Buy 12ax7 tube


Hi im searching for best vacuum tube in low distortion and accurate sound up to 40$/each
For my vincent 226 mk2

I can buy raytheons black plate and rca black plate and genalex gold lion are they any good or you have some more options?!

Thanks in advance

https://drive.google.com/file/d/104Hkj3uNChEvzm4psy1Kgg3-S6Bi4XKW/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tgd21OgSaQfo5yaozCmw4VJHWt54CqHl/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W7Iu-JxZWDV3KGjb0okOrt5wD7AS-T1g/view?usp=drivesdk
mehdikh423

Showing 15 responses by lowrider57

That's interesting about the Svetlana 12AX7. They are famous for making the highly rated  Winged C EL34.

First of all, I must say that it's preferable to buy tubes from a reputable dealer who's stock will be high quality and guaranteed. Tubes from a Chinese website may not be genuine or may not test as new or NOS. There are plenty of good, inexpensive dealers on Ebay.

Regarding your tubes, I see the Vincent uses 3 12AX7s (ECC83) in the preamp stage. I assume you are  replacing all 3. 
Telefunken are the most neutral and linear, but expensive. RCA Blackplates are affordable and offer a sweet midrange with good dynamics, $40 to $50 each. Raytheon is a low noise tube with open sonics. I would choose these NOS tubes over Genalex.

You'll want these tubes to be matched since they're in the preamp stage.

A reference for the 12AX7...
https://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/d.pl?audio/faq/joes-tubes.html#12AX7

On Ebay, Viva Tubes is a reputable dealer with good prices.
Brent Jessee has everything.


It seems that one of the tubes is the driver and the other two are the left and right channels (the gain stage).

The driver can be a different brand, but the L & R must be matched tubes.


Poor frequency separation may be caused by your interconnects. They may be limiting the bandwidth or detail.
What ICs are you using?


Agree with @roberjerman on all points. Your noise floor may be too high and your choice of music is not reference quality. Also agree to try using a well recorded symphony to help tweak your system. A revealing setup will present layers of instruments with detail and separation between.

It may not be the fault of your amp, but you need to use low-noise tested tubes. Face the fact that it will cost you more than $40 each. Out of your list the Raytheon may be the most revealing, but testing for noise and microphonics is a must.
  Telefunken or Siemens are really the way to go for transparency and low noise. Andy at Vintage Tube Services sells very low noise tubes, but only takes phone calls for orders. You tell him what you're looking for and your budget.

The noise floor is also affected by dirty power in your AC line. With the volume up and no music playing can you hear any noise or low-level hum thru your speakers?

Can you hear noise (with no music) from your listening position or only up close to the speaker? It could easily be noise from tubes, but your power setup is far from optimal.

 You should use a quality power strip or a strip with power conditioning, not a multi-plug. It's like you're choking the flow of  electricity (AC) going to your system.

In addition to the Vincent, what are your components?


It's good that you only hear noise when up close to the speakers. The fact that the noise is constant even with volume down either means your amp is the problem, or more likely it's due to noise on your power line. This is the noise floor of your system, the goal is to lower it until you have a "black background." 

 Your AC line comes from the power grid in your city/town and is shared by everyone in your neighborhood, then it's wired into your service panel, then travels thru all the circuits in your home. At this point your electricity is contaminated, or polluted may be another way to describe it.

A power conditioner is typically recommended and/or a dedicated line to lower the noise floor by  isolating your system from the rest of your devices and appliances.

Your budget will determine what kind of power conditioner to use. A basic unit would be a Furman power strip/conditioner.



Bloated bass could be caused by speakers positioned too close the the wall or by the amp not having enough power to drive the speakers. But, your amp shouldn’t have this problem.
It could also be caused by the choice of tubes. And lack of dynamics is often due to tubes.

Your power setup could be causing lack of dynamics and muddy bass, but I wouldn’t call it bass bloat. It would be a lack of clarity or transparency. Your components should not be plugged into a cheap multi-plug, especially the amp. Amps need unrestricted clean AC feeding them from the wall receptacle.

As stated before, I recommend that you use a power strip with a short cable (under 6 ft). Also, replacing the stock cable on the amp would provide better sonics; better dynamics, transparency. I think you should start by improving your power to all your components especially the amp.


As far as a speaker upgrade, IMO Audio Psychic is a very special speaker. Is there something you dont like about your current speakers? How do they match up with the Vincent?

Wiremold is a well-built power strip that is transparent, meaning it doesn’t colour the sound and no filters are used. This is not a power conditioner, but is much higher quality than using a multi-plug for your components.
I use a Wiremold with surge protection, meaning it has a circuit breaker to protect against voltage spikes.
https://www.mscdirect.com/industrialtools/wiremold-power-strip.html
Use a strip with the shortest 3-prong cable.

Typically an amp is plugged into the wall receptacle and source components are plugged into a power conditioner to help filter noise from the power line. As mentioned, Brick Wall offers surge protection and power conditioning; the result is a noticeably lower noise floor. Furman is another good power strip/ conditioner. Brick Walls are available used on Ebay.

Adding a power strip is an upgrade over your previous setup. Your system may not be revealing enough to notice a change in SQ, but your components are now getting better current delivery.

RCA makes great tubes, all provide a lush, liquid midrange and clear highs.
But you may be in need of a more neutral tube.


A 7025 RCA is a premium low noise tube. I believe it's the equivalent of an RCA longplate. 
Don't know anything about the Canadian factory.
OP... CEI was a distributor that sold quality tubes made by other manufacturers. 

Zaerix relabeled other manufacturers' tubes. I found a couple in used components.
https://www.18watt.com/viewtopic.php?t=23510

Buying tubes for $20 without etched factory codes or test results is a shot in the dark. Even if it sounds good, it may not last long. And with rebadged tubes and no description, you won't know their sonic signature.  
My advice, spend some money and buy from a reputable dealer who posts tube measurements and offers exchanges. There are many good NOS tubes for $50.

@bimasta, I love NOS Tung-Sol AU12's. I find them to have tonal purity, good extension, and a slight but pleasant tube bloom.