich, either. EXCELLENT EL34.
More to discover