11-10-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Romy the Cat Boston, MA Posts 10,166 Joined on 05-28-2004 Post #: 1 Post ID: 5833 Reply to: 5833 A new European production of 12AX7? I have heard that here and there an advertising of new 12AX7 production. http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73403 I wonder if it is the truly new production of some kind of new manufacturer (like Emission Labs or similar) or juts rebranded and repainted Russian or Chinese tubes. It is possible that they did discover even in those Russia or China a better or custom party of 12AX7 and now they brand it a new production. I would be welcoming to any story, still I am a little under suspicions that it comes from Music Direct – the company that customary sell incredible crap and that has no own recourses to understand and to appreciate the need or capacity of objectionable sound. So, when they positively comment about this reportedly better sounding 12AX7 they juts apply to my gullibility. Did anyone hear them? If they “guaranteed” right sound out of this tube then does it mean that it is possible to return it if it was not the case? Rgs, Romy the Cat "I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

11-10-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Paul S San Diego, California, USA Posts 2,664 Joined on 10-12-2006 Post #: 2 Post ID: 5835 Reply to: 5833 Worth it just for the "fins" Well, for $225/ea they'd better be good! So who is going to find out if disgruntled users can get their money back? I bought something from this bunch a while back and they were OK to deal with. EAT?  Bad name for a tube. "European" could mean Russian, but not Chinese. I haven't checked the price on "ribbies" for a while, but at last check they cost less than these EAT tubes. On the one hand, you'd think they would at least price this new tube under top NOS offerings. OTOH, the "high price trick" does have a predictable success rate. I would be interested to see if these turn up anywhere else, perhaps at a better price, once supplies build up. I also wonder if they are from a new manufacturer/plant or if they are OEM'd from some existing plant. If the latter, which seems most likely, I would next wonder how they suddenly came up with the capacity to make "superior" tubes, like they never did before. Best regards, Paul S

11-11-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Antonio J. Madrid, Spain Posts 272 Joined on 08-16-2004 Post #: 3 Post ID: 5843 Reply to: 5835 After some investigation I've found they're slovakian company and regarding the product description, they don't produce the valves, they just make a search and selection of the best current production tubes. So they charge a nice fee for that selection and testing. Not bad. If interested, check this link: http://www.euroaudioteam.com/ecc803s.php Looks like the damper-cooler they use must be magical. I bet those are current production JJ's. Maybe it's even the own JJ selling them after the quality control. Something similar to what Telefunken did with their E88CC, only the best measuring ones were sold as CCa. The normal 803s by JJ are selling for 11.95$ at Tube Store and the ECC83 goldpins for 17.95. If you have a good tube tester maybe you can buy a bunch (5 tubes go for 84.75) and get your "perfect" 12AX7. Rgrds

09-21-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Paragon Posts 6 Joined on 09-13-2009 Post #: 4 Post ID: 11794 Reply to: 5833 A new European production of 12AX7? fiogf49gjkf0d Anyone know the meaning for the code on the bottom <> 12AX7 with the number 26 and a backward 2 ? Thanks.