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Harman Kardon branded Tubes

Flounder

Flounder

Active Member
Hi, All.
I was dropping off some old PCs at our local electronics recycler this morning and they had a H/K Recital D-200 sitting there and I was able to trade my scraps for it. It came loaded with a full tube compliment (I still have to test them) of all Harman Kardon tubes. Did they make their own tubes, or were they private labeled by someone else? I'm just curious. I was also wondering if I could use the 12AT7 tubes in my Pilot 240 preamp, which uses 12ax7 tubes. Thanks for any info.

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Private label, could have been made by anyone though.

A 12AT7 is not directly interchangeable with a 12AX7. Not exactly sure what it would do in a 240 but I suspect it won't act right.


Recital looks like a mono 6L6 receiver? Should be a decent performer if you're into mono.
 
they're also fantastic if you want background music and won't be positioned between the speakers. My shop radio is the guts from a Magnavox Berkshire in the aux cabinet that was sold to convert it to stereo. I have one amp and the mono tuner. It sits in the back corner and does a lovely job playing FM when I just need something to listen to.
 
I wouldn't sub a 12AT7 into a 12AX7 circuit without at least making the necessary changes to the values of support components (resistors). That aside, most of the tubes I've recovered from '50s- and '60s-era HK gear have been very well used and were nearing end of life. Your Pilot will be better served if you simply buy new tubes.

Jack
 
They were OEMed. Orange print was RCA. yellow Sylvania. Don't remember white. Possibly GE.
I was fortunate enough to get to empty out the last of the tube inventory in Woodbury before they got scrapped. Wasn't much left of any value, but a few goodies
 
TriodeLuvr said:
I wouldn't sub a 12AT7 into a 12AX7 circuit without at least making the necessary changes to the values of support components (resistors). That aside, most of the tubes I've recovered from '50s- and '60s-era HK gear have been very well used and were nearing end of life. Your Pilot will be better served if you simply buy new tubes.

Jack
Click to expand...
My little Pilot sounds so good even with a mash up of various tubes in the preamp section. I was just wondering if I had a matching set if I would notice a difference. What tubes would you recommend if look for a matching set. Right not it's a mix of Amprex, Sovtek, and a few unlabeled 12AX7 tubes.
 
hopeless said:
They were OEMed. Orange print was RCA. yellow Sylvania. Don't remember white. Possibly GE.
I was fortunate enough to get to empty out the last of the tube inventory in Woodbury before they got scrapped. Wasn't much left of any value, but a few goodies
Click to expand...
I have a mix of white/grey and yellow. Thanks!
 
Flounder said:
. What tubes would you recommend if look for a matching set. Right not it's a mix of Amprex, Sovtek, and a few unlabeled 12AX7 tubes.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you mean all the same brand? if so finding five 12AX7's from the same company should be easy enough to do but i'd be more focused on finding five 12AX7's that test as close as possible in the same range.
 
I was just swapping in a 5AR4 today that is labeled Harman Kardon and it says below that "manufactured by General Electric.
 
The Pilot runs those tubes pretty gently. I doubt they are worn out. Low heater voltage and low current.
 
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