I'm a tube newb and I need some guidance....

LordCloud · « **on:** 23 Oct 2003, 02:40 pm »

I want to do some tube rolling in my preamp, I am looking for an inexpensive pair of 12au7 tubes. Sonically I want a warm, lush, spacious, 3 dimensional and transparent sounding tube. Anyone have any recommendations?

audiojerry · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Oct 2003, 03:17 pm »

lots of great sounding tubes of that type.
what do you consider inexpensive?
lush and warm quality should be do-able with a cheaper tube.
3 dimensional and transparent is a bit loftier ideal and generally costs more to achieve. From my experience vintage Telefunkens and Amperex do it very nicely.

KevinW · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Oct 2003, 03:51 pm »

I have compared some new stock gold EI 12AT7's with Mullard 12AT7s and found them to be close. The EI's had been cryo treated which helped a lot.

LordCloud · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Oct 2003, 04:29 pm »

Right now I'm looking at around $50 or $60. There aren't any local places that sell tubes so I don't have the opportunity to listen to any, and the audio places here are focused primarily on home theater. Where can I get cryo treated tubes?

KevinW · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Oct 2003, 04:40 pm »

I'll be using the cryo treated EI Elite 12au7 in my amp, so I could sell you a pair for $17/ea. For that budget, you could also get a pair of NOS tubes, since they typically cost no more than $30/ea. www.partsconnexion.com has Mullards, which I really like. Also, www.tubeman.com has a lot of selections in the $30ea. range.

byteme · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Oct 2003, 05:18 pm »

I've dealt with this place many times before, and while not cryo'd probably he's great to deal with, fairly priced and good selection.

http://www.vacuumtubesinc.com/audionew.html

I don't have any specific experience with 12AU7 but you can look here - http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/d.pl?audio/faq/joes-tubes.html#12AU7 and find a ton of info on many tubes and which are generally regarded as the best sounding.

audiojerry · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Oct 2003, 05:35 pm »

I've relied on a guy called Bruce of
http://www.bws-tube.com/htm/tubes.html
He has let me try several sets of tubes at one time, keeping the ones I like, and sending back the ones I don't.
He's got a huge selection of vintage and new tubes.
He really knows tubes.

EDS_ · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Oct 2003, 05:52 pm »

The French Radiotechnique (sp?) 12AT7 tubes from the '60s are the bomb IMO. They are smoooooooth even lush and maybe best of all the tubes do not have too much gain. Kevin Deal at Upscale audio has some----however he is not thrilled to sell tubes to people who are not hardware customers so he may not sell at pair to you. If so keep looking.