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What makes Telefunken tubes sound better?

I've reached the point in sampling 12AU7 tubes below $100 per tube where I'm having to buy tube crates to keep the pairs I've sampled. I've tried NOS and new, but out of all I end up back with Telefunkens as having the least distortion and fastest transient response. Yet the Telefunken internals are not the best materials/quality; NOS Mullard CV4003 or the new Gold Lions have higher build quality for materials and precision.

Are there links somewhere that talk to what is different for the internal design/construction of a Telefunken tube? I'd like to support newer tube manufacturers based on educated consumerism, and hope that we can get someone to replace Telefunken at an affordable cost before NOS stock is no longer an option.
davide256
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
@Mr J- The author of that article would have made Julian
Hirsch very proud. I'm certain, if he had reviewed tube
equipment; he wouldn't have heard much difference either. The
sonic differences between various iterations and year of
manufacture, within the same
family of tube, and the various brands, are usually anything
BUT subtle or, "tiny." Nor, in my experience, are
the differences dependent on the equipment(usually).
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
1,368 posts
 
I don't think you'll find anyone emulating the materials or manufacturing practices of Telefunken today. Totally different eras.

Today's manufacturers use computers, modern materials and manufacturing techniques to optimize the sound of their tubes while Telefunken used materials and manufacturing techniques that are no longer feasible.
schubert
4,867 posts
 
The German work force was/is the best educated and trained in the world. When they get something right, they get it really right and vice-versa.
Germans have pride because everyone is included in, unlike the US where everyone but the super-rich is included out and you have to fight your way in.
Consequently , in the USA the dominant sentiment is fear, not pride.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
1,368 posts
 
Schubert, The US is far more inclusive than Germany. We are not divided into the super rich and the poor. America is still the land of opportunity, currently less opportunity than usual because of the policies of our current government, but we will get through this and come back strong. We fear no one and take great pride in all the good we have done and continue to do at home and around the world. Germany does not come close to our accomplishments in this area.

Angela Merkel said that Germany is not a nation of immigrants and doesn't want to be one. That doesn't sound too inclusive to me.

Sorry for going off topic but I can't stand anti-American BS.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
2,651 posts
 
Schubert,
I often enjoy your contributions to the forums, but at times, you say some very strange things that usually involve black and white blanket statements. This was one of them.
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