What Is The Difference Between 12AX7 And 12AY7?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The 12AY7 tubes are not 12AX7’s and have many different properties. They draw more current than a 12AX7 as well as having different internal capacitance between elements and a different plate dissipation. Because of these differences, they sound different in a circuit designed for a 12AX7 tube.

What is the difference between 12AX7 and 12AU7?

The biggest difference between these power tubes is the amount of gain they will provide. The 12AX7 has a gain factor of 100 , while the 12AT7 has 60. The 12AU7 has the smallest, at just 20. The lower gain of the 12AT7 and 12AU7 also allows them to have a higher headroom, which can provide a warmer and cleaner sound.

Is 7025 the same as 12AX7?

The ECC83 (12AX7) Valve

The answer is simple. In ‘theory’ you’ll get a bit lower noise and lower hum with a 7025. Otherwise, they are identical .

Are 12AX7 and 12AY7 interchangeable?

You can interchange a 12AX7 with 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AY7 or 5751 as they are all the same pin structure, however they will each give you a different result in your amp. Each of these tubes has a different gain factor, which means some will give higher gain and others lower gain.

What is the difference between 12AX7 and 12AX7A?

These are not military tubes and are not NOS tubes at all. Also, as tube manufacturing became refined, the 12AX7A became much quieter . So much in fact that a lot of 12AX7A’s were labeled 7025’s (a very quiet version of the 12AX7). So the bottom line is that you can use either of these tubes in your Marshall amp.

Is 12AU7 and 12AX7 interchangeable?

The 12AX7, 12AT7, and 12AU7 all belong to the same family of nine contact, twin triode tubes. In many cases, these tubes are interchangeable and can easily be swapped.

Do preamp tubes make a difference?

Preamp tubes do make a difference . They warm up the sound and they have a more pleasant or desired overdriven sound for guitar than transistors. They have improved the sound of overdriven transistors in recent years. Different brands of tubes make a difference in performance and reliability.

What is the difference between 12AU7A and 12AU7?

The only difference between the 12AU7 and the 12AU7A is the “A” version can be used in series string filament circuits due to it’s controlled warm-up cathode. Otherwise, there is no difference. Both of these are “milspec” versions of the 12AU7.

What is the difference between ECC83 and 12AX7?

What is the difference between a 12AX7 Valve and an ECC83 valve? The answer is simple – there is not the slightest difference between these two valves . They are identical.

Are all 12AX7 tubes the same?

All 12AX7 tubes have an amplification factor (μ) of 100 (“high-mu”). Ideally, every 12AX7 should yield the same gain when placed in the same circuit . However, in reality there are comparative gain differences among 12AX7s.

Which 12AX7 sounds best?

The most exclusive ECC83 12AX7 type is the Genalex Gold Lion ECC83 . The Original Genalex Gold Lion ECC83/B759 tubes are considered among the best ECC83 / 12AX7 types ever made. . They exhibit a large detailed soundstage that is sought after by discerning audiophiles who demand the highest quality sound.

Are vacuum tubes interchangeable?

The only real difference is the shape of the glass envelope. Electronically they are the same and can be used interchangeably with no problems.

What are 12AX7 tubes used for?

The 12AX7 is typically used as a class-A amplifier in the hi-fi, professional line and microphone preamps and is usually, always found in the preamp sections of tube guitar amps including Fender, Marshall, Boogie and Soldano.

How do preamp tubes work?

A vacuum tube that is intended to be placed in the preamp section of an electronic audio device, where it amplifies incoming instrument or microphone level signals up to line level . Among the most common preamp tubes is the 12ax7, which is used in everything from guitar amplifiers to microphone preamplifiers.

Can I substitute 12AX7 for 12AX7A?

no difference anyways. Correct. The 5751 has a lower mu than the 12AX7A so these are NOT equivalent. NEVER replace a 12AX7 (A) and its’ equivalents numbers in a phono preamp unless you’re sure RIAA correction does not depend on its’ characteritic values.

How often should tubes be changed in amps?

On average, tubes can last from 500 to 1,000 hours , so if you play with your amp two to three hours every day, you can safely expect to get around a year or less from your vacuum tubes.

How long do ECC83 tubes last?

Tube Life Span

Preamp Tubes are generally at their best 2 – 3 years . Power Tubes are generally at their best 1 – 1.5 years. Rectifier Tubes are generally at their best 3 – 5+ years.

Do preamp tubes need to be biased?

With preamp tubes, you don’t need to worry about things like biasing or using matched pairs as you do with power tubes. As long as your new tube is the same model as what you’re replacing (12AX7, 12AT7, 6SN7, etc.), you’re good.

Do preamp tubes wear out?

Yes, some tubes fail much earlier than that, but many indeed last that long. ... Preamp tubes are more compact and don’t have to work as hard, so they tend to last even longer , or seemingly forever if you’ve been waiting for them to go bad so you don’t need any excuses to try a new set.

Do 12AX7 tubes need to be matched?

Using 12AX7s as an example, matching these preamp tubes is a good idea, but by no means essential . These tubes, along with the 6DJ8 variety, are known as linestage tubes. When they are matched, this will ensure that you get even gain from both tubes.

Can you replace a 12AX7 with an ECC83?

Changing tubes in an amp can be a particularly challenging experience, especially since there seem to be so many of them. In this article, we’ll concentrate on the question of the ECC83 vs 12Ax7 tubes. The truth is, there is no difference at all between them, and each one is interchangeable with the other.

What is the difference between ECC83 and ECC83S?

The ECC83 MG is a “Mid Gain” 12AX7 type tube. ... It retains all of the definition and detail that the ECC83S short plate and the ECC803S long plate tubes have but it has slightly less gain than the ECC83S but a bit more gain than the ECC803S. Sonically it’s nice and thick sounding with a good edge that’s not brittle.

Are tube amps worth it?

In many cases, tube amps do not require the amount of maintenance that they have a reputation for. As long as you properly take care of your gear, owning a tube amp is simple and very well worth it for the tone .

What kind of tube is a 12AX7?

12AX7 (also known as ECC83) is a miniature dual-triode 6AV6 vacuum tube with high voltage gain . Developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Camden, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522, it was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947.

How long do 12AX7 tubes last?

Small signal tubes like a 12AX7 or 6922 will work well on average for about 10,000 hours .

What are JJ tubes?

JJ Electronic, s.r.o is a Slovak electronic component manufacturer , and one of the world’s remaining producers of vacuum tubes. They are based in Čadca, in the Kysuce region of Slovakia. Most of the products that JJ offers are audio receiving tubes. These vacuum tubes are mainly used for guitar and hi-fi amplifiers.

How do you tell if you need new tubes in your amp?

  1. Excessive noise (hiss, hum) including squealing or microphonic tubes.
  2. Loss of high end. ...
  3. A muddy bottom end; Sounds like there is too much bass and note clarity is lost.
  4. Erratic changes in the overall volume. ...
  5. The amp doesn’t work!

What does Jan mean on a vacuum tube?

The JAN designation is found on many American made new old stock tubes, and stands for “ Joint Army Navy “. It means they were originally built for the military, often with improvements in their construction and quality control.

Which vacuum tubes are valuable?

  • The 2A3 (from $50), 45 (from $25), 50 (from $200) are enjoyed explicitly by the audiophile crowd.
  • The 12AX7 preamp tube (from $10)
  • The American 6L6 tube (from $15)

Who makes Tung-Sol tubes?

The Tung-Sol name and trademark have been acquired by the New Sensor Corporation . This new production Tungsol tube is manufactured at their Xpo-Pul factory (also known as Reflektor) in Saratov, Russia.

Where are Tung-Sol tubes made?

Assembled by hand in the Reflektor factory in Saratov, Russia , new production Tung-Sol tubes reflect the best in vintage Tung-Sol construction with unsurpassed tone and reliability.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.