jcmusic Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Are there any 12ax7's that sound better and are dead quiet, vs the tele's? I have been using tele's in my phono stage for years and it might be time to try some other top rated brands. Edited February 23, 2016 by canyonman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToolShedAmps Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Are there any 12ax7's that sound better and are dead quiet, vs the tele's? I have been using tele's in my phono stage for years and it might be time to try some other top rated brands. I'd give the Mullard 10M series ECC83 a try, these are a fantastic alternative to either the Telefunken or Siemens ECC803S. They seem to have a bit more "Cream" throughout the mids and a little less "Chime" on top. TS Matt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I am a fan of Mullards from the 60s and 70s. I find them smoother than the teles. If I recall the ones to try are from the Blackburn factory and are the 163 series. I used to know how to tell via the etching on the tube but I cant recall exactly what to look for. Others I have liked are the Amperex from the Heerlen factory in Holland. The Bugle Boys and others from the same era have a following! Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul79 Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 toolshed nailed it.... This is the only 12AX7 once you have tried them, but they are expensive. The Brimar 12AX7's at Upscale Audio are VERY close cheaper alternative. I would get these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Naseum Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Telefunken to me was like "creamed corn." Nice in a comforting way, but too forgiving. They sounded absolutely fabulous in the brown goods of the day. For HiFi and HiRes, I would rather have an Amperex Bugle Boy. No, they don't mask off the noise that is in both tubes, but neither do they mask off the high end, which on the Bugler is wickedly extended and very smooth. Can you still get them? I have no idea. I know there are a shitload of counterfeits out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 IMHO, Upscale Audio prices for their tubes are bordering on ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Naseum Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Brent Jesse has some nice Bugle Boys for $499 a pair. New Old Stock, made in Holland, in original box. Among the rarest of the BugleBoy type tubes made in Holland. These are the early Holland types with the long narrow plates, but these have the very scarce "tiny" Bugle Boy logo on the glass, the the very first production of the large halo getter. These may have been early test samples of the large halo getter, as the D-getter with the foil strip continued in general use until 1961. These are both Heerlen, Holland dated September, 1958. I have never seen other long plate Amperex 12AX7 with the halo getter, so it seems these tubes have nearly vanished from circulation, and a matched pair of these are usually not available anywhere in the world. The sweet sounding essence of the Bugle Boy type, these NOS gems have closely matched triodes internally and good labels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Check out the AK Bartertown site. byoungman1 currently has a bunch of beautiful 12AX7's for sale, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemon string Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 uh.......... what the hell just happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 You two need to take your issues to PM and get out of this thread!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthews Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 You two need to take your issues to PM and get out of this thread!!! What is that crazy looking thing in your avatar? Is that some sort of cookie cutting machine or something? TSA Matt has been pushing me to start spinning vinyl. If I had a "cookie cutter" like that, I just might Matt ♪ ♫ ♪ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 Do you have 30K? That's about what it would take for one like that!!! It is a nice cookie cutter, LOL!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) Double post deleted... Edited February 25, 2016 by canyonman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToolShedAmps Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 You two need to take your issues to PM and get out of this thread!!! What is that crazy looking thing in your avatar? Is that some sort of cookie cutting machine or something? TSA Matt has been pushing me to start spinning vinyl. If I had a "cookie cutter" like that, I just might Matt ♪ ♫ ♪ Here is a great place to start... https://store.uturnaudio.com/products/orbit-plus-turntable TS Matt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Comments hidden as they provided no benefit to the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 Thanks Carl, Ya know that's kinda why I don't come on here that much anymore, people are always posting something that doesn't have anything to do with the OP post. Also all the negativity and personal insults... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Ya know that's kinda why I don't come on here that much anymore And that's a shame. Hopefully you'll stick around. I enjoy your posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 (edited) Mullard is my go to in modern gear, in most vintage I like Telefunkens. Don't shun the consumer grade vintage mullard they sound darn good. The biggest advantage to the 10M is it's tough as nails so it lasts a longtime, so do consumer grade telefunkens. Be careful paying too much for used consumer grade Mullards. Edited February 25, 2016 by NOSValves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.