#11
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Telefunken 12ax7 are pricey from the primary NOS tube dealers, yes. They are not expensive, and are plentiful, on the used market - if you are willing to accept "used, test strong or like NOS". I think this is a good way to go, since the quality of Telefunkens were produced in large quantity and in pretty consistently good quality. Both varieties (smooth plate, ribbed plate) are excellent tubes that will bring notable improvements to most 12ax7 slots. The ribbed plates have a little bit more zip up top; preferable in some systems but not others.
I've bought these kind of "pulled" Telefunkens, say $50 - $70 per tube, and you'll get an occasional dud but the overall savings makes them an awesome value for the money. Last edited by mulveling; 12-21-2019 at 07:49 PM. |
#12
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It is my somewhat unpopular opinion that the NOS supply of Telefunken 12AX7 has been exhausted. They have been out of production now for five decades and in great demand for the last two decades. If you are buying white box NOS Telefunken 12AX7 tubes then there is a high probability you are buying used tubes anyway, so don’t sweat buying used. If they have good emission and otherwise test well they will live along time in your gear.
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Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#13
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NOS Telefunkens for sure. I just picked up a pair of NOS factory matched smooth plates. Worth every freaking penny.
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Listening Room – MC2301s, C2300, VPI Prime Sig. Rosewood, w/Fatboy 10” Tonearm, SDS, Periphery Ring, Dynavector DRT XV-1s, Sutherland LittleLOCO Mk2, Harbeth SHL5, Skylan Stands, Synergistic Research: Record Clamp, PowerCell SX, Active Ground Block, Galileo Discovery PCs, Atmosphere X Euphoria ICs, Phono and Speaker Cables, GIK Impression Series Diffusers and Acoustimac DMD Panels, CA Double Matrix Pro Sonic RCM Theater Room - 7.2.4, Marantz SR7012 & MM7025, Klipsch: RF-7 III, RP-450C, RP-160M, R-112SW Atmos: CDT 5800-CII, Sunfire True EQ Sub, Samsung 75” Q60R QLED 4K UHD TV, Sony UBP-X800 4K UHD Blu-ray, VPI Scoutmaster, Clearaudio Maestro, Cambridge Audio 640P, PS Audio PPP Office - Fisher 500C, Denon DP-59L, Audio Technica AT14S Cartridge, Bluesound NODE, Acoustic Research AR-3a, Technics RS 1500 Vintage System - Pioneer SX 1980, Jolida JD100 CD, JBL Studio Monitors 4425 Semper Fidelis Teufel Hunden |
#14
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I'm bringing this one back from the dead. I'm currently using the new issue Gold Lions in my Mc C2300, earlier in the year I switched to a MC cart and never swapped tubes so I'm using whatever the stock Mc tubes were from when my 2300 was built. I am thinking to just swap the MM stage GLs to the MC, but considering replacing the line in tubes. I have a pair of matched JJ ECC803s that I got for under $30 each, but I'm strongly considering going NOS. Is there really a large noticeable difference? I don't want to drop $1,000 on NOS Telefunkens, but something like $300 for a pair of JAN GE 12AX7s doesn't seem unreasonable. Open to any input, thanks.
Edit: Maybe per this thread I'll keep an eye out for used Teles that test well. Last edited by Maks; 09-11-2021 at 06:08 PM. |
#15
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I'm no tube expert, but I use Telefunken Black Diamond tubes (made by JJ) in my C2300 with good results. Before that it was JJ Hi-Performance Gold Pin tubes. The BDs have a good dynamic and frequency balance, and to my ears pretty neutral; the JJs are weighted toward the mid/low end and warm. Smooth on top with no harsh highs.
FWIW, Magnum Dynalab uses JJ tubes (6922s) in their tuners; I don't know which tube though.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#16
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Ah I didn't realize there were new Telefunken branded tubes. I bought the JJ Golds because I think they'd work on my line stage to do some of what my MEN220 is doing today, I've been thinking about removing it from my system. I realize they're not a replacement for what it does. But taming the highs a tad would be helpful. We'll see, it's just such a pain to disconnect everything that I'd rather not swap tubes several times.
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#17
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#18
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For what it's worth, Tube Depot has a sale on tubes now. Just saw the e-mail. It runs until only 12pm CDT tomorrow, 10/27.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks Last edited by prepress; 10-26-2023 at 05:05 PM. |
#19
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I've been happy with fully tested Tung-Sol gold pin & EH gold pin & GL since my original post.
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Glenn... Canton Reference 9 Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 & MR88 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B, ST-J75 & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#20
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Gold Lions are quite good, and popular on AA. How do the Tung-Sol and EH tubes compare to the GL ones? From what I've read the GL might be a bit warmer.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
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