re: Tung Sol 12Au7 / 6189
@olds1959special I call it fat because of the way it spreads out the sound. I call it warm because of the overall harmonic saturation. But it is basically bright, but more of a creamy, smooth bright!
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