2 thoughts on “RCA Victor 12au7/ECC82 Black Plates D-getter 1949”
I am pleased to share a recent acquisition: a set of RCA Victor 12AU7 tubes manufactured in 1949. While the 12AU7 first entered production in 1946, specimens from that inaugural era are exceedingly rare; in my experience auditing nearly 10,000 units, 1949 remains one of the earliest verifiable production years available.
Sonically, these tubes epitomize the audio characteristics of the late 1940s and early 1950s. They offer an exceptional balance of transparency and harmonic richness. By comparison, production standards appeared to shift in the late 1950s, resulting in tubes that, while still “rich,” often lack the dynamic liveliness and clarity found in these earlier iterations.
I am pleased to share a recent acquisition: a set of RCA Victor 12AU7 tubes manufactured in 1949. While the 12AU7 first entered production in 1946, specimens from that inaugural era are exceedingly rare; in my experience auditing nearly 10,000 units, 1949 remains one of the earliest verifiable production years available.
Sonically, these tubes epitomize the audio characteristics of the late 1940s and early 1950s. They offer an exceptional balance of transparency and harmonic richness. By comparison, production standards appeared to shift in the late 1950s, resulting in tubes that, while still “rich,” often lack the dynamic liveliness and clarity found in these earlier iterations.
What is the price for a pair? I use it as driver tubes in power amp.
Best regards,
Sam Leung