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104.28.50.170
Hi all,
I was going through tubes a couple weeks ago, and found a pair of Philips (I think) that I couldn't identify who manufactured them.
I've collected tubes for nearly 30 years, and am used to identifying at least the relatively common varieties of 12AX7 and 12AU7, but this pair has me stumped. I've looked for codes toward the bottom of the tubes, as well as between the pins. All I'm able to find is a two-digit code of what looks like 79 on one tube, and what looks like 76 on the other tube - both codes are in green or yellow (I'm colorblind and can't tell).
Does anyone recognize the origin of these tubes?
I have attached a photo of one of the tubes, I will attach a photo of the other tube shortly.
Thanks in advance for any assistance!
Sincerely,
Brandt
Follow Ups:
If it looks like typical '60s/'70s Philips short-plate ECC83 design, but does not have any etch code, chances are that it is either Matsushita/Japan, or BEL/India.
Your tube has a mica notch that is in line with the flat face of the plates, and this is one characteristic to distinguish BEL.
I'm proposing that your tube is likely to have been made by Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore, India.
Thank you, Opalize, for taking time to look at these and give feedback! I certainly hoped they were something else, but with no etched code they seemed too good to be true in terms of labeling. Haven't tried listening to them, and most likely won't. Bummer!
You might like 'em!
Personally, though I appreciate short-plate Heerlen Philips and Blackburn/Mullard ECC83, I don't find them very appealing. I'd much rather have Valvo/Hamburg instead. But comparing them to early GE "Ken-Rad" 12AX7, for instance, and they're all kind of congested.
You never know until you try.
Hi Opalize, thanks again for your feedback!
And apologies - I incorrectly credited another for your mention/suggestion of KenRad 12AX7...- I will try those when these Amperex are ready to be replaced.
Here's a picture of the pair I found in the stash...-
Thanks again!
I love 'em! Very clear 12AX7. Unfortunately they are prone to noise and microphony. But if you have good ones, then you have GREAT ones!
I intend to find out! 🤠I'll feedback when I try the mystery tubes as well as the KenRads...-
Thanks once more!
Hehe, I might indeed - thanks once more, opalize! I've pretty much found the ax7 and au7 brands I like for the amps I use after years of rolling them, though!
In my Response modded ASL Orchid, I like the Tele g73r as the lone preamp tube, and two Tesla E83CC as drivers for the two WWII era RCA 2a3's powering modern Klipsch RM160 bookshelf speakers.
In my stock ASL Orchid, I like Tele ECC82 as the lone preamp tube, and two I61 Blackburn ECC83 driving RCA 2a3 to power a pair old single-driver EV Aristocrats.
In my main system Line Magnetic 210IA, I like 1960s RCA 5U4G as rectifiers, 1950s Amperex long plate D foil getter ECC83 as preamp, 1960s WE 310a as driver tubes, and 21st century WE reissue 300b w/graphene on the plates powering Sentry IVB horns in the living room.
I think the 50's Amperexes in my main system may be getting close to worn out, which is why I was looking through the tube horde recently. I spotted this "Miniwatt Holland" pair in my stash, and thought WOOHOO I'll try these for a while - until I couldn't find an etched code and spotted the colored printed 76 and 79 approximately where the I6x deltaxx should be! I just bought a replacement pair of the foil getter Amperex (and I checked the codes - both mC6 delta8K), but the cost has gone up significantly since I last really bought small tubes, and don't want to spend that much again on small tubes given the horde I already have. I'm more likely to go with Tele ax7 or one of the Siemens variety or maybe a Mullard variety or an I63 or 65 Amperex from my stash rather than go with this tube that appears most likely India or Japan. (Before I couldn't find a code, I thought these were likely I63 Amperex.)
I've just rolled enough that I know these India/Japan tube aren't going to compare to the others I have available to my ears. Alternatively, if I did like them, that may be worse because then I'd realize how much $ I've wasted over the years on "good" tubes... Arrgh!
Anyway, thanks again for your help!
but still worth trying the Phillips (assuming they test strong and are matched), you never know? The price is right.
You ecc83 (Tesla, Amperex, Mullard) are all slightly warm through the mids (in an good way) but there are more linear tubes out there (Telefunken, Siemens) as I'm sure you're aware. It's all personal taste. My system uses 3 pairs of 12ax7 (2 in the phono and 1 pair as input tubes in my amp) which allows me to mix and match. I have found Telefunken (a tube I never cared for in my amp) to be unrivalled in the first gain stage of the phono and it took me a year of rolling to try it out. Have never been able to keep any Mullard ecc83 in my system for longer than a week before taking it out, just too warm in the middle which to me veils midrange detail but beautiful sounding no doubt. Personal preference again. Quite often use top 1950s US made 5751s in the input stage in my amp. Enjoy!
Edits: 02/02/23
PS Mendel - yesterday, I rummaged through my stash again and found a pair of the early KenRad 12ax7 you mentioned - with the long darkish-pewtery looking plates. I put them back in the stash for now, but when these Amperex are ready for retirement or give up the ghost, I'll try them in this 300b amp, too...- May as well see (hear) what this Chinese rig sounds like completely tubed with American tubes!
Thanks again, Mendel!
Hi again Mendel, and thanks once more! You're right, can't beat the price, and who knows, maybe they'll be a magic tube in this rig!
RE: the more linear tubes, I like the Teles in this amp as preamp tubes, and I agree that in my amps the Teles do well as the first tube in the audio path! The mC Amperex's that I use now (and for which I bought replacements at way too high price) just give me the deep holographic technicolor audio cloud that [some's] audio dreams are made of...-
I got my Sentry 4B speakers 15 years or so out of the old downtown theater in Altus, OK, and sort of pieced together parts for them (1 had blown both 12" speakers and the wiring in both was in shambles). The old original crossovers are still original. So what? I'm not sure how linear or how well they measure at all compared to what they're supposed to, but I sure love the heck out of them with either 2a3 or 300b rigs powering them!
Anyway, thanks again Mendel - I'll update this post when I try the mystery tubes out as suggested. Might be a little while - I'm listening now to the mC tubes and they're sounding great tonight.
I'm always very happily satisfied by the great feedback I've received on this forum through the years!!!
I have many, many NOS 6DJ8 tubes, of all different brands, a box full of them. A number of years ago I bought a couple of Amperex and when I got them I realized, even thought hey are stamped Amperex in Amperex boxes, they are Russian. But, they are the best 6DJ8 I have ever heard. I bought the rest of what they had. Now I don't use 6DJ8s but they are aging well. But they are truly excellent. You never know.
iBasso DX300MAX Ti. Focal Utopia and Stellia. iBasso SR2. Mr. Speakers, Ether II, Voce stats. Manley, Absolute headphone amp. LTA MZ3, Z10e electrostatic amp. Many other headphones, amps, cables etc.
Hi John, thank you, and well, based on the feedback I've received from you and the others, I'm going to give them a try...-
Might be a couple weeks, might be several months or even a year from now (just depends how long the current Amperexes stay in the amp), but I'll follow up here and let everyone know the result...-
Thanks again, John, I much appreciate the helpful feedback I have always been spoiled with on this forum!!!
The triangular edges of the round mica spacers touching the glass are very unusual. I have never seen that in an Amperex or Mullard E83CC. Maybe a Indian Bel as suggested.
Thank you, Mendel, for your time and your feedback on these! I was hoping they were something closer to European, but they are what they are. Oh well. Thanks again!
2nd Tube
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