Telefunken Black Diamond ECC83 / 12AX7
The TELEFUNKEN ECC83-TK is a well-balanced tube suited for all types of music and playing styles. Designed to allow for cleaner headroom than higher gain 12AX7s when pushed into overdrive, it offers distortion with strongly defined lows, a rich mid range and clean, smooth highs.
Developed by RCA and released in September of 1947, the 12AX7 is a high gain / low noise tube that is the most popular tube used in input / inter-stage audio amplifiers. The dual triode design makes the 12AX7 compact, relatively inexpensive, and produces a high quality full frequency response.
12AX7's are known for their rich even order harmonic distortion when driven into overdrive. Even order harmonics fit into the western musical scale and are more pleasing to the ear than the harsh odd order harmonic distortion created by transistors. The 12AX7 is also known as the ECC83, which was the European designation found on tubes from Phillips / Mullard.
Please Note: Telefunken Black Diamond tubes are sold singly. Power tubes will be supplied in matched pairs or quads. Just order the quantity you need. If you want preamp tubes to be high gain or matched, just ask during checkout and we'll get it taken care of for you.
I stumbled onto these tubes when a Cornford Carrera combo I purchased used came with a set in the preamp. Very clear sound allowing very controllable feed back at all volumes. Very impressed....
reviewed by: Joshua Thomas
I replaced a set of JJ 12AX7 with these and the sound was very clear and much richer.
reviewed by: John M
telefunken, for me, no other can take its place. it sounds the best for my ear.
reviewed by: harvien
This tube I bought and put into a Hughes & Kettner Triamp MK II. I tried it in three different positions. This tube, though it's a 12ax7, is pretty relaxed on the low end. It has the upper mids of a long plate tube but without brittleness. It's very rich and clear. In the high gain channels it took too much away from the thickness but it fits very very nicely into the position that drives my cleaner tones.
reviewed by: Matthew Magoon
This is the best tube (12ax7) for my ear,very clear sound all instrument you can hear.Very impressed.....I am very happy.
reviewed by: Jaime
This is one of the best tubes I have ever used. It is very clear and smooth. I use it in the V1 position in my Triamp Mark 3. They're not as thick in the low end, but man are they smooth and definitive.
reviewed by: Matthew Magoon