Least fatiguing 12AX7

[SoundMann]

Hi. I am looking for a list of the warmest, smoothest and least fatiguing 12AX7 or electrically compatible equivalents, with low noise types scoring even higher.

Special emphasis should be on tubes that are still affordable.

 

[Sablon Audio]

I recommend investigating 5751, not least of all as it might be excess gain that is unsettling you.

Joe's Tube Lore

Audio Asylum - Joe's Tube Lore

www.audioasylum.com

 

[SoundMann]

My phonostage has more gain than I need, so I have purchased a 5751 for the v1 gain position.

The 12ax7 will be for the v2 RIAA.

 

[SoundMann]

I ended up buying a Hammond labeled GE long grey plate fat D getter 12ax7 (v2). I am combining it with a GE double mica support rod grey plate 5751 (v1, don't know what this one sounds like), and an RCA 6201 (v3).

I with be testing these against the stock red-label classic Psvanes.

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

Hi. I am looking for a list of the warmest, smoothest and least fatiguing 12AX7 or electrically compatible equivalents, with low noise types scoring even higher.

Special emphasis should be on tubes that are still affordable.

By the way, what circuit is this for?

 

[Sampajanna]

Im using the French Mazda tubes for linearity. The valvo ones are warm. The tele tubes are very warm.

 

[SoundMann]

By the way, what circuit is this for?

An EAR 834p clone. The 5751 had a bad pin. The 6201 screwed up the high frequencies.

I have now settled on the Hammond labeled GE in V1, the stock Psvane Classic in V2, and a later short grey plate GE 12AX7 with a round getter in V3.

 

[SoundMann]

The tele tubes are very warm.

Are you referring to a smooth plate Telefunken?

 

[Republicoftexas69]

GaNfet.

 

[Sampajanna]

Are you referring to a smooth plate Telefunken?

I think so. I dont remember which ones i have. I tried two different types but kept only one, with gold pins

 

[tima]

Very slightly sweet. The best I have tried.

ECC83 = 12AX7 Philips Miniwatt Holland 1960s

 

[CDawg]

Hi. I am looking for a list of the warmest, smoothest and least fatiguing 12AX7 or electrically compatible equivalents, with low noise types scoring even higher.

Special emphasis should be on tubes that are still affordable.

I'm not the best at describing a tubes tone but if you're looking for a low noise tube that's affordable and easily available I'd look at the Electro Harmonix 7025. If money is no object then Siemens E83CC.

Tested a lot of different 12AX7 on a Maxipreamp II. Tester says 92 db is the limit of a 12AX7. Best I seen was a Siemens E83CC hit 89.4 per triode and if it's a new tube average about 87.5. If you get a great new NOS tube it's likely to be around 84-87 for some of them. EH 7025 gets about 85.5. Average current production I get about 82. Not perfectly scientific or the largest sample sizes but I've gone through about a thousand 12AX7 myself.

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

Im using the French Mazda tubes for linearity. The valvo ones are warm. The tele tubes are very warm.

Never heard of a Telefunken 12AX7 described as “very warm” in any circuit. I’ve nearly always found them very linear, and in a few cases a little over analytical or slightly cool in their presentation. Rare, but occasionally. Been through hundreds of them.

 

[treitz3]

One that I fancy, that matches your criteria, is actually the one seen in my avatar. I don't know much about whether or not they would be within your "affordable" price range though. It's more about the fact that you would be lucky to find one up for sale now, especially NOS. I have a stash of them but they aren't going anywhere until I am gone from this big, blue marble. The 12AX7 Ei Gold pin.

Tom

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

One that I fancy, that matches your criteria, is actually the one seen in my avatar. I don't know much about whether or not they would be within your "affordable" price range though. It's more about the fact that you would be lucky to find one up for sale now, especially NOS. I have a stash of them but they aren't going anywhere until I am gone from this big, blue marble. The 12AX7 Ei Gold pin.

Tom

There was a long plate vintage version of these Yugoslavian Ei ECC83/12AX7 Elite Gold that used Telefunken tooling and sounds truly lovely. Like everything else, though, there are modern versions that aren’t the same at all, they just use the name branding. I recall news that the company was restructured, or sold off around 2009 if memory serves me correctly. My apologies, I don’t have any further identifiers, do you?

 

[treitz3]

Unfortunately, no.

Tom

 

[Ian B]

You might be able to find an 80s Mullard or Matsushita (Japanese Mullard).