The new Tubes are in.

What I received were a set of NOS JAN-Phillips identical to this but with a date of 9/87.


The 12ax7s came wrapped in bubble bags and do not have clear markings. in a yellowy-green writing, one side of the tube has the 12AX7 and on opposite side it just says China and there is a small number running vertical at 90 degrees to the other writing. They look to be a long plate construction.

After only a half hour warmup, I could tell I was on the right track. Things opened up a bit on both the bottom end and specially at the top end. After about 4 hours they were really sounding good. My Danes have never put out the current sound before. So much more detail and sparkle in the mids and highs. Maybe a tad bright at first listen but also a more live sound. Bass was deeper, tighter, and just plain more of it.

I listened to a couple well recorded disks, one HDCD, and a few older or not so great recordings and all sounded better by a long shot. I was hearing percussion, cymbal sounds, chimes and bells in tracks I previously never noticed.

I also flipped the Pre to it's Passive setting which cuts out the AU7s and just goes thru the AX7s. These new China tubes blow away the Sovtek AX7LPS and WXT+ tubes I have always used. It was like a whole new pre amp in Passive and not lacking a thing but some gain from the AU7s.

More to come as they break in and I get used to them.