RCA are very neutral but don't open up like the Mullards and Gold Lions. GE JANS are really good tubes in all respects and could be a great choice in some systems, but I like the Mullards the best
I have a Fet Valve 400R amp and I’m looking to try Genelex Gold Lion tubes. One of the posters mentioned that they are “Hifi” sounding. Has anyone tried these tubes that didn’t like them for this reason? I’m looking to try one reasonably priced alternative to the stock tubes and these seemed like one of the safer bets. I definitely like a detailed top end. Any thoughts or insights would be much appreciated.
I have a pair of Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 and the CV4024/12AT7 Mullard NOS in my AVA Fet Valve CFR preamp and there is nothing hi-fi about the sound. The original JJ tubes certainly have a detailed top end, I got tired of it. The Genalex/Mullard combo is perfect for me. That's the thing with tube rolling, each person likes something different.
I thought I had a noisy Mullard 12AT7 so I plugged in the original JJ's. The detail was back, and not to my liking either. As it turned out the NOS Mullards have copper pins which oxidizes in a year, a quick and easy pin cleaning with CRC QD Electronic Cleaner fixed the noise problem.
Double check the tube type, it is easy to get letters mixed up.
I get my tubes from Jim McShane, he is honest and one of the good guys selling tubes.
http://www.mcshanedesign.net/tubes.htmCV4024/12AT7 Mullard, NOS/NIB, military boxed, the pin protectors in place, no Mullard logo on
them. With double stapled plates and copper getter ring supports, these are really fine tubes, $49.50 ea., $99.50/pair.
Beware of fakes!! A number of vendors have used/washed tubes in fake boxes and are selling them for full price! In
their defense, they may not even know they have used tubes! But I guarantee my stock is 100% new!
Genalex Gold Lion B759/ECC83/12AX7 reissues! Tis is a great tube - warm, excellent (one customer described it
as "sublime!") midrange and super soundstaging. The latest production tubes are much quieter, I can now recommend it for
phono and or other noise sensitive stages with its low hum spiral wound heater. $44.50 ea., $89.50/pair.