Which 12au7/5814 tube won the right to be called the best and the worst?
Updated August 7th, 2020
Continue readingThe Best 12au7 tubes
1
Battle of the Titans – 6900 vs 6N30P-DR
The following analysis evaluates the sonic performance of two of the most esteemed vacuum tubes in the audiophile community: the Bendix 6900 and the Reflector 6N30P-DR. While both components are often cited among the finest audio tubes ever manufactured, a direct comparison reveals nuanced differences tailored to specific listening prefer
Continue readingThe Best 12ax7 tubes
Which 12ax7/5751 tube won the right to be called the best and the worst?
Updated August 5th, 2020
Continue readingWhich tubes reign supreme?
Since we started this site in 2005, a lot of people contributed their reviews and ratings for various vacuum tubes. Which tubes have the highest rating?
Updated August 2nd, 2020
Continue readingValvo E80L Gold Pins Holland
Electro-Harmonix 12at7WC Russia
Small plate format dual triode, with low microphonics and superior dissipation, compared to NOS originals. Ideal for reverb circuits. Extra-low microphonics makes it the best 12AT7 choice for sensitive circuits.
Continue readingSovtek 12ax7LPS Russia
“12AX7LP Sovtek tubes…very linear, has great looking curves…large full sound stage, very musical with great detail…smooth and involving” — Charles Kittleson, Editor, Vacuum Tube Valley
Continue readingTungsram 6BL8/ECF80 tube Hungary
Genalex B759/12ax7 Box Art
I recently came across a few boxes of Genalex B759 tubes. Unfortunately the boxes are empty, but I still wanted to share with everybody the amount of effort that went into creating these boxes and what goes inside of them including test report sheet.
Continue readingTube Matching 101
There is a lot of confusion about matching tubes. It starts with some vendors, especially on eBay, matching tubes by the way they look (visual matching) to matching on multiple electrical parameters at the same time.
There are 4 parameters that could be used to match preamp tubes:
- Transconductance – Gm
- Voltage Gain – Mu
- Plate Current – Ip
- Tube Age