Author Topic: Your favorite 12AU7?  (Read 6086 times)

Offline Brap

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 283
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #30 on: April 25, 2021, 10:31:09 AM »
That is beautiful!  FYI, I use right angle connector on my front RCA inputs to route the input cables around the front and then under the outside edges of the rubber feet t o the back of the amp. Makes a cleaner look.  NOTE- the ones that have a square corners do not fully turn parallel with the top of the amp so look for one that are more rounded.  I had to do some filing on the gold plated corners to allow these to turn a full 90degree.
Fritz Carrera 7 Be
VTA ST-70
Parasound Halo P5
Oppo 105
Rega P3
Ortofon Quintet Bronze
Cambridge CXN streamer
Teac 3340S
Anticables 3.1
Masterbuilt reference/Kimber Cable IC

Offline toobluvr

  • Certifiable
  • ***
  • Posts: 215
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #31 on: April 25, 2021, 10:40:53 AM »


John, try to find some Reflecktor 6P3S-E for your 6L6 amp if it can take them (should be able to if it can handle 6L6GCs). The best of the 6L6/KT66 family I've heard (including RCA black plates & Sylvania 6L6GCs & Shuguang & Genalex re-issue KT66s). Fantastic tubes, they've been my favorite power tube for several years now.

Another apology for an off topic post.     But tubes!

Got 'em, Rob -- the coin base version.  Thanks!   :thumb:

Will Vincent included them when he returned the amp to me after a repair.  He said they are his faves in that amp.
Spkrs: Sunny Cable Tech, Reynaud, Zu, Klipsch, Gallo subs, Wharfedale
TT1: Townshend Rock 3/OL Silver Mk3A
TT2: OL Aurora/OL Encounter Mk3C
Carts: Soundsmith Zephyr,  Music Maker 3, Dynavector xx2-Mk2, Shelter 501
complete: see Sunnydaze system on AC

Offline Nick B

  • Audio Neurotic
  • *****
  • Posts: 4095
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #32 on: April 25, 2021, 10:49:03 AM »
That is beautiful!  FYI, I use right angle connector on my front RCA inputs to route the input cables around the front and then under the outside edges of the rubber feet t o the back of the amp. Makes a cleaner look.  NOTE- the ones that have a square corners do not fully turn parallel with the top of the amp so look for one that are more rounded.  I had to do some filing on the gold plated corners to allow these to turn a full 90degree.

Trying to visualize what you’re saying... Can you reword it?
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline toobluvr

  • Certifiable
  • ***
  • Posts: 215
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #33 on: April 25, 2021, 11:08:11 AM »
I think he's saying this......

The RCA inputs on his VTA ST-70 amp are so closely spaced that when he rotates the adapters down so that he can kindof drop the IC and run it under the bottom front corners of the amp, the corners of the "squarish" adapters crash into each other, preventing this rotation.  So he filed off the corners.  If you get the "roundish" ones, no filing needed.

But I could be wrong.  :lol:

These photos will help to visualize.

VTA amp:

http://www.tubes4hifi.com/VTA70a.jpg

"squarish" RCA adapters:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81v0QMNBQwL._SL1500_.jpg

"roundish" RCA adapters:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41IZOeeISrL._AC_.jpg
« Last Edit: April 25, 2021, 11:25:55 AM by toobluvr »
Spkrs: Sunny Cable Tech, Reynaud, Zu, Klipsch, Gallo subs, Wharfedale
TT1: Townshend Rock 3/OL Silver Mk3A
TT2: OL Aurora/OL Encounter Mk3C
Carts: Soundsmith Zephyr,  Music Maker 3, Dynavector xx2-Mk2, Shelter 501
complete: see Sunnydaze system on AC

Offline Nick B

  • Audio Neurotic
  • *****
  • Posts: 4095
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #34 on: April 25, 2021, 11:46:37 AM »
I think he's saying this......

The RCA inputs on his VTA ST-70 amp are so closely spaced that when he rotates the adapters down so that he can kindof drop the IC and run it under the bottom front corners of the amp, the corners of the "squarish" adapters crash into each other, preventing this rotation.  So he filed off the corners.  If you get the "roundish" ones, no filing needed.

But I could be wrong.  :lol:

These photos will help to visualize.

VTA amp:

http://www.tubes4hifi.com/VTA70a.jpg

"squarish" RCA adapters:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81v0QMNBQwL._SL1500_.jpg

"roundish" RCA adapters:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41IZOeeISrL._AC_.jpg

Thanks, John. That is very helpful  :thumb:
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline P.I.

  • Industry Participant
  • *
  • Posts: 1922
  • Silence is that blackness beneath the music
    • P.I. audio group, LLC
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #35 on: April 25, 2021, 10:50:49 PM »
I am a 12BH7A convert.

I find more consistency between various 12BH7A than various 12AU7, no matter their heritage.  These days I am looking for repeatability of excellent sonics than ultimate WOW factor that is fleeting.

12BH7A tubes have a universal "rightness" to their sound.
"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument." - Hilmar von Campe

Offline Brap

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 283
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #36 on: April 26, 2021, 05:06:25 AM »
toobluvr -- stated much more succinctly!!
Fritz Carrera 7 Be
VTA ST-70
Parasound Halo P5
Oppo 105
Rega P3
Ortofon Quintet Bronze
Cambridge CXN streamer
Teac 3340S
Anticables 3.1
Masterbuilt reference/Kimber Cable IC

Offline toobluvr

  • Certifiable
  • ***
  • Posts: 215
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #37 on: April 26, 2021, 08:04:49 AM »
I am a 12BH7A convert.

I find more consistency between various 12BH7A than various 12AU7, no matter their heritage.  These days I am looking for repeatability of excellent sonics than ultimate WOW factor that is fleeting.

12BH7A tubes have a universal "rightness" to their sound.

Interesting.  Is it a direct drop-in replacement for 12au7?
Spkrs: Sunny Cable Tech, Reynaud, Zu, Klipsch, Gallo subs, Wharfedale
TT1: Townshend Rock 3/OL Silver Mk3A
TT2: OL Aurora/OL Encounter Mk3C
Carts: Soundsmith Zephyr,  Music Maker 3, Dynavector xx2-Mk2, Shelter 501
complete: see Sunnydaze system on AC

Offline S Clark

  • Audio Neurotic
  • *****
  • Posts: 1330
Re: Your favorite 12AU7?
« Reply #38 on: April 26, 2021, 08:08:49 AM »
I am a 12BH7A convert.

It's what I use in the outside slots on my Moscode 401 amp.
Speaker-GR Research LS9-XStatik-AltecFlamenco
Amp-Moscode,Dodd,Folsom
Pre-Dodd
Turntable-Vyger,Victor,TechnicSP10MK2
Phonopre-Hagermann,Jolida,GSlee   
Cable-AudioSensibility Wywires TWL
Cartridge-Dynavector,Sumiko
Tonearm-PioneerP3,Jelco
Rythmic sub