Amperex Bugle Boy 12au7 tubes
Picked up a pair of NOS 12au7 Bugle Boys in top condition for my Air Tight ATM1-S.
First time using Bugle Boys, and wow the ambience, bloom, tube magic is insanely good. Holographic and huge soundstage. Bass is great, highs smooth and mids are too good...
I have used a lot of NOS from Valvo, Telefunken, other Amperex (not bugle boy though) GE Military Spec, along with many brand new modern tubes from most name brands. The new stuff just does not compare to the NOS, and I given them so many tries at 100s of hours use, but new tubes for me are too mechanical sounding, too bright and edgy despite long burn in time.
Anyone used other tubes that they think compare favorably to Bugle Boy AU7s?
Pauls Stuff
Amp and Pre — Air Tight ATM1-S tube amp 36wpc EL34, Linn Akurate Kontrol 2 channel preamp
Speakers and Analog - Proac Response D Two, Thorens TD160HD with Clearaudio Talismann V2 cart, Clearaudio Basic+ with Accu+ phono preamp
Digital — Auralic Aries streamer, Cambridge Audio 840C CD
Rack Isolation - Solid Tech Radius Solo, HRS, Symposium, and Synergisitc Research isolation shelfs.
Power treatment/cables — Audience AR6TS power conditioner, interconnects and power cables mix of Cardas Golden Reference and Nordost Valhalla.