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Best small signal tube for a preamp?

Is there inherently a "best" small signal tube for use in a preamp? Assuming all other things are equal-which of course they never are.
Choices are 6922/12AT7/12AU7/6BK7/6BZ7/12BH7/6H30II (and varients to the listed tubes - e.g. E88CC for 6922, etc.).
The reason for my question is that I am auditioning the Lector Zoe, which can use all of the above tubes by way of its SATC ( autiomatic tube adaptation) circuit and user switchable 6V/12V plate voltage.
I am interested in your reason, which might have to do with inherent sonic characteristics, predisposition for problems such as noise or microphonics, or availability and economy of NOS tubes being better for one tube type over the others. All responses are welcome, and in return I will let you know the results of my listening with the different tubes that I try.
mitch2
mitch2 OP
1,911 posts
 
For fun, I just installed a pair of NOS Amprex PQ White label E81CC's (12AT7's) that I had purchased for my CD player. I had to switch to the 12V position for those, compared to the 6V position for the stock 6922's. I will let them burn in overnight and listen tomorrow.
swampwalker's avatar
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swampwalker
5,132 posts
 
e\Each of those tube types, their variants and diff manufacturers will have a different sound. Try looking at Joe's Tube Lore over at Audio Asylum for description of each. FWIW, Joe does not like the sound of almost any 12AT7.
mitch2 OP
1,911 posts
 
Yeah, I copied Joe's paper a couple of years ago and noted he doesn't even discuss the 12AT7. That is the only tube my CDP uses. He also doesn't like 12AU7, saying - "I would say this is a fairly unexceptional tube family." I found it interesting Andy at Vintage Tube didn't seem to like 6922 tubes, a few years ago when I called him to discuss retubing my SF Line 3SE. Some like 6SN7's in preamps for their "bigger" sound, and I found that true in an A-S MP3. BTW, the Amperex E81CC's sound different, but overall better in the Zoe than the EH 6922, although they do not seem to offer as much gain and they may not be as good as the 6922 at higher volumes. At low/mid volumes they are smoother, richer, more dimensional and maybe quieter, but that may be a function of tube quality and not tube type. Thanks for your thoughts.
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