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Best Sounding 12AU7 Tube (So Far) is...

Wolfbane

Wolfbane

What's going on?
... Early 1950's CBS 5814A tubes. At least in my Cary 303/300 CD Player. I've also previously rolled in NOS Siemens, Brimar, Sylvania and Mullard 12AU7's.

I also have some 1950's RCA, GE and Raytheon 5814A tubes to try and will be interested in seeing how these compare to the CBS tubes. :music:

Wb
 
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In my Dynaco SCA-35's phono section, the original Telefunkens are still sounding great. I also tried some of the new Mullard reissues, and they are no slouch -- it's not like the Tele's are in a totally different league. The Mullards sound really good, and the bass is absolutely huge. I also have some RCA 7025s that I'd like to drop in at some point. That's what I use in my Deluxe Reverb for V1/2 and the voltage amplifier, and nothing sounds better IME.
 
Slightly OT for GreatTone...

Try some original Mullard 12AX7s in the Deluxe Reverb for a real treat. Also TJ Full Music 12AX7s were very different but incredibly good in my Fenders. The Mullards have a rich, meaty midrange that brings out the best in a single coil pickup (no idea how a HB would respond). The TJs opened up the amp with gorgeous clean headroom and a big sound that made a single 12" Vibrolux sound like a clean 4x10 Super. Just amazing tubes.
 
ummmm...type 5814 is a 12AU7 variant.

As far as 12AX7's, RCA black plate is my fav...though I don't built anything that needs a 12AX7.
cheers,
Douglas
 
As a tube newbie...

Of the new ones I've tried in my preamp & phono pre I think Gold Lion ECC83s were the best all-around

They grab the music by the balls
 
Maybe it was 5751 the OP was thinking of. But that tube is slightly different from a 12AX7, the mu is 70 vs 100 and that may have enough impact on the circuit and thus sound to make it sound different and perhaps better.
 
GreatTone said:
I also tried some of the new Mullard reissues, and they are no slouch .
Click to expand...
I really had high hopes for those New Sensor Mullards but as it turned out, the worst 12ax7's I have ever owned. I bought 6, two didn't test out very high and one had a dead triode! Running the good ones in my amp gave a thin sound along nice drop in volume. Garbage.
 
I like the new 12AX7 Genalex Gold Lion tubes. Tried some new Tung-Sol gold pins and wasn't too wild about those. I like my Telefunken smooth plates over my old Mullards. I think it's all subjective to your equipment and your hearing.
 
Wolfbane said:
... Early 1950's CBS 5814A tubes. At least in my Cary 303/300 CD Player. I've also previously rolled in NOS Siemens, Brimar, Sylvania and Mullard 12AX7's.

I also have some 1950's RCA, GE and Raytheon 5814A tubes to try and will be interested in seeing how these compare to the CBS tubes. :music:

Wb
Click to expand...

I am curious to hear your further listening. Have a 303/300 as well, about 5 years now and gave up on the tube output because whatever I tried the SS output sounded much better.
I don't for the life of me know why Cary chose the 12au7. I have never found this to be a pleasent tube to have in the signal path.
 
Wolfbane-

Do you have any photos of the CBS 5814?

I don't believe that CBS ever made their own tubes. All CBS tubes I've seen were relabeled US brands, usually GE and Sylvania...
 
Still Searching......

I've rolled quite a few variants:

CHS Hytron 5814 Blackplates
Raytheon 5814 Blackplates
Raytheon 5814 Windmill Getter
Sylvania 5814 Blackplates
Sylvania 12AU7 Blackplates
Sylvania 12AU& Greyplates
Raytheon 12AU7 Blackplates
Tung-Sol 12AU7 Blackglass
RCA Cleartops
Amperex BB 12AU7
Gold Lion RI 12AU7
Mullard 12AU7
Brimar 13D5
Sylvania 6189
Philips Cry'od 6189

Many wonderful tubes. All slightly different. Amperex (Holland) being my long-term favourite, but quite like the 5814s, Gold Lyon RI and the 6189s. Even the US made 12AU7s are no slouch. Just depends on what you're looking for and what they're in combination with.

Just put in the Philips Cry'od set yesterday. Impressive.

Rich
 
I have rolled several 12AU7's in my system and so far my favorites are the '50's RCA 5814A triple mica's with the bent rectangle getters. Not too far behind the RCA's are the RCA clear tops and green letter Baldwin branded Sylvania's. I have always wanted to see what all the hype is about with the Telefunkin's. I also tried out some Mullard's and though they didn't sound too bad..... I wasn't super impressed with them, for the price you pay to get 'em. If you ever get a chance to try out the RCA 5814A's with the triple mica's, you need to give them a shot, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with them.

Enjoy,

Ron
 
UnGrounded said:
Wolfbane-

Do you have any photos of the CBS 5814?

I don't believe that CBS ever made their own tubes. All CBS tubes I've seen were relabeled US brands, usually GE and Sylvania...
Click to expand...

Right now they're in my CDP but them seem to come with either a red label or a green/blue label. I've seen both. Hytron made tubes for CBS and were subsequently purchased by CBS. More info on Hytron can be found here:

http://tubesound.com/2007/11/01/identifying-cbs-hytron-tubes/

I've got a large stock of 1950's manufacture 5814A tubes to try rolling in including Raytheon, RCA and Sylvania with the Raytheon with their angled getter and windmill getter tubes looking most interesting.

Wb
 
Favorite 12AU7 types......

Top of my list is 1953 Hytron 5814. Other faves are Tung-Sol 12AU7 Blackglass, early Siemens 5814A, 1950s Amperex ECC82 longplate, & RFT ECC82. There are more good ones, but these are my top choices.

Larry
 
I have never found a 12AU7 tube I like better than the clear top RCA. However, I have never found a 12AU7 that sounds as good as a 12BH7 in the same socket. I believe it draws a little more current but the 12BH7 is a better sounding tube IMHO.
 
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hey-Hey!!!,
If y'all must roll 12AU7 types, try the 7318. It was the CBS answer to Telefunken's ECC802. If you must stay with that socket config, there are some neat alternatives such as 12FV7( though check the heater supply, this one takes an Amp at 6.3V ). Or re-pin to run 6CG7 and then you can try stuff like 6H30 or 6H6 from Russia...:)
cheers,
Douglas
 
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