Testing these RCA 12AU7 Long Gray Plates was a fun experiment, especially since I usually toss out gray plates, but these looked unusual enough to keep. These tubes share a very similar character with the classic RCA black plates, yet I found three different sounds across three tubes with distinct internal structures. The first tube featured a plate reaching all the way to the mica with a raised D-getter, the second had a gap between the plate and mica with a slanted getter, and the third showcased a highly unusual plate design with a center hole and a split raised D-getter. While I hoped the unique design of the third tube would offer a different sonic signature, it actually sounded identical to the first. Both the first and third tubes delivered great bass and good HF extension, maintaining a very balanced profile throughout.
The first tube, however, is my clear favorite, as it offers the same high-frequency extension as the others but is much smoother in the mid-range with a noticeably larger soundstage. It allows instruments to come through with much more musicality, making it practically a replica of the RCA 12AU7 black plates but with a more gentle nature.
* Soundstage: Significantly larger and more immersive on the first variant * Tonal Character: Gentle and musical, mirroring the warmth of black plates without being overpowering * High Frequencies: Good extension that remains smooth and non-fatiguing * Low-End: Strong, high-quality bass performance found in both the first and third versions
Final Verdict: The RCA 12AU7 Long Gray Plates are highly recommended for those who love the RCA black plate sound but want a more balanced, nuanced presentation that doesn’t sacrifice musicality.
The more I’m listening to these tubes the more I like them. They have an incredible gentleness to them. Listening to Melody Gardot with these tubes is just absolute pleasure. Compared to black plates, they don’t overpower nuances of music with heavy bass – which is great in some cases, but destroys balance in other.
Testing these RCA 12AU7 Long Gray Plates was a fun experiment, especially since I usually toss out gray plates, but these looked unusual enough to keep. These tubes share a very similar character with the classic RCA black plates, yet I found three different sounds across three tubes with distinct internal structures. The first tube featured a plate reaching all the way to the mica with a raised D-getter, the second had a gap between the plate and mica with a slanted getter, and the third showcased a highly unusual plate design with a center hole and a split raised D-getter. While I hoped the unique design of the third tube would offer a different sonic signature, it actually sounded identical to the first. Both the first and third tubes delivered great bass and good HF extension, maintaining a very balanced profile throughout.
The first tube, however, is my clear favorite, as it offers the same high-frequency extension as the others but is much smoother in the mid-range with a noticeably larger soundstage. It allows instruments to come through with much more musicality, making it practically a replica of the RCA 12AU7 black plates but with a more gentle nature.
* Soundstage: Significantly larger and more immersive on the first variant
* Tonal Character: Gentle and musical, mirroring the warmth of black plates without being overpowering
* High Frequencies: Good extension that remains smooth and non-fatiguing
* Low-End: Strong, high-quality bass performance found in both the first and third versions
Final Verdict: The RCA 12AU7 Long Gray Plates are highly recommended for those who love the RCA black plate sound but want a more balanced, nuanced presentation that doesn’t sacrifice musicality.
The more I’m listening to these tubes the more I like them. They have an incredible gentleness to them. Listening to Melody Gardot with these tubes is just absolute pleasure. Compared to black plates, they don’t overpower nuances of music with heavy bass – which is great in some cases, but destroys balance in other.