Radiotechnique 12AU7 / 6189 Platinum Grade / No Cryo Reviews

4.8 Rating 37 Reviews

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909.931.9686

Email:

joel.m@upscaleaudio.com

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2058 Wright Avenue
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“Leave it to Kevin to run down the killer tubes! I put this tube up against my treasured Sylvania 6SN7WGT brown base chrome domes in the input stage of my 845 amps and they held there ground with the Sylvania 6SN7!! That's saying a lot about just how good these tubes are. It's great buying tubes from Kevin because he does such a great job matching the tubes and he weeds out any that don't test exactly the way they should. I know I'm in great hands with Upscale Audio. I've been doing business with Kevin and his team for over 25 years!!!”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago

JosÃ© Morales

Unverified Reviewer

“My impression of the RT 12AU7 platinum cryo treated is after around 70 hours of use in a Decware ZP3 Phono preamp accompanied with a rectifier, 2 12ax7's and a voltage regulator tube. I cannot secure the improvement is totally the responsibility of the RT because at same time I changed all four Sovteks 6922 for Amperex NOS 7306 PLATINUM cryo treated too in my ARC LS16. Whoever is the culprit, I can testify to the improvement in the sound of all LP's: mostly original used vynil and a few newer 180 gm records. The improvement to me has being progressive and gradual and given my limited experience with tubes, is a humble questioning if I can perceive all the criteria of sound mentioned by audiophiles. But, if is the RT or the Amperex 7308 or their synergy, the words I can use to describe this new sound could be: shimmer, frontal presence, percussive layers, female vocal realism, bass forests, great timing, not fatiguing, revealing but not brutally. I have not done comparisons nor will do between the old tubes and the new ones to decipher the precise contributions of each type of tube. My LPs are jazz, latÃn salsa, afrocuban drumming, classics (haven't play a lot of them so far), 60-70 rock and folk and 50's crooners, and even the old scratch ones sound better with this RT Tube in the phono preamp. After 100 hours people say it will finally reveal all their potential so if I get the "wow" moment of jump in performance by then, i will add my comment. But until now... good buy... al though the complaints of wife neglect also have increased proportionally to the performance of these tubes and the "sistema de sonido"!”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 10 years ago

“Bought these along with the KT88 Gold Lions. They make a great combo back up with the brimar 12ax7 c4004. I have in 6sn7 raytheons, RCA bottom getter and Sylvania gtb found that I like the russian and gold lion to be the combo that I am most pleased with.Thank you Upscale audio for selling me Quality tubes. It is just to bad that I am the type of person who thinks there might be something else out there that I might be missing, so I experiment, not a bad thing if you share your results.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“This tube has excellent dynamics,great base and highs. Midrange is also good and whilst not as good as a mullard it is not over bright.If your system needs a dose of PRAT then try this tube out.Pakaging excellent as was Upscale Audios service.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“The positive effect on the sound produced by the Rogue Audio Ares phono stage that I use, along with a mono cartridge and a mono SUT, for playing mono lp's was immediately, emphatically apparent. Natural, realistic concert hall sound makes this Radiotechnique an ideal tube for me.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Compared to my other tubes, Gold Lion ECC82 and the JJ ECC82, the Radiotechnique is more dynamic, with crisp transients and a stronger bass response. Itâ€:tm:s my preferred tube among the three.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 12 years ago

Johnny Maggitas

Unverified Reviewer

“I tried these on a whim as Kevin recommended them in my VAC Signature IIa preamp. I plugged these in along with the Ediswan 6922 equivalent and all I can say is WOW. I have had many tubes in my preamp and I keep coming back to this combo. The RT tubes are clean, well extended and airy. They have a nice punchy bass that really goes low. They present a natural 3D soundstage that is very natural and inviting. I find myself continuously raising the volume level. The RT's are nimble and open. I highly recommend them.”

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Posted 12 years ago

“These tubes are great. Replaced 2 platinum matched Mullard CV 4003 in my Atma-Sphere MP3. With the Mullards there was a beautiful midrange but the sound was somewhat closed in. The RT immediately opened up the sound, have a greater sense of air, more present highs without being overemphasized or harsh and, finally, the bass is deeper and better defined. I see no disadvantage.”

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Posted 12 years ago