need help on transparent sounding 12au7 tubes

Rodman99999, I disagree with you about Mullard tubes and live music.

In fact, in my system, with my ears I hear more qualities of live music
presented with Mullard tubes in the mix than I do with 100% German tubes
installed.

So, who is right? I would propose that we both are right, and that neither is
wrong. We each hear differently, and we each have different systems...as does
everyone else reading this website.

Tvad, I recently changed rooms to a smaller, nearfield presentation. I had used the Mullard CV 4003 in my PrimaLuna integrated amp and felt the sound was to "warm" in my old room. With the new room set up and the same equipment I tried the Mullards again. Wow, I now know what the hype is all about .

Scar 972- Please let us know what tubes you end up with, and your observations. Tvad- What ever you enjoy is just fine with me(I don't have to listen to it). Rock on!

Thanks to all.
I've read that the RCA clear top I'm using are considered clear and not tubey. Last night, the system sounds amazing, and my initial feeling on this pre may be wrong, I have to listen more to know if I need to change tubes at all.
As I said in my previous post, all these recommendation is great because I will use them in the future, my listening preferences do change from time to time. FIY, just added pics of the new preamp to my page.

The Clear top should be in that "neutral" zone in most applications - and much cheaper than TF or Siemens. Glad it is working for you; you can drive yourself crazy rolling NOS and miss a lot of music while doing so. You might also want to try the RCA Black Plate version, again, much less than the Europeans.