Les Lammers
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A post from another forum.
About six years ago I purchased an integrated SET amp that used 12AU7s for preamp section. Obviously I wanted the "BEST" 12AU7 I could get for this amp. I wasn't that knowledgable at that time on the 12AU7 family, as I am now, so I asked the same question you just did, i.e., " What's the best 12AU7 tube?" As you can imagine I got the usual response buy: Amperex, Mullard, Telefunken, Siemens or Valvo.
Not knowing better, I quickly tried these different suggested tubes. However much to my surprise I wasn't satisfied with what I heard. I soon realized it was my ears I had to make happy, not anyone elses. To that end I set off to try almost every variation of the 12AU7 tube I could find: (12AU7A, 12AU7WA, 5814, 5814A, 5963, 6067, 6189, 6680, 6CC40, 7489, 7730, CK5814, CV491, ECC82, E82CC, ECC802, ECC802S and M8136) Not only did I try all these different variations, I tried as many different manufactuer's versions of these variations as well by: (Amperex, Brimar, Cifte, Electro Harmonics, GE, Mazda, Mullard, Phillips, RCA, RFT, RT, Siemens, Sylvania, Telefunken, Tesla, Tungsram & Tungsol) Nor did I stop there, because I was looking for the very best, I also tried every different color (black, gray and chrome/silver/nickel) and type of plate (both long/short/box/ribbed etc)
What I discovered was this. The tubes so many other people cited as being "THE BEST" simply weren't when used in my amp! I found it was actually the Mazda 6189/E82CC/12AU7WA "chrome plate" that sounded the best ---in my amp. It was much better than the highly touted Siemans "chrome-plate" or the much loved Amperex "bugle boys" or any Mullard I could find, yes even the 10M. The Mazda's were followed quite closely by the East German RFT 12AU7 yellow letter "mickey mouse ears." These two tubes blew all the other 12AU7's away when used in my amp , period.
What I'm getting at is the ONLY people who might actually honestly be able to help you would be:
1) people who own your amp --they know what the different tubes sound like in that amp. 2) people who listen to music you listen to --if you listen to New Age and another listens to Heavy Metal you're probably looking for different sonic qualities in a tube and every other component. 3) people who listen for what you listen for in music --even if you listen to the same music if one person focuses on soundstaging and you focus on PRaT, you might prefer different tubes.
Basically, you'll need to discover for yourself what's "THE BEST" 12AU7-type tube for you, in your amp, when you're listening to the music you love. Trust me on this, NO TUBE sounds the same in every amp. That may not help a lot but at least it's honest... ................................................................................ ..................... I'll add that the rare = expensive tubes are not always the best sounding in yours or my system. You have to experiment and sometimes a run of the mill tube can be the 'silver bullet'.
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