dufo
Well-known member
Would anyone be able to give me any idea on how these tubes differ? Mainly talking about the actual sound in the end result. I know it depends on the circuit they are in, but generally speaking what do you think? Thanks...
12AT7 V's ECC82
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NewYorkDave
Well-known member
The 12AT7/ECC81 and 12AU7/ECC82 are different tubes with different operating curves. They're both dual triodes and share the same basing, but they're different enough that it's pointless to compare their "sound" because they won't work optimally in the same circuits. One may sometimes be used as a quick-and-dirty sub for the other in an emergency, but that doesn't give a reasonable basis for comparison.
12AT7 (ECC81) Amplification factor of 60 @ 250 volts
12AU7 (ECC82) Amplification factor of 17 @ 250 volts
What application do you have in mind? More information needed. The best option is get hold of one and plug it into whatever you're thinking of. What one person likes, another often dislikes.
To be facetious, I've accidently stood on both and they sounded similar. :green: Edit: Sorry if I stole somebody's line there.
Edit: NYD got in first. I'm thinking of guitar amps when I suggest plugging in either. Listen to him... he's smarter than me
12AU7 (ECC82) Amplification factor of 17 @ 250 volts
What application do you have in mind? More information needed. The best option is get hold of one and plug it into whatever you're thinking of. What one person likes, another often dislikes.
To be facetious, I've accidently stood on both and they sounded similar. :green: Edit: Sorry if I stole somebody's line there.
Edit: NYD got in first. I'm thinking of guitar amps when I suggest plugging in either. Listen to him... he's smarter than me
NewYorkDave
Well-known member
That whole "taste testing" thing used to make me laugh when I worked in the guitar amp biz. People would plug "Tube X" into a position designed for "Tube Y" and then make sweeping statements about how "Tube X" sucked or was great, etc.
dufo
Well-known member
Thanks guys, I realise its a futile question in some ways.
My reason for asking is I have to sell my tube pre I have now unfortunately. I will be replacing it by building a G9 , with ECC82's.
The one Im selling has the 12AT7. I also notice it dosent use any input or output trransformers. I presume this would be another bigt factor on the resulting sound.
I plan to use top notch caps. and components in the G9. I wish I knew more so by looking in this pre tonight as I did, I could tell what sort of circuit it is.
My reason for asking is I have to sell my tube pre I have now unfortunately. I will be replacing it by building a G9 , with ECC82's.
The one Im selling has the 12AT7. I also notice it dosent use any input or output trransformers. I presume this would be another bigt factor on the resulting sound.
I plan to use top notch caps. and components in the G9. I wish I knew more so by looking in this pre tonight as I did, I could tell what sort of circuit it is.
pstamler
Well-known member
[quote author="dufo"]My reason for asking is I have to sell my tube pre I have now unfortunately. I will be replacing it by building a G9 , with ECC82's.
The one Im selling has the 12AT7. I also notice it dosent use any input or output trransformers. I presume this would be another bigt factor on the resulting sound.
I plan to use top notch caps. and components in the G9. I wish I knew more so by looking in this pre tonight as I did, I could tell what sort of circuit it is.[/quote]
If it has no input transformer, but incorporates a tube, it's almost certainly a "starved plate" device. That's a cheap solid-state preamp stage that's followed by a tube operated in an extremely high-distortion mode, in an attempt to add "toob majic" to a grubby signal. That you are selling it is a good step forward.
Peace,
Paul
The one Im selling has the 12AT7. I also notice it dosent use any input or output trransformers. I presume this would be another bigt factor on the resulting sound.
I plan to use top notch caps. and components in the G9. I wish I knew more so by looking in this pre tonight as I did, I could tell what sort of circuit it is.[/quote]
If it has no input transformer, but incorporates a tube, it's almost certainly a "starved plate" device. That's a cheap solid-state preamp stage that's followed by a tube operated in an extremely high-distortion mode, in an attempt to add "toob majic" to a grubby signal. That you are selling it is a good step forward.
Peace,
Paul
