2. amps-preamps
  3. 1234691217

If you were a tube preamplifier manufacturer

We all know NOS tube prices are increasing and getting hard to be obtained day by day,there are several new production power tubes accepted fine performer such as Gold Lion Reissue KT88 and KT66,Shuguang KT88 SC, EH 6CA7,JJ KT77, etc.. among the audiophiles.
If you were a tube preamplifier manufacturer,which type and brand preamp tube you would choose from the new production tubes and why?,considering
its linearity,frequencies band from top to bottom, noise and microphonic clearness ,dynamic and rich midrange spectrum,etc.. ( I find some tubes are noisy or microphonic some has great top end but loose the bass region or just the opposite ...)
Is there any new production preamplifier tube being great performer like the new production power tubes mentioned above?
Thanks
ben

Showing 3 responses by mrtennis

mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
you can design tube circuits so that they are relatively insensitive to changes in tube manufacturers.

i would prefer to allow for variation in sound from changes in tubes. i would not use any current tube in my circuit. sorry, i would insist on using a nos tube. i would use a 6cg7 or two in the line section and a 5ar4 as the rectifier.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi ralph

designing a preamp using a nos 12 ax7, e.g. is ethically neutral. obviously, the preamp would "work" with any 12ax7, but, would presumably sound different.

it is possible that using tubes currently in production, could still create performance differences as a result of variation in manufacture. there is no guarantee that the performance of a preamp is a "constant", from day to day.

so long as the buyer is aware of all of the facts about tube sonics and tube availability, the buyer can make an intelligent purchasing decision.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi ralph:

of the following 12 volt tubes--12ax7,12au7,12at7 and 12ay7,
my experience points to the 12at7 as having the least pleasant treble response. i have used 12at7 in a cd player, amp and preamp.

why not use a 12au7 or 12ay7 ?
More to discover