“Low noise version of the 12AX7. These are an excellent step up from the 12AX7”
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One thought on “GE 12ax7 Short Gray Plates”
This is another disappointment brought to you by your friendly GE tube, and there is frankly not much to review here. These GE 12AX7 Short Gray Plates are a very boring tube for home Hi-Fi, as the mids are not very warm and the high frequencies are way too sharp. Although the bass is good, one of the biggest issues with the tube is the soundstage, which is noticeably flat. I’ve read that they work quite well in guitar amps, but for home use, they are as generic as they come. I would actually use an Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 instead of this tube if I only had two, but luckily I have more than two, so there is no need to sacrifice my listening pleasure by using these.
* Soundstage: Disappointingly flat and narrow * Tonal Balance: Sharp high frequencies paired with cold mids * Best Use: Potentially guitar amplifiers, rather than high-fidelity home audio * Value: Outclassed by even basic modern production like Electro-Harmonix
Final Verdict: The GE 12AX7 Short Gray Plates are a generic and uninspiring option, falling far short of the standards set by better vintage glass.
This is another disappointment brought to you by your friendly GE tube, and there is frankly not much to review here. These GE 12AX7 Short Gray Plates are a very boring tube for home Hi-Fi, as the mids are not very warm and the high frequencies are way too sharp. Although the bass is good, one of the biggest issues with the tube is the soundstage, which is noticeably flat. I’ve read that they work quite well in guitar amps, but for home use, they are as generic as they come. I would actually use an Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 instead of this tube if I only had two, but luckily I have more than two, so there is no need to sacrifice my listening pleasure by using these.
* Soundstage: Disappointingly flat and narrow
* Tonal Balance: Sharp high frequencies paired with cold mids
* Best Use: Potentially guitar amplifiers, rather than high-fidelity home audio
* Value: Outclassed by even basic modern production like Electro-Harmonix
Final Verdict: The GE 12AX7 Short Gray Plates are a generic and uninspiring option, falling far short of the standards set by better vintage glass.