Opinions on tubes for my Hattor

I did get a set of the NOS RCA clear tops. So far they are a very nice tube. But I also believe they need so more break in. I am also considering a set of NOS Mullards, or a set of CBS-Hytron tubes. Thought it might be nice to have some flavor.
 
Ok, please give opinions and whihc one you believe are a better choice.

Thank you.

Matched Pair Mullard NOS/NIB 12AU7/ECC82 short plates tubes - Blackburn 1961

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Matched Pair CBS-Hytron JHY-5814/12au7/ECC82 black plates tubes - 1957

I have had CBS-Hytron tubes in an amplifier and liked them, but this is a different type of tube altogether.
 
Hey Jack, thanks for the opinion.

Both are from the same guy I got the RCA's from. Seems like a straight shooter. The RCA's where packed well and arrived fairly quickly.

The CBS's are well tested used while the Mullard's are new in box. The Mullard's are $10 more.
 
Hey Jack,

I just heard back from Nikolay, the seller. He said very similar things as you comparing the two. He described the Mullard as warmer and the CBS as a bit more dynamic. This is what I remember from the CBS I had previously (different tube but hoping for same family sound).

I think I will probably grab these. He seems like an excellent seller.
 
The CBS-Hytrons are really really good. The RCA NOS Clear Tops are very nice but the CBS takes it to another level of musicality!
 
Randy - My Raven Osprey Integrated has 3 preamp stages (or Rows, if you will). Rows 1 and 2 are 12AT7 types, and Row 3 is 12AU7 or equivalent. I have tried (5) tubes in Row 3, and my favorites are (best first): 1. GE 12AU7 Green Print Ladder Plate - horseshoe getter, 2. CBS Hytron, 3. CBS GM 1950s Shiny Black Plate, 4. RCA 12AU7 1950s Black Plate, 5. Mullard CV-4003. The GE Green Print is crystal clear, clean, nice dynamics, mids, tight bass, beautiful tube.

Dave at Raven is a tube nut, and he has a lot of his impressions and details at the Ravenaudio website. Click on Community, and go down to Daves Dozen for some great info. He normally sells tubes to customers only, but you might talk him into something - really nice guy.
 
Thank you the input Scotty, much appreciated. I am going to hold tight for a little while since I recently purchased the Tube Active Stage for my Hattor and have picked up a couple nice pair of NOS tubes. The RCA's are wonderful but to my ear the 1957 CBS-Hytron are simply fabulous. I even put the tube shields on them and button the top back up this morning. If I get the hankering down the road I can pop the top off and put the RCA's back in.
 
The JAN Philips 12AU7(ecc82) work nice with my Jadis DA 50 - I like them better than f.e. Telefunken NOS.

The JAN Philips tubes sound more direct (foreground) and that's what I like.

Other tubes sound more smooth/soft and more in the background - it's what you prefer.

And I like to use the S4A 6550 on classical but change to the Sovteks on rock - for a more direct sound.
 
The JAN Philips seem like a good choice and with cost consideration I am not surprised that Arek choose these as his standard tube. I like the CBS and the RCA both a bit better. I do find that both have a very slight high freq edge compared to my preference, but both over all are wonderful. I have a pair of new Gold Lions coming to try out. I have really liked the Gold Lions in other tubes I have had. I may have to find some Mullard if I need it tamed a tad more. We will see.
 
I believe the "best" tube for your preamp is dependent on what you and/or your system needs. I used to have a highly modified DAC with a tube output stage, both tubes protruded out of the top cover so they could be rolled in 15 seconds. I must have rolled those tubes 1000 times. I finally had one Amperex Bugle Boy and one NOS Mullard in there. Each channel ran though 1/2 of each tube so I got a mix of both tubes. If needs taming down there is nothing better than a NOS Telefunken smooth plate, smooth city. Good luck.
 
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