2 thoughts on “Genalex B739/12at7 Gold Lion – Great Britain”
The Genalex B739/12AT7 Gold Lion is a tube that demands immediate attention, living up to the significant hype that often positions Genalex as a rival to the renowned Western Electric. While many 12AT7 variants perform well as drivers but fail to stand out as preamp tubes, this British-made Gold Lion is a definitive exception.
Sonic Character * Weight and Presence: This tube brings a physical presence that most 12AT7s lack; it has been described as having the “body of a bodybuilder and the voice of an angel.” It successfully avoids the “thin” sound common to the type. * Bass and Midrange: The low end is tight, controlled, and powerful. The midrange is particularly incredible, drawing favorable comparisons to the legendary Telefunken ECC803S. * Overall Signature: It is a highly dynamic and transparent performer that maintains just a touch of warmth, making it a versatile choice for high-end systems.
Origins and Alternatives
While labeled as Genalex, these were produced by Mullard in Great Britain under stringent quality control. For those who find the B739 pricing or rarity difficult, the Mullard CV4024 is often cited as a high-quality British military alternative, though it lacks the specific selection process and aesthetic “eye-candy” of the Gold Lion series.
Final Verdict: Highly Recommended for anyone seeking a 12AT7 with significant “balls,” transparency, and a world-class midrange.
The Genalex B739 shown above was, of course, made by Mullard for the Genalex Gold Lion/M-O Valve company. It is 100% Mullard all the way. It is said that “extra stringent quality control and selection standards” were applied to incoming raw stock of Mullard ECC81/12AT7 tubes.. and that this extra selection process produced a consistently excellent supply of Genalex B739 labeled Mullard 12At7s. The Genalex B739s I have heard pretty much sound 100% like regular Mullards.. only they are 100% free of microphonics and noise. Just like Mullards they have a highly detailed midrange with great soundstaging and smooth, almost “liquid” treble– great tubes. Are they worth paying 10 to 15 times what a regular Mullard 12AT7 costs? Of course not. But the B739s are cool, collectible, and have that gorgeous eye-candy “Genalex” sticker on them. Better, though, to seek out the Mullard CV 4024, the much different (and far superior) British Military version of ECC81/12AT7 made by Mullard. These are still readily available, but with all the new Chinese gear that uses all 12AT7s, prices are climbing.
The Genalex B739/12AT7 Gold Lion is a tube that demands immediate attention, living up to the significant hype that often positions Genalex as a rival to the renowned Western Electric. While many 12AT7 variants perform well as drivers but fail to stand out as preamp tubes, this British-made Gold Lion is a definitive exception.
Sonic Character
* Weight and Presence: This tube brings a physical presence that most 12AT7s lack; it has been described as having the “body of a bodybuilder and the voice of an angel.” It successfully avoids the “thin” sound common to the type.
* Bass and Midrange: The low end is tight, controlled, and powerful. The midrange is particularly incredible, drawing favorable comparisons to the legendary Telefunken ECC803S.
* Overall Signature: It is a highly dynamic and transparent performer that maintains just a touch of warmth, making it a versatile choice for high-end systems.
Origins and Alternatives
While labeled as Genalex, these were produced by Mullard in Great Britain under stringent quality control. For those who find the B739 pricing or rarity difficult, the Mullard CV4024 is often cited as a high-quality British military alternative, though it lacks the specific selection process and aesthetic “eye-candy” of the Gold Lion series.
Final Verdict: Highly Recommended for anyone seeking a 12AT7 with significant “balls,” transparency, and a world-class midrange.
The Genalex B739 shown above was, of course, made by Mullard for the Genalex Gold Lion/M-O Valve company. It is 100% Mullard all the way. It is said that “extra stringent quality control and selection standards” were applied to incoming raw stock of Mullard ECC81/12AT7 tubes.. and that this extra selection process produced a consistently excellent supply of Genalex B739 labeled Mullard 12At7s. The Genalex B739s I have heard pretty much sound 100% like regular Mullards.. only they are 100% free of microphonics and noise. Just like Mullards they have a highly detailed midrange with great soundstaging and smooth, almost “liquid” treble– great tubes. Are they worth paying 10 to 15 times what a regular Mullard 12AT7 costs? Of course not. But the B739s are cool, collectible, and have that gorgeous eye-candy “Genalex” sticker on them. Better, though, to seek out the Mullard CV 4024, the much different (and far superior) British Military version of ECC81/12AT7 made by Mullard. These are still readily available, but with all the new Chinese gear that uses all 12AT7s, prices are climbing.