Best 12AU7 Type Tubes for a Preamp


I am hoping for some help finding good quality and good sounding 12AU7 variant tubes for a preamp – I need two tubes. A price of around $100 each or less would be great but I would pay a bit more (150 ea.) for something that is likely to sound better. The unit came with JAN PHILIPS ECC82 (12AU7/5963) and I also own a pair of reissue/new Mullard ECC92 tubes. Both sets are quiet but I am wondering if there is something even better sounding at a moderate price.

Readily available NOS options I have seen include:

  • NOS RCA Blackplate or Clear Top at about $100-150 EA.
  • Amprex 7316/ECC186 at around $150 each, and
  • Mullard CV4003/12AU7 $150ea.

New options I have found (in addition to Mullard) include (among others):

  • Genalex - Gold Lion B749 / ECC82/12AU7, $70 ea.
  • Psvane 12AU7-S Art Series ECC82, $55 ea.

Thanks for any help.

mitch2

Showing 1 response by scm

This thread got me thinking about a pair of Viking RP61 tube preamps that was given to me from an estate some 20 years ago. Also included was a McIntosh MC240 amp and a MC20 preamp. I was given a nice Kennedy tool box with quality tools in it too so the fellow had good taste to say the least.

Anyway...the Viking`s were stuffed away until a couple years ago. I finally opened them up and ended up with a pair of Amperex Bugle Boys 12AU7 made in Holland with D7H printed on each of them.

I`m thinking I`ll bring them with me when I visit my daughter and son in law to try in their Rogue Sphinx II. Might be interesting to see what kind of change they make to the sound.