The Perfect 12AX7

What is the prefect 12AX7? There are no perfect 12AX7s as tastes vary. It depends upon who is listening to the tube and to a degree the amp itself and the music itself. Some like distortion. Different 12AX7s vary in distortion and some are pleasing to the listener. An example of an amp liking a certain tube and being used on rock and roll is the upgraded Fisher 500B. Using K40Y-9 coupling caps that transforms the Fisher itself into a far superior sounding amp. Using cheap Chinese 12AX7s produces the most pleasing sound. Not perfect nor good on jazz or classical music it is extremely pleasing on rock and roll. But a close to perfect 12AX7 that is very low distortion and sounds great on all music exists IMO. My favorite tube was the Mullard 12AX7 long plate. Low distortion and accurate music reproduction. Also expensive at $200 each in NOS. I rarely buy used tubes. I got some JJ E83CC and was amazed how good the tube performed. It is a frame grid tube and only frame grid 12AX7 ever made. Frame grid is used on the tube input grid and is wound as perfectly spaced as possible. Frame grid tubes were last to appear in some types. The JJ sounds just like the Mullard long plate. The difference is it projects the sound into the room to the point the speakers disappear unlike the somewhat recessed sounding Mullard long plate. Like previously mentioned not everyone will like this tube as some audiophiles like distortion. The JJ E83CC was made about 15 years ago for only a few years. Stocks are getting low thus buy now. The best part is the tube costs only $29.

jimbennet09-22-2025 5:34am

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hjdca Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 258 posts 09-28-2025 at 03:47pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @jimbennet , thanks so much for your recommendation. I received from Tube Depot a matched quad of the JJ E83CC and I also checked all the boxes (Low Noise & Microphonics: $4.00 x 4, Balanced Triodes: $2.00 x 4, Matching (up to 5 tubes): $2.00 x 4, High Gain: $2.00 x 4. I was using a matched quad of a pair of Vintage Raytheon 12AX7 Long Black Plate O-Getter in one of my McIntosh MC275 amps, and a pair of long black plate mullards in the other MC275. I listened to the new JJ E83CC last night for about 4 hours. They do sound excellent, clean, balanced, with great sound stage. My go to "sound stage song" - Beck, Paper Tiger,, where the sound stage grows as instruments are added, really sounded excellent. Is it better than the vintage long black plates that were in both MC275s ?, I cannot tell. All I can say is that the JJ E83CC sounded great - super balanced, clean, great sound stage, great bass, smooth treble. Very clean on the bottom end bass with bass heavy rock songs. I really like them. I left them installed and plan to listen to them for many hours. Here are some pics. New JJ E83CC 12AX7 Tubes. Definitely different architecture JJ E83CC with Mullards JJ E83CC with Raytheons JJ E83CC (12AX7) (left) , NOS GE 5 star 12AT7 (right)
macg19 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,444 posts 09-28-2025 at 07:41pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete 100% this from @knotscott As long as the tubes are used in different circuits that each apply different electrical values and have different sound signatures, the best tube will be a variable. Add a dose of personal preference and different synergies from different systems, and it's not so different than picking the perfect color, perfect beer, or perfect woman. @hjdca No clue what we are supposed to be looking for but thanks for the beauty pics!
westcoastaudiophile Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 819 posts 10-03-2025 at 05:44pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete “What is the prefect 12AX7” just got NOS Telefunken ECC83 - perfect!
foggyus91 Details Discussions Posts This discussion 612 posts 10-03-2025 at 06:39pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @thecarpathian Ralph @atmasphere seems to think JJ's are fine tubes. He is building very high-end tube amplifiers. I have used JJ's on occasion and found them to be a quality tube more so than any tubes I have purchased from China
fleschler Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,070 posts 10-04-2025 at 06:28pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I love the responses. However, having lived with and used tube equipment for over 50+ years, each piece of equipment and system makes preferences for the type of sound the listener prefers. Hence, tube rolling involves installing the combination of tube or tubes that elicit the most prefered sound. I've tried and used most of the high end tubes (they were cheap in the 60s to 80s) as well as a few JJs and reproductions. Fortunately for me, I found Westminster Labs Quest 2 preamp and REI monoblock amps which do not require tube amplification. My DAC has tubes but not 12AX7s (Lampizator Poseidon). My living room second system has all subminiature pre-amp/phono preamp tubes and a tube amp with 7199 tubes. It is commonly fitted with 12AU7s on new boards.