Ei 12AX7 17mm silver plates, any good?

heiney9

I already have a pair of Ei 12AX7 gray plates. I thought I heard some say here that the silver plates are the ones to get. Found a dealer with NOS in boxes for $20/piece.

Yes......No......Maybe?

These look right?

H9

organ

If you already have the grey plates, you're not really missing anything. Some say the grey plates are better and others prefer the silver plate.
I tried both and they're very close. The silver plates sound somewhat more neutral and a little more sparkle in the highs. That's pretty much all I can remember. It's been more than a few years since I listened to mine.
Still a good idea to stock up on them if you don't plan to buy Telefunken.

headrott

I have some silver plates Brock. They are good for "newer" made tubes. They have a sparkly top end (not harsh though), and a wide soundstage (not as deep as some though). They are not as good as the Telefunkens, but for the price are very good and do come somewhat close. The maind difference between the grey plates and silver plates is the high end and as organ said, they are more neutral than the grey plates. They are one of my favorites out of the "newer" production tubes (obviously "newer" being post 1970's). For NOS, $20 a piece is a pretty good deal and I think you will ike them, but not as much as the "real" 12AX7's like Amperex, Telefunken, Mullard, etc.

heiney9

headrott wrote: »

I have some silver plates Brock. They are good for "newer" made tubes. They have a sparkly top end (not harsh though), and a wide soundstage (not as deep as some though). They are not as good as the Telefunkens, but for the price are very good and do come somewhat close. The maind difference between the grey plates and silver plates is the high end and as organ said, they are more neutral than the grey plates. They are one of my favorites out of the "newer" production tubes (obviously "newer" being post 1970's). For NOS, $20 a piece is a pretty good deal and I think you will ike them, but not as much as the "real" 12AX7's like Amperex, Telefunken, Mullard, etc.

Therein lies the problem, I have many Old production 12AX7's and I just wasn't sure if these would be worth spending money on since A) I already have NOS gray plates I have a couple other 12AX7's that are my favorites and even now the Ei's don't get much play. I guess I'll save my $40+ dollars and put it towards another Old Stock tube.

I thought Jesse stated they were the excellent, especially the Silver plates. Looking at some late 50's Tung Sol 3 mica 5751WA's currently.

H9

headrott

heiney9 wrote: »

Therein lies the problem, I have many Old production 12AX7's and I just wasn't sure if these would be worth spending money on since A) I already have NOS gray plates I have a couple other 12AX7's that are my favorites and even now the Ei's don't get much play. I guess I'll save my $40+ dollars and put it towards another Old Stock tube.

I thought Jesse stated they were the excellent, especially the Silver plates. Looking at some late 50's Tung Sol 3 mica 5751WA's currently.

H9

Brock, you may want to try a pair and keep them for posterities sake. The Old stock tubes won't be around and last forever. The silver plate Ei tubes would be one of my first choices for "newer" production tubes to replace older production ones. I can say for sure they are worth $40.00 for a NOS pair, IMO. Not if they are used however.

I haven't heard the Tung Sol 3 mica 5751WA's so I cannot give you advice on those, sorry.

Jesse is correct that the silver plate Ei's are excellent. They are not as good as many, but not all older production tubes but I would take them over just about all "newer" production ones. Definately better than the russian/chinese made current ones, with very few exceptions. If you like high end sparkle and a more neutral sound with a wide soundstage (who doesn't??) you will enjoy the silver plate Ei's over the grey plates. Plus, as I said as the older tubes get harder and harder to find these Ei's will become more valuable, IMO. Hope this helps you out Brock.