Posted by James Christopher [ 75.41.18.232 ] on July 17, 2008 at 01:48:43:
In Reply to: 12AX7s posted by James Christopher on July 13, 2008 at 03:10:52:
OK-- This post is largely in response to a laughable "shootout" of 12AX7s performed by starry-eyed audiophools in Hong Kong. Their #1 12AX7 was the 1970-1975 10M series Mullard ECC83--hilarious, when the GOOD MullARDS like 17mm plate/square getter and even better (for balanced sonics and superior treble ambiance)copper-grid-post 14mm plate 1959-1965 production ECC83 were dismissed! The 10M Mullard is NO MORE than a selected 1970s (or 1968-1970)14mm plate Mullard 12AX7! Most 10M stock is actually later production 1967--1979, non-copper gridpost! These are vastly inferior to the 1960-1965 Mullards (overall, these 1960-1965 Mullards are the best 12AX7 ever made) but have brand cachet that blinds those that audition this mediocre tube. More to come: we examine RCA blackplates, longplate Mullards, blackplate Raytheon, Matsushita/Japan 12AX7 (factory and materials supplied by Mullard; among the best 12AX7s ever made) REAL Mullard 14mm plate, copper gridpost Mullard ECC83, 1959-1968 Amperex 14 mm plate, ECC803S Telefunken (looks like a 6DJ8 and sounds like crap) among others. Plus 7729 CBS, 12DT7 Raytheon, and other special 12AX7s. Most are no better than regular 12AX7s by same maker. One post per type; then we examine modern 12AX7s. I have 30+ types NOS 12AX7 in my collection; all will be examined. All 12AX7s auditioned in Audio Research SP8 MkII and SP6A-1 plus EAR 834P. Tune IN! Chris
[ Tubes Forum ] [ Help ]