1. I don’t think the original question can be answered considering the number of tubes available and the equipment that uses them. 2. My personal preferences are European tubes from the 1950s (in my tube components). A second mortgage would be appropriate here, especially since the Ukraine invasion. |
Interesting comment, the way it "spreads out the sound". Often wondered who else actually listens for this attribute. I do, and it can even vary in the first 30 to 90 minutes of warmup too as sound, transformers, amps warm up fully - or within my system at least. Listening very early on Christmas before everyone wakes up, I have been looking over good 12au7 threads, and this ’"Best 12au7" thread from 2024 came up. Having tried over 20+ pair of vintage 12Au7s I use as input tubes in my monoblock tube amps, always keeping an eye out. Currently and still running two year old PSVanes that displaced my prior 60s Mullard curve-tracer-tested Blackburn Plant tubes from Brent Jesse. Swapped a few times, the Mullards sitting back in boxes. They have nice detail but lack similar midrange body comparatively. Tradeoffs perhaps. Ask for 2026: ??? In 2026, curious to know if anyone has come across any other new/re-issue 12Au7, 12At7 tubes you like even more than what was released as new re-issue tubes in 2023/2024. Note: I already have plenty of vintage stash, sitting in boxes stored. Still hanging on to all of them, yet may let it all go soon next year. What else [re-issue] is out there is anyone liking a lot or better than your vintge stash if anything new |
