smeezekitty wrote:12AX7s are only expensive because the audiophools use them but there is nothing particularly special about their characteristics
I quite agree. Same goes for things like 300B output triodes...there are plenty of alternatives, just virtually unknown, waiting to be 'discovered'.
There's a whole plethora of Compactron tubes for example, they're 'different', but they work just the same. For example, a 6C10 is a triple triode exactly the same as a 12AX7/ECC83 except for that additional triode. Bases/sockets can still be obtained. Of course the price is nothing compared to the better known versions...like a small fraction...'cos no-one wants 'em...
Or go with a different heater voltage/current, a 12.6V heater rather than the more usual 6.3V version. e.g. 12AQ5 instead of 6AQ5. Apart from the heater voltage and current, they're identical. Mix and match as you please! If you're building from scratch (generally us lot), why not? But if you're repairing an amp or whatever you really don't have much choice...
Steve A.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compactron
http://www.junkbox.com/electronics/Comp ... ndex.shtml