Mullard 12AX7 / ECC83

Price of NOS 12AX7s got you down? This new re-issue of the famous Mullard 12AX7 made in Russia is the answer to your woes! Very low noise and microphony make this tube an excellent candidate for many touchy preamps and phonostage applications. Has a smoother midrange similar to NOS Mullards (though not quite the same). Some folks have reported them to be a smidge relaxed on top. If you want something with a little more lively presentation, try the new production Tung-Sol 12AX7.

A quick note on this tube: The filaments on these tubes are almost completely encased in the plate structure. So if you don’t see them glowing as bright as some of your other 12AX7s… don’t sweat it. It’s normal for this tube.

This tube tested extremely low in noise and microphonics across the board, so we do not have any Driver Grade.

Platinum grade – The best of the best. Lowest noise and microphony with the tightest triode balance we have available. This is typically 10% or tighter, but may be higher depending on available stock.

Gold grade – Low noise and microphonics with a triode balance typically between 15% and 20%, but may be higher depending on available stock.

Driver grade – Lowest noise but not the lowest in microphony. Triode balance will be similar to Gold grade.
This grade is only suitable for use in the driver stage of an amplifier, or the output/buffer stage of a DAC or CD Player.

If you have a preamp or phonostage, you need at least Gold grade.

Click here for a more in depth discussion on how we grade tubes.