Should I purchase......................?

heiney9

Mainly looking for 2 channel tube users.

Yes, I mostly post about tubes these days. It's been an obsession and a great source of enjoyment hunting and finding what I am looking for. The hunt is as fun as the listening and discovering. Tubes and their subtle characteristics fascinate me to no end. Plus, think about it; I am holding in my hand and putting something in a modern piece of gear that is 50+ years old and still functioning like new!!!!! To me, in a throw away world of the past 10-15 years, is simply amazing.

Ok, so the one tube that has sort of eluded me is the Amperex 7316 (basically a industrial version of the 12AU7/ECC82) for two reasons which I know many think is the king ECC82;

1) they can be prohibitively expensive and since I prefer the long plate tube that one *can* be really, really expensive and I am only interested in the early versions, not the later sub-par versions. So think 58-62.
2) I have all of the other Euro variations of the 12AU7/ECC82 made, both long and short plate.

My question to those that have compared the early short version of the 7316 to all the the other Euro ECC82 tubes, is it worth it for me to acquire this tube? Is it that much different than the others I list here?

I have in my collection:

Two versions of the 50's long plate slant D getter (foil and non-foil) Valvo Hamburg ECC82
Only version of the late 50's short plate slant O getter Valvo Hamburg ECC82
Long plate D getter w/foil Amperex ECC82 made in Holland, mid 50's
Long plate double post O getter Amperex ECC82 made in Mitcham England, late 50's
Long plate O getter Amperex ECC82 made in Blackburn England, 50's
Short plate large O getter Ameprex ECC82 made in Holland, 1959
Short plate O getter Mullard ECC82 made in Mitcham England, 1959
Short plate O getter Mullard ECC82 made in Blackburn England, 1960

So you see I'm well covered, and while I would like to own the 7316 just to complete my collection, if those who have heard it in COMPARISON to all or many that I already own don't think it's much different, then I will pass.

Again on it's own merit it gets great reviews, but few people ever mention what they have compared it to in the rest of the Euro stable to see if it that markedly different.

Thanks

H9

F1nut

It's only money. :cheesygrin:

heiney9

Yep, and sometimes it goes out faster than it comes in... :cheesygrin:

H9

drumminman

You're makin my head spin :eek:

I have 7316's D getter I bought from headrott, made in the late 50's I believe. The best tubes I've used in my linestage so far, with the mullard ECC 82 I'm using now a close second. Out of the ones you've listed which is your favorite?

I'm a tube newbie :redface:

heiney9

My favorite so far:

1956 Valvo (made in Hamburg) long plate, slant D getter w/foil strip
1957 Amperex (made in Holland) long plate, D getter w/foil strip
1959 Valvo (made in Hamburg) short plate, slant O getter.

It's hard to choose, because there are some great American tubes as well and I try and use one of each, if that makes any sense. Like a 1956 CBS 5814 blk plate or 1958 Sylvania JHS-5814 GB, gray plate in the buffer position and one of the above in the amplification position.

The possibilities are endless.

The general consensus is the early 7316's are great tubes, but not much different than the (3) I mention above. Because they have reached mythical status (warranted or unwarranted) they seem to command high prices. I'm not in to "paying" for mythical status. So I was looking for some input. I was hoping Headrott might chime in on the subject.

Which Mullard are you using? Long plate, short plate? Mitchum or Blackburn factory production? Another enjoyable combo for me has been a 1958 Mullard ECC82 long plate, D getter, made in Mitcham in the buffer position and a 1959 Amperex Bugle Boy ECC82 short plate, large O getter (Holland) in the amplification position.

Thanks for the input

H9

drumminman

heiney9 wrote: »

My favorite so far:

Which Mullard are you using? Long plate, short plate? Mitchum or Blackburn factory production?

Don't know, they're in the linestage now and can't check 'em. I got these from HR as well - he'll know.

Greg, which Mullards did I get from you?

Thanks for your opinions Brock. Helps to know someone's real world experience with all the different tubes out there. My linestage came with JJ Teslas, which were pretty good. Rolled in some RCA cleartops which were heaps better. Then the 7316's - that was eye opening.

ZLTFUL

Personally, I would go for it. It is your hobby and you enjoy it. And the purchase has the potential for you to enjoy it more.
As Jesse said, it is only money and I will add, it isn't like you can take it with you in the end.
Enjoy life while you have. Do the things you love.

Once I can get my tube gear back in play, I fully plan on getting my hands on virtually any of the good EL34s I can get my paws on. Because I love experimentation. I love turning knobs and pushing buttons...I love to see the differences that little changes make.
For the love of god man, do it or I will cliche the death out of this thread! ;-)

ALL212

I own 2 pair of 7316's. One matched pair of D getters (Ct1 series) and one matched pair of small O getters (Delta 5JB but can't make out the CT series).

The d's are almost too bright in my system and I like ECC802s's better there. But the small O getters are the best tube I've ever heard in my headphone amp.

madmax

Just buy it, its one small part of a collection.

megasat16

These are sure spendy tubes. Around 2 bills on the bay for 12AU7 type. I hope they are worth it though.

As the saying goes; you never know till you tried it. I guess worse case is you won't lose $ even if you have to flip it.

This Tube must know thing is worse than you think.

At the end of the day, I crank up my old creative T7700 computer speakers and they still sounds good. I should have not tried to know more.