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Cayin A100T (EL34 Version) Tube Rolling

Hi,

Since the manual doesn't provide that much information, I wanted to share my experience with this integrated amplifier.
The Cayin A100T (EL34) has the following tubes:

-Eight EL34 Power tubes
-Two 6CG7 Driver tubes
-Two 12AU7 Gain tubes
-One 12AX7 Rectifier tube

I experimented with several brands and types of tubes; in my system, the Power tubes and the single rectifier tube (12AX7) have the most impact in tone sonic balance. The pair of 6CG7 have less to none effect. Replacing the 12AX7 will have a noticiable impact in sound. 

I have had these tubes in my system:
*All new production tubes, only the RCA and GE were NOS.
-EL34: Electro Harmonix, Tung Sol, Mullard, Cayin-Shuguang
-KT77: Gold Lion Genalex
-6CG7: RCA-Sylvania (NOS) and Electro Harmonix.
-12AU7: Gold Lion Genalex
-12AX7: General Electric NOS, Gold Lion Genalax, Mullard, Svetlana

Best,



mamifero76
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
The 12AX7 is a front-end tube! The 12AU7's are most-likely used one-per-channel as a long-tail phase splitter.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
Agree. The 12AX7 is probably the gain tube for the amp. That's why it has such an impact on sonic signature.

mamifero76 OP
15 posts
 
Thank you all for clarifying. Indeed, since there is not that much information about this integrated amplifier, I'm still not sure what are the specific functions of each pre-amp tube.
Anyhow, from my experience, those are the tubes to experiment with.

Best,

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