12AT7/ECC81 List
Matching
is $10 extra per tube
The 12AT7 is a high mu
multi-purpose double triode in a 9 pin miniature
package. There are several different versions of the 12AT7.
Below are most of
the commonly known variations of the 12AT7.
Audio People
Please READ! There is no way I or anyone else can tell you how
any given tube will sound in your equipment. There are too many
subjective variables for me or anyone to tell you unless they have your
equipment and your ears. You need to try different types to see
what you like best. I know that I would sell more tubes and make
more money if I did, but I'm not in the business of pedaling B.S.
The List Below Outlines
The Different Versions
Of Type 12AT7
|
Type
|
Description
|
| 12AT7 |
Standard version of
this double triode in 9 pin miniature package. |
| 6201/12AT7WA |
Milspec version of the
type 12AT7. Genuine versions of these have extra thick mica
wafers to help eliminate microphonics. Some have extra support
rods which give even more stability. Late versions by
Philips/ECG, etc don't have this feature. They really shouldn't
be called 12AT7WA's (or WB or WC). |
| 6679 |
Mobile communications
version of the 12AT7. This tube is supposed to be able to
maintain rated output/transconductance over a +/- 20% filament
excursion. Otherwise, this tube is the same as type 12AT7 |
| 7728 |
Premium instrument
grade tube made only by CBS/Hytron. This tube has heavily plated
gold pins. |
| ECC801/ECC801S |
Super premium grade
tube made by Telefunken. The "S" version is a special selected
tube. |
   
Major USA & Other
Brands
| Type |
Description |
Price |
| 12AT7 GE |
GE Gray Plate 1960's thru 80's. NEW (NOS) Gray Plates. Decent
General Purpose 12AT7. Good for most audio and other
applications. Tested Good For Gain, Transconductance, Noise and
Microphonics |
$10 ea |
| 12AT7 Sylvania |
Sylvania Gray Plate 1960's thru 80's. NEW (NOS) Gray Plates. Decent
General Purpose 12AT7. Good for most audio and other
applications. Tested Good For Gain, Transconductance, Noise and
Microphonics |
$10 ea |
| 12AT7 RCA |
RCA 1950's thru 80's. NEW (NOS) These will have either black
or gray plates. They also have 2 different shapes. One is a
flat rectangular type and the other is kind of D shaped. You need
to specify which you want. Tested Good For Gain,
Transconductance, Noise and Microphonics |
$20 for gry
plate
$30 ea for blk plate
|
| 12AT7 Tung Sol |
Tung
Sol Brand 1950's-'60's.
NEW (NOS)
Many audiophiles prefer Tung Sol brand tubes for their excellent
overall quality. Tested Good For Gain, Transconductance, Noise
and Microphonics |
$40 ea |
| 12AT7 USA Misc. |
Misc. USA brands 1950's-'80's. NEW (NOS) Too many brands available to
list individually. Examples include CBS/Hytron, Raytheon,
Westinghouse, National Union, etc. Specific
brand/construction requests are by QUOTE ONLY. |
$10 ea |
| 6679 |
Mobile
Version (see description of 6679 at top of page)
NEW (NOS) Price is the same as corresponding brand of 12AT7 above |
|
| 6201, 12AT7WA,
12AT7WB, 12AT7WC |
Ruggedized Mil-Spec 12AT7. NEW (NOS) These
tubes, like all tubes with the "W" in the suffix have to meet certain
MilSpec standards for shock and vibration. This makes the this
version an excellent choice where microphonics are of concern.
Available in GE, Sylvania, RCA, etc. brands. Tested Good For
Gain, Transconductance, Noise and Microphonics |
GE = $20
Syl = $20
RCA= $30
other brands and construction, call for quote
|
| 6201 GP |
Sylvania
Gold Brand with GOLD
PINS NEW
(NOS) This is a special high quality version made by
Sylvania with GOLD PINS. Excellent choice for any 12AT7
application. Tested Good For Gain, Transconductance, Noise and
Microphonics |
call/email |
| 7728 |
CBS or Raytheon NEW
(NOS) Premium CBS Industrial tube with gold pins These were used in special
critical applications which require reliable performance with low noise
and microphonics. They're very rare. Tested Good For Gain,
Transconductance, Noise and Microphonics |
call/email |
Telefunken-West Germany
Telefunken tubes are the most highly
revered tube
in the audiophile hobby. Telefunken tubes were very well
made tubes produced by legendary German precision engineering.
The sound is superb and they seem to last forever. There
was a special version called the ECC801/ECC801S which is a
premium type. The Telefunken handbook equates this tube
with the 6201, so apparently it is their milspec tube. The
ECC801S is a selected type that has been screened for low noise
and microphonics.
| Type |
Description |
Price |
| 12AT7 Telefunken |
Telefunken 12AT7 NEW (NOS) Diamond
<> bottom indicates genuine Telefunken made. I really don't
need to comment on the excellent quality of any Telefunken tube.
Their reputation says it all. |
call/email |
| 12AT7 Telefunken |
Telefunken 12AT7 USED TESTED GOOD. Good TELEFUNKEN
LOGO tested good for noise, microphonics and gain Very limited
quantity of these on hand at any given time. |
$50 ea |
| 12AT7 Telefunken |
As above but
obscured logo, missing logo, or other brand name made by Telefunken
(ie. Fisher, etc.) |
$45 ea |
| ECC801/S Telefunken |
Telefunken ECC801/ECC801S NEW (NOS) Highest quality Telefunken
12AT7 The "S" indicates "Selected" tube. Almost never
available as NOS |
call/email |
| ECC801/S |
As above but USED TESTED GOOD. Tested Good For
Gain, Transconductance, Noise and Microphonics |
call/email |
Mullard U.K.
Mullard tubes made in the U.K. are also
a very
highly thought of tube by the majority of audiophiles. Like
Telefunken tubes, they generally enjoy a long life, low noise and
superb sound. Which is better?? Only you can decide.
You need to listen to 'em both to find out which you like
best.
Currently Available
Mullard 12AT7's
| Type |
Description |
Price |
| 12AT7 Mullard |
Mullard
12AT7 made in the UK NEW
(NOS) Shield
Logo made in the 50's/60's. Mullard tubes are of excellent sound
quality and a good choice for any audio application. |
$65 ea |
| 12AT7 Mullard |
As above, but USED TESTED GOOD Good Mullard logo |
$35 ea |
| 12AT7 Mullard |
Mullard 12AT7 made in the UK NEW (NOS) These are the same tubes as above
but have different branding like GE, Sylvania, etc. Many tube
manufacturers would buy their tubes from overseas vendors such as
Mullard and put their name on it. Save a few bucks with
these. Same tube, different brand name. |
$60 ea |
| 12AT7 Mullard |
As above, but USED TESTED GOOD May have other logo
than Mullard or obscured or missing logo |
$30 ea |
Amperex is also a favorite brand among
audiophiles. Their
quality is on par with Mullard and Telefunken tubes. There are 2
main
plants that produced Amperex small tubes. One was in Holland and
the other
was in France. Amperex had different logos on their tubes
depending on the
target market and the age of the tube. The most popular logo
among
audiophiles is the "bugleboy" logo which appeared during the late
1950's through the late 1960s'. During the 1970's the logo
changed to the
orange colored "world" logo. There was also a plain white
Amperex logo which appears on tubes regardless of age. I think that
these tubes
were labeled for OEM applications, but I'm not really sure. The
PQ logo
was placed on "premium quality" tubes that were designed for
industrial applications. They were improved versions of the
standard tube
which usually had superior microphonic and noise characteristics and
also met
military shock and vibration specs. Many of the PQ tubes were
designed
specifically for computers (!) and had special characteristics to
survive those
applications. Tubes labeled with JAN (Joint Army Navy) were
the same
tubes PQ only they had been labeled for the military.
| Type |
Description |
Price |
| 12AT7 Amperex |
12AT7
Amperex Holland NEW
(NOS) These were made in Holland by parent company
Philips. These are excellent quality tubes and are an excellent
choice for any application, especially audio. Earlier versions
made in the 50's/60's have the famous "bugleboy" logo. Later
versions from the late 60's/70's have the "world" logo. |
$65 Bugleboy
$50 World
|
| 12AT7 Amperex |
12AT7 Amperex
Holland As above but USED TESTED GOOD.
|
$25 Bugleboy
$20 World
|
| 12AT7 Amperex |
Bugleboy made in
France. Excellent tube. Many say better than the Holland
made ones. New Old Stock |
$50 Bugleboy |
| 12AT7 Amperex |
These are the
same tubes as above but have different branding like GE, Sylvania,
etc. Many tube manufacturers would buy their tubes from overseas
vendors such as Amperex and put their name on it. Save a few
bucks with these. Same tube, different brand name. |
$40 ea |
| 12AT7 Pope |
These are some
real nice Pope branded 12AT7's made by Philips/Amperex in
Holland. They are NOS and in some very cool looking boxes.
Pope was a manufacturer of audio equipment in Holland during the
50's/60's. Only a few in stock. Hurry. |
$45 ea |
Siemens West Germany
Siemens is a well know company which
produces many products
including vacuum tubes. Their tubes are known for generally high
quality
and good sound. Actually many Telefunken branded tubes were
produced by
Siemens. They have a number molded in the center of the pins
instead of
the diamond. If you see this characteristic number in the glass,
then the
tube was probably produced by Siemens regardless of the branding
printed on the
tube.
Currently Available
Siemens 12AT7's
| Type |
Description |
Price |
| 12AT7 Siemens |
12AT7 Siemens West
Germany NEW
(NOS) These are UNBRANDED BULK tubes that say only 12AT7
West Germany on them. They are made by Siemens and they are
NEW. Good quality tube if you don't care about logos. |
$35 ea |
There
are other more obscure 12AT7's available, but just too many for me to
list right now. This would include brands like Brimar, RFT,
Haltron, etc. I will list them when I get time. If you are
looking for some specific brand, please email me. Just because I
don't list it doesn't mean I don't have it.
|
