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  #11  
Old 12-21-2019, 07:45 PM
mulveling mulveling is offline
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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.
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  #12  
Old 12-22-2019, 04:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mulveling View Post
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.


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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  #13  
Old 01-30-2020, 11:51 PM
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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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  #14  
Old 09-11-2021, 06:02 PM
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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.
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  #15  
Old 09-13-2021, 05:59 AM
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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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  #16  
Old 09-13-2021, 04:29 PM
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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  
Old 09-15-2021, 04:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maks View Post
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.
The Telefunken BDs are the result of a partnership between Telefunken and JJ. They go for around $54 each, the last price I saw.
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  #18  
Old 10-26-2023, 04:58 PM
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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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Last edited by prepress; 10-26-2023 at 05:05 PM.
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  #19  
Old 10-26-2023, 07:20 PM
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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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  #20  
Old 10-31-2023, 10:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2 View Post
I've been happy with fully tested Tung-Sol gold pin & EH gold pin & GL since my original post.
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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