Any opinion on Amperx Bugle Boy long plate 12AU7?

heiney9

Discuss please

Overall I am 12AU7 heavy, but I am finding there is all kinds of combo's in my new amp using the 12AX7 and 12AU7 positions. It's quite mind boggling what I have already used and some of the pairings sound great, others sound poor.

For instance the Sylvania 5751 3-mica and Sylvania 3 mica 5814 sound very flat and lifeless together. Whereas Ei 12AX7's and Sylvania 3 mica 5814 sound fantastic together.

So I am continuing to buy up tubes and ready to find the combo's that float my boat

H9

Joe08867

I almost always prefer the sound of long plate tubes. They seem to be the warmest without the top end brittle. You seem to like more heat so I don't know how you would like the these. They are not as in your face as the Ei's you tried.

heiney9

Joe, it's making the combo of a 12AX7 and 12AU7 work at this point. I like clarity, not necessarily brightness. Not murky, not muddy or rolled off. I was just wondering what peoples impression was of a Mitchum made Amperex 12AU7 long plate. I am actually amassing quite the number of 12AU7 and variants and 12AX7 and variants. I don't want to miss out a good combo.

H9

heiney9

DSkip wrote: »

H9, can you go into some kind of detail about the differences in sound? Does imaging straighten up with certain tubes or is it mostly tonal characteristics? Do some tubes seem to have more oomph? Sorry that this doesn't really help you, but I'm curious what kind of experiences you've had rolling tubes since you seemingly have one for each day of the year.

Whew,

What can I say. I have sort of been keeping a mental log, but I will try and put something in writing not only for myself and for future rolling but others too.

The worst combo I've heard so far in my amp is the Sylvania GB 5751 3-mica gray plates and Sylvania 5814 GB 3-mica gray plates. Very slow, murky, rolled off and absolutely lifeless. Same to a lesser degree with the same 5751 and Raytheon 3 mica black plate 5814. Also similar with 1950's CRC RCA 5963 black plates.

I think 2 lower gain tube combo's isn't a good fit (in my amp). I still have lots of combo's to try.

H9

headrott

I find the Amperex 12AU7 long plates to be very good tubes. They have a huge soundstage which is very 3D!!, and have a nice warm sound to them. Not overly warm, but certainly not anywhere close to neutral. I think you should try some RCA clear tops in the 12Au7 position. They have great "speed" and a sparkely top end (can be bright in some systems however!!!). I think they would fit the Sylvania BG 5751 3 mica's well if you are going that route. I have not actually tried this combo myself, but I have heard both tubes and think it might work well.

You would still have two low(er) gain tubes with the 5751's an ANY 12AU7 however. I would try some 12AX7's and some 12Au7 and/or varient.

Anyway, the Amperex long plate 12AU7's are a good tube and I would recommend them. Saying that, I think I prefer the Mullard long plates to the Amperex long plates overall. It really depends on what tube you pair them with however. Hope this helps you out Brock.

heiney9

It does Greg, but unfortunately the auction is over and I passed on them. Of course they went dirt cheap, but that's ok as the seller couldn't find the other date code and his pics were poor so I wasn't 100% sure the pair were each the same. They went cheap and I probably should have taken a chance on them, but without solid info (and the seller provided what he could) I just wasn't going to mess with them.

heiney9

Found another superb pairing. A proverbial homerun. Hair standing up on the back of the neck type pairing.

1962 Valvo ECC83 (12AX7) made in Herleen Holland, small halo, short gray plates and 1960 Sylvania JHS Gold Brand 5814 gray plate square getter (12AU7 variant).

Punchy, lively, vibrant and very 3 dimensional but not over done. Crisp and clean but very smooth. Think old jazz club type intimacy with the vocals, front and center but balanced with the rest of the music.

H9