NOS tubes

@audphile1 😆 . I don’t like it either , but I like the song by Grand Funk. Also thanks for the GL opinion, I’ve got to try some. @lewm , I feel you dog, but it’s a 12AU7 thread, kinda like eating liver ? I think the 8 pin tubes have it over the 9 pin tubes all day long. Cheers my Peers , Mike B. 

Buell, I take your point (but not Audphile's point, since I don't know what that is). But the thread begins with the OP asking questions about some writing on a box that was used to package his Philco JAN 12AU7s.  It's easy to say he can go ahead and try them in his Rogue.  No one seems to disagree with that, least of all me. It's also evident that no one of us has any information to suggest they are special in terms of SQ as compared to any other common 12AU7.  And none of us responders knows what the alphanumeric code on the box means.

Yes, a 6SN7 (8 pins) which has specs very like those of a 12AU7 (9 pins), will walk all over a 12AU7 in terms of sonic quality.  One can buy an adapter to use a 6SN7 where the 12AU7 was called for.  But like the FQ7, a 6SN7 also uses twice the filament current of a 12AU7 and by the way can only be used in a unit with a 6V filament supply.  If a 12V supply, one can use a 12SN7.  So the SN7s are much like FQ7s, except no adapter is needed to use the latter in a 12AU7 socket. Anyway, a 12AU7 used as a driver or buffer stage does not do much damage.

@buellrider97 yeah GFR kicks ass. 
@lewm  I tried NOS JAN in RP1 and they were nothing special. 

I have very fond memories of that preamp. My buddy still owns his and it sounds great. He just re-tubed it with GLs. 
 

I get it you don’t like that tube, but 

Locorice is this nasty tasting thing most popular in twizzlers but exists as hard candy as well.

Because I hate it and fennel seeds kind of have the same flavor and smell, I can’t stand anything that contains fennel seeds in cooking. 🤮 

Point I was trying to make is that it’s a personal preference.

As a matter of fact I just concluded after experimenting with a tube phono stage that tubes are just not for me. I love the sound when all star align but overall no thanks. The feed my audiophile nervosa, plant the seed of doubt in my mind every time something sounds off, and require way too much maintenance, time and funds with basically no ROI. Property designed modern high end solid state components have consistently good performance without the headache. Just my perspective of course. I know you love tubes  

@audphile1 , there’s been a miscommunication, I’ve never tried the GL , and I appreciate your opinion as I have very little experience with new production 9 pin tubes. Rogue provided the low mu equivalent for my M-180 Dark upgrade. It was the new production gold pin Tungsol 5751. I spent $318 at Brent Jesse for curve trace matched Tekefunken 12AX’s and the Tungsols at $40 Ea were better. I need a phono stage for my Rogue Hera, so I just saved them. Any info on new production input tubes I’m very interested. FWIW, I asked Nick at Rogue about a RP-1 Dark and he said no but send it in and we’ll do some mods. I have not followed up yet as I still use it. BTW I hate black licorice and liver. 😆 Later Tater !