What is IYE the least microphonic CP 12AX7 for V1?

[Rex Rocker]

That still sounds good?

I like Chinese AX7's, but I've never tried one out of many I've ordered that hasn't at least been mildly ping-y in V1 of my EVH.

Same with Mullard CV4004's and Tung Sols.

JJ's have been the most silent of the bunch, but I don't like how they sound.

What has been you guys' experience?

 

[SpiderWars]

If you're just tapping on it with a chopstick or something, that can lead you astray. Often the ones that pass that tap test with flying colors do so because they are low gain (which might be what you want but usually not). Hearing a little ping thru a high gain amp is often fine.

Generally speaking, tubes with shorter plates are less prone to microphonics. Without a tube tester to help you select you have to just rely on your ears. And ime when you're rolling tubes your ears get fatiqued and at some point you're just wasting time. Pick just a very few tubes and decide which is best of that bunch then take a break (a low noise break) before doing another test. Morning is best because all your senses are more keen.

 

[Markedman]

Very few tubes have made me go "whoa" and one of those fits your description, Mesa SPAX7. It has a rubber over the glass and is premium grade, high gain, high volume, low microphonic. You will hear difference.

 

[napalmdeath]

I always go with a Tungsol.

 

[skullfxr]

Sovtex 12AX7WXT LPS is what I have had best luck with for low microphonics AND low volume.

 

[RedPlated]

EHX are rarely microphonic

 

[Rex Rocker]

Yeah, EHX's are solid in that department, but they're kind of like the polar opposite of JJ's: bright to the point of being kinda harsh. I do prefer them to JJ's, but I prefer the sound of Mullard or Gold Lion CV4004's. Even Tung Sols.

 

[Rex Rocker]

If you're just tapping on it with a chopstick or something, that can lead you astray. Often the ones that pass that tap test with flying colors do so because they are low gain (which might be what you want but usually not). Hearing a little ping thru a high gain amp is often fine.

Generally speaking, tubes with shorter plates are less prone to microphonics. Without a tube tester to help you select you have to just rely on your ears. And ime when you're rolling tubes your ears get fatiqued and at some point you're just wasting time. Pick just a very few tubes and decide which is best of that bunch then take a break (a low noise break) before doing another test. Morning is best because all your senses are more keen.

Interesting. So a little ping is acceptable? I'm kinda OCD about it because I've never liked the sound of the cable actually plugging into the amp. Like not the pop, but the actual clanking of metal in the input jack which is what I usually get with most Chinese tubes. It's a shame, because I really do like the sound of them.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

Tung Sol 12AX7 or Ruby 12AX7C5HG+

 

[Exo-metal]

Ruby 12AX7C5HG+ are sweeet

 

[Samhain]

Like asking who has the best vagina.

 

[LCW]

V1 - Tung Sol 12AX7

 

[PDC]

Very few tubes have made me go "whoa" and one of those fits your description, Mesa SPAX7. It has a rubber over the glass and is premium grade, high gain, high volume, low microphonic. You will hear difference.

If you are looking for V1 noise control without compromising gain structure (like a 5771 would...) the SPAX7 is hard to beat. These are tested, re-tested, and re-re-tested for ultra quiet performance. The only thing I will say is that they can sound a bit ‘sterile’ for lack of a better term. I find the EH ‘gold’ series 12AX7 tubes to be as quiet as the Mesa SP but with more ‘sizzle’ and more character. If you have a particularly bright amp and like the darker character of JJ tubes, I have found the Gold Lion 12AX7 to be extremely quiet with less pronounced ‘sizzle’ than the EH Gold series.