Mullard 12AX7 re-issue Cryo vs Non Cryo

You might want to add NOS 50's GE triple mica black plates to your list. I tried the RCA and liked them but overall I thought the GE's were a tad smoother or lush and not quite as dry sounding. Don't get me wrong the RCA's were good but I just preferred the GE's. I compared both of these in a Jolida CD player.

Blindjim here has a Thor preamp. You might want to give him a shout.

I do think that all tubes mentioned are all good tubes..You really have to keep in mind that most will agree thats its all about System Synegry...I have been using Thor T1000mk2 for many years and have talked with many Thor Users and many of them have there tube set up a little different..Knowone can guarentee a perfect tube in a given situation..All that you can do is offer advise on what "might" work...or what works for them...

I can't talk about cryo differences, but if you are comparing non-cryo EI's with non-cyro New Sensor reissue Mullards the sound should be poles apart. Whether you would like one or the other is another issue. The Mullard is about as warm a new production 12AX7 as I have heard, where as the EI (either grey or silver plate) is more neutral, with the grey plate being a tad warmer than the silver plate and the silver plate being a bit cleaner. If cyro processing is making the Mullard cold, I'd hate to hear a cryo'd EI. :-) FWIW, in equipment that needs a bit of added warmth over the entire FR I've used the Mullard successfully, when I only wanted warmth in the upper bass/lower mid range I liked the New Sensor reissue Tung-sols, but when you don't need it the EI's will do quite nicely, and I have preferred them. OT, the NOS (pre-war) EI's with grey short plates are an interesting alternative - they seem to have a bit more 'body' without taking on the nature of a 'warmer' tube like the reissue Mullard, or Tung-Sol.

FWIW..........

Very Interesting... Thank you all.

It seems that with the benefit of a few hours of burn the Cryo Mullard has settled in and portrays a more linear, more cohesive presentation. While it has lost a bit of it's mid treble presence, it is still detailed and transparent in this area.

It's a really nice counterpoint to the Ei, which I like enough to not even bother cryoing. It's the first and only time I would characterize "midrange warmth" as a positive attribute, having been put to sleep by Telefunkens in the past. The, Tele in my experience, is the one manufacturer of nos whose sonic signature is really quite all over the place, <> or not, depending on the vintage and specific model. Amperex, Siemens of this type you can set your clock by, but the the Tele takes an expert to really know what they are getting. I guess the fact that the Ei, ostensibly, is a Telefunken attests to not only the potential of this brand but the good taste and depth of knowledge the guys at Ei had.

I would like very much to hear the early Ei Grey Short Plate, especially if there was a EG version. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Appreciatively...

I'm not familiar with the different types of Ei 12AX7's, but Thorman was kind enough to send me a couple of the cryo'd tubes to try.

They definitely have a bit of that "mid-treble presence" that Anacrusis alluded to when used in either my phono stage or the input of my amps. Whether or not you are seeking that characteristic - as was stated before - is ear/system dependant.