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RE: Which natural sounding ECC81 with bass performance like RFT?

Posted by Bambi B (A) on September 23, 2013 at 06:53:20

In Reply to: Which natural sounding ECC81 with bass performance like RFT? posted by Nunki on September 22, 2013 at 08:51:51:

Nunki,

The sound a tube might make will vary with the equipment in which it's used, but here a few general comments >

I use eight 12AT7's in five components and have tried a number of 12AT7 types:

Siemens & Halske E81CC- 3 mica- DE- NOS
Siemens & H- ECC81- NOS
Valvo 6201–White label- Hamburg- gold pin -NOS
Mullard M8162- UK- NOS
Sylvania GB 6201-steel pins- NOS 124/120,120/118
Sylvania GB 6201 gold pins- US- NOS
Amperex Bugle Boy-France- NOS
GE 6201 5 star- 3-mica- NOS
RCA -HP- NOS
RCA 6201 2-mica black plate- NOS
Sylvania JAN 12AT7WA 3-mica 1958 -NOS
Sylvania 12AT7WA-Gold Print- 3 mica -USED
GE -NOS
Westinghouse- black plate-NOS
Telefunken ECC81- USED
Philips JAN- NEW
RFT- USED
GE 6201- 3 mica, sq gtr- NOS
Telefunken ECC81- NOS
Siemens&H-12AT7WA-3 mica-1-dbl gtr sup-DE- USED
Siemens-12AT7WA- 3 mica- single gtr sup- DE- USED
Sylvania JHS 12AT7WA 3-mica, bl pl, sq gtr -NOS
Raytheon JHC 12AT7WA- blk plt 3-mica- NOS [*5
Raytheon JRO 12AT7WA halo gr plt 2 mc-NOS [*5
Siemens ECC81 by RFT?- military label- USED
Telefunken ECC81 by Siemens & H- Munich- USED
Valvo ECC81- Mullard Blackburn UK- USED
TungSol 6201 2-mica, grey plate-halo- NOS
Valvo 6201 Hamburg gold pin- dimp- DE- NOS
Siemens E81CC/6201 2 mica- stl pn- DE- NOS
Valvo 6201, Blue- 2 mica g pin- halo-DE ‘64- NOS
Siemens & Halske E81CC- 2 mica- DE- NOS
Telefunken ECC801S- NOS
Telefunken ECC81- NOS

TOTAL : 91

> and found there is quite a range in flavors. Here are three favorites:

Sylvania 12AT7WA > Late 50's. This is a triple mica, black plate, square getter military tube that is deep, lush, rich, and a bit bass heavy. Very good in a system that is other while a bit lean or sterile.

Valvo 6201 > Philips, Hamburg Early to mid/late 60's. I have a couple of the blue label, but never one of the supposedly magic blue label, pinched waist version of these, but the white label version is just fine. Like a lot of Philips ECC81, balanced (no glaring emphasis), natural timbre, accurate, and fast without being harsh. Does everything well.

Siemens E81CC > Mid-60's. There are several versions of the Siemens E81CC, but the only one to have is the triple mica version. If you see these with double getter supports, those can be Klangfilm and are very sought after. I have a couple of those but have never tried them- supposed to be the top version. The Siemens triple mica is my overall favorite- energy packed and punchy, clear, strong bass. Can liven up sluggish vintage!

Other comments:

I've had a number of Telefunken ECC81 and ECC801S, and was never impressed. They're very fast and dynamic, but too lean and dry for me- a bit thin.

Also, Mullards are all over the map. The only Mullard I thought was fantastic was the early M8162- which has the famous Mullard mid-range qualities. There are a lot of late ones from the 80's that are not pleasant, and to me seem of unpredictable quality. Approach Mullards with caution.

I've never met an RCA tube I didn't like, but I've also never found an outstanding RCA 12AT7, though the black plate 6201 has promise.

Cheers,

Bambi B

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