We just completed another tube and hifi shoot-out tonight at my apartment. The main event is the "Battle of 12AX7" which is something I have tried to organise for the last two months or so. The objective is simply to try to find out what is the best of the best 12AX7. Beside this battle, we have also compared the Proceed CDD transport vs. the Sony DVP-S7000 + Theta TLC, and the ARC LS7 pre-amp with the Matisse Fantasy Line Mk I. Both Proceed CDD and Matisse are from leehc. We are also jointed by Mak, VH, Wilson, Andy Kong and Alan. The last two left just after the hardware comparison and before we start the tube shoot-out.

First we have is the comparison between the Proceed CDD and Sony DVP-S7000+Theta TLC. This is just to confirm what we have been saying for a long time. The Result? Of course, the Proceed won. But I did not really expect by so much margin. The Proceed is just far more musical and squeezing out far more information from the CD compare to the S7000+TLC.

The Matisse also proved superior to the LS7, but I have to tell you that the Matisse won with the help of no less than HK$4k worth of Telefunken 801S and Tungsram ECC83 silver pin tubes + HK$1k worth of MIT Z-cord. And the ARC LS7 is equipped with the stock Sovtek 6922 and of course, original power cord. But the LS7 response much less to tube change compare to the Matisse and I am very sure the result will be much the same even with all Sovtek 6922 replaced by Siemens CCa.

The reason why it took so long for us to organise the Battle of 12AX7 is because we want to compare the best of the best 12AX7 even produced, and these tubes are both extremely expensive and very difficult to find. Particular the Telefunken 803S, which is selling for around HK2,600 each in the market these days. Secondly, with the tiring experience of testing 16 6DJ8 last time. We have a number to informal qualifying rounds to pick out a number of weaker candidates first.

The final line-up for the battle are :

From leehc Tungsram ECC83 silver pin

From Wilson Mullard ECC83 long "dark gray" plate/square getter

Mullard M8137 circle getter/double support/toast plate

From VH Telefunken ECC803S double support/clear glass

Amperex Bugle Boy ECC83 long plate/square getter

From me Mullard 10M Master Series 12AX7

Brimar CV4004 long black plate/square getter

Noticeable tubes that have been eliminated in the qualifying matches are Telefunken ECC83 ribbed plate, Mullard ECC83 long "light gray" plate/square getter, Mullard M8137 big circle getter/single support/toast plate, Raytheon 7729, Mullard 7025, GEC CV492, Brimar CV492, GE 5-star 5751WA black plate and WE 5755/420A.

I believe the only noticeable omission is the Gold Lion B759. But this tube is so rare and expensive that it is quite irrelevant. We will compare it to the winner if some of us find it some days.

We used leehc’s Matisse Fantasy Mk1 as battle platform with following setup :

Speakers – KEF LS3/5a Piano

Power Amp – 2 x Audion Sterling EL34 Single Ended in mono configuration

CD – Proceed CDD + Adcom GDA600 + WE 93F

Test software were the usual gold Naum Starkman Chopin, Café Blue and David Oistrakh Vol 3.

We used the same blind testing and score system we used last time with the 6DJ8 battle and again, the aim is for each judge to rank all 7 tubes and compare all the ranking score to find the top winner.

And the result? Well, I think this time we have a clear winner, which is the Mullard 10M Master Series 12AX7. Perhaps a short history about this tube first. The 10M Series is a special selected type of , I believe, early 70’s Mullard, which is "aged", tested and then plated its pins with gold. The structure of the 10M 12AX7 is the same as the Mullard yellow label short plate 12AX7. But the sound is so very different. Each of this tube is guaranteed for 10,000 hours of usage i.e. the name 10M. It is quite rare and the street price in Hong Kong should be around the same as the Telefunken 803S.

I think the 10M won by giving the most all-round sonic performance and, perhaps more importantly, the most musical sound of all. The 1^st runner-up, closely behind, is the famous Telefunken ECC803S, and this is the double getter support/clear glass version, which is generally believe to be the best version of all Telefunken 803S. This tube actually scored very high on most aspect, in particular the transience of music. But it lost out to the 10M in terms of musicality. What I feel is that the 803S tried so hard to get everything right and being the most "hifi" that it tend to communicate less of its music content compare to the 10M, which is simply more please to the ear.

Another noticeable performer, which came third overall, is the Mullard M8137. Like all M8137, it gives unbelievable bass and punch, and this particular version of M8137 is far smoother than all the other M8137 versions which make it so special.

Since I happen to own the winning tube, I should perhaps stop here and let the others comment on the result.

Another great tube evening. At the end, we all wonder what tube should we put to battle next time. Any suggestion, guys?

Creevy’s reply :

Last year I can remember that I have conducted a 12AX7 match with my friends. We drink the Cheateu 1983 and smoke our beloved Romeo Y Julita Churchill cigars besides listening to the music.
Here are the system that we have used:

Matisse Reference preamp (Mullard narrow waist CV 455 as the 12AT7)
Cary 801 ( W.E.300B date code 052, Amperex 211 & RCA red base 5691)
Technics SP10 Mark II turntable(Serial V tonearm & Koetsu cart.)
Tannoy Black 15' coaxial monitor

We have tested the following tubes also

Mullard long plate ECC83 (single getter support, double getter support, square getter of black and grey plate)
Mullard toast plate CV4004 (retangular getter, circular getter double support & large getter)
Mullard 10M 12AX7 (factory matched).
Telefunken ECC803s, ribbed & smooth plate ECC83
Amperex ECC83 long plate D getter with its famous MUSICAL sign
Brimar CV492 with black plate and retangular getter
Siemen three micas E83CC ( claims to be the TFK ECC803 version )
Gold Lion B759
CBS gold pins 7729
G.E. 5751 with 5 stars


We all feel that this match is absolutely exhausting, and there are different outcome. I cannot remember all the details but I still can quote partly of my preference:

1.Mullard toast plate retangular getter CV4004/6057
2.Mullard long black plate CV492
3.Amperex long plate D getter with factory code marked on the base of the tube.

I cannot remember the ranking of other but I am sure that the Gold Lion B759 and Mullard 1OM rank very low.

Actually I hope to make this test to be double blinded but still failed at last.

Anyway, I have recently purchased some interesting ECC83 below
a>Mullard CV492 long plate with D getter (though amperex but with factory code printed on the base of the tube)
d>Mullard BBC selected CV4004/6057 toast plate with retangular getter
c>Brimar CV492 with black plate and retangular getter PLUS the DIAMOND logo
d>Brimar Laboratory sample 6057

I am sure that these tubes must absolutely be competitive and will let you know for our result

Happy listening