[Charles Calkins]

My T7ECR preamp came with JJ electronics 12AT7/ECCR81 tubes right from AVA. After the preamp got some hours on it everything sounded better than when I was using my CJ-PFR preamp.

 One of the tubes went south on me. It started cutting in and out. After much head scratching and switching of tubes and cables I finally got it tracked down to one tube.

 I told Frank the problem and ordered a new pair of tubes from him.

 I spoke to my tube buddy(Carl) about the tube And he gave me a pair of Mullards to use(And Keep)

 There wasn't much difference between the Mullards and the JJ's Maybe the JJ's have more high extension than the Mullards and maybe the Mullards are a little warmer than the JJ's It's a tossup.

 In the meantime Carl turned me on to thetubestore.com and suggested I buy a pair of Siemens tubes from them. The Siemens were made in Germany around 1961.
 I got them in the mail kast Friday and have about 30hrs. play time on them.

 So far I'm very happy with them. IMHO. I think they make things sound better than the JJ's or the Mullards.

 Just thought I'd pass this info. on to all of you who have a T7ECR.

                                                Cheers
                                                Charlie

[WEEZ]

Hi dad-(ah,) Charles,

You're not the first to report on liking the Siemens tubes in AVA gear. I think if you scroll back in the AVA forum, you'll find others agree.

Interesting that you found Mullards to be very close to the JJ's..... 'cause in many curcuits the Mullards are quite different.... sorta like heavy syrup vs. purified water...

WEEZ

[MarkM]

I rolled the Mullards in my T8.  Have to agree with Charlie that there was not much of a difference between the stock tubes and pricier Mullards.  

I am curious about the Siemens and have ordered a pair to try.   Lets see how they are in the T8.

[mark funk]

Hello All, Been rolling some tubs in my TR DAC and T5SLR.   I also rolled a pair of those 1961 Semens, I realy did not like them too much. The good Siemens tube are E81CC 3-mica wing shape black plate duel support halo gutter, (Tubemongers.com) For the last two weeks I was useing 1960s RFT Funkwerk-E. Germany black plate foil gutter in the DAC and a pair of Ei Elites Gold ( new ) made in Yugosiavia in the T5, I thought thay sounded kind of nice. Know we are rolling a pair of 1961 Raytheon black plate halo gutter in the DAC and a pair of 1983 grey plate halo gutter Mullard in the T5. Must listen for a week or two. Other tubes to roll are, 1960s RFT Funwerk-E. Germany,1960s Brimar, Tungram.  Have more on order will let you know what I think.                                    mark

[boead]

Did you read this thread?

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=17352