Ray Tubes
Ray Tubes 12AX7 CORE Vacuum Tube
$45.00 - $99.00
Free CA Shipping
In Stock
Ray Tubes 12AX7 SELECT Vacuum Tube
$119.00 - $579.00
Canadian Shipping Details
We offer free shipping in Canada on most items when an order totals $99 or more before tax. Some exceptions apply; click here for our full shipping policy.
Estimated free shipping transit time:
- Greater Toronto Area: 1-2 business days
- Rest of Ontario: 1-3 business days
- Quebec: 2-3 business days
- Maritimes, Manitoba: 3-4 business days
- Alberta & Saskatchewan: 3-5 business days
- British Columbia: 4-6 business days
- Territories: 6-10 business days
Express options available at checkout. Orders dispatch next business day. Delivery times may be extended for remote areas.
Toronto Store Pickup
Select in-store pickup at checkout and collect your order from our store in Toronto.
Find our entrance on Bay Street, near Charles Street West. We also have a pickup area in the Manulife Centre parking garage. Click here for directions. Before coming to the store, please wait for a confirmation email indicating your order is ready for pickup.
Price Protection, Returns & Exchanges
Buy with confidence, backed by Price Protection: if our advertised price goes down within 30 days of your purchase, contact us and we'll refund the difference.
Most stock items may be returned within 14 days, or exchanged within 30 days. Some exceptions apply; click here for our full return policy.
Description
SELECT 12AX7
The SELECT 12AX7 is the best 12AX7 vacuum tube you’ll ever need. It goes above and beyond the baseline with more involved production and stricter selection, all in pursuit of superior sound. The SELECT Collection brings out the best in all your favorites.
Hand selected and tested, the Ray Tubes SELECT 12AX7 features gold pins for corrosion resistance and improved conduction. The SELECT Collection is a substantial upgrade from both New Old Stock and other new production tubes. Fewer than 5% of production meets our standards.
The 12AX7 vacuum tube was introduced in 1947 as a replacement for the earlier 6SL7 family of dual triodes, all of which were used extensively in audio applications. As one of a handful of small signal tubes that have remained in production since their first use, the 12AX7 is commonly found in the pre-amp stage of tube amplifiers and is especially associated with the emerging electric guitar sound of the 1950s.
Sound Characteristics
The SELECT 12AX7 delivers clear and natural sound, perfect for users who prioritize mid-to-high frequency performance and detailed resolution, especially suited for systems that handle complex music and require fine note reproduction.
Bass Performance
Clear and tight with moderate depth and good control. The low-end response is precise, making it ideal for fast-paced genres and providing clean bass detail in small ensemble music.
Midrange Performance
Delicate and well-layered, with a natural and realistic sound. High resolution and good spatial depth, particularly in vocals and strings. Both male and female vocals come across with impressive expressiveness.
Treble Performance
Clear and bright, with rich detail and moderate extension. It doesn’t overly emphasize the highs, offering a well-balanced overall sound with abundant high-frequency detail.
Dynamics and Soundstage
The dynamics are precise and rich, capturing subtle changes in volume with accuracy. The soundstage is expansive, with excellent imaging and a strong sense of space, suitable for a wide range of musical works.
The SELECT Collection
SELECT brings out the best in all your favourites. It goes above and beyond the baseline with more involved production and stricter selection, all in pursuit of superior sound.
Above and Beyond
Every tube we sell is carefully produced and tested to make sure it’s good enough for audio applications. At Ray Tubes, that goes without saying. The SELECT Collection is about more than that. It’s not just good enough for audio—it brings out the best in audio, revealing all those hidden details you thought you’d never hear.
Not being content with industry-standard production methods, we’ve tweaked our manufacturing process. We’ve used better materials—like gold pins for improved durability and longevity. Most importantly, we’ve enlisted audio engineers to listen to our tubes and make sure only the very best get the coveted SELECT label.
The SELECT Collection takes the reliability and consistency of the CORE Collection as its starting point, then sets its sights on one goal: superior, more nuanced sound. Simple as that.
Chosen By Audio Engineers
The SELECT Collection is the best of the best. We know — you’ve heard that before, but we mean it literally. We only sell the best tubes in each of our manufacturing batches. (The others never see the light of day.) SELECT tubes? They’re the best of those.
We don’t trust just anyone to make that choice. It’s about more than gain and transconductance and other electrical characteristics. Those are useful guides, but we know they don’t tell the full story. Instead, we rely on something you can’t put a number on: expert opinion.
Our audio engineers have decades of experience and they’re involved in the selection process from start to finish. That includes the crucial final step: listening sessions under real-world conditions.
Our thorough quality control is why we can offer the Ray Tubes One Year Warranty. If you buy a NOS tube that turns out to be a dud, there’s nothing you can do. With the SELECT Collection, you’ll have peace of mind.
Unlock Your Amp’s Full Potential
Testing vacuum tubes in real-life audio equipment shouldn’t be revolutionary, but here we are. We know the Ray Tubes SELECT Collection will sound incredible in your amp because it sounds incredible in our amp.
Have you ever felt like your vacuum tubes are holding your whole system back? You’re not alone. It’s right there in the name—“amp”. Tubes are where the amplification happens. That’s why poor quality tubes hold you back.
The SELECT Collection helps your system reach its peak potential. With a lower noise floor and detailed, nuanced sound, SELECT tubes make good amps sound great and great amps sound sublime.
More Details
The Ray Tubes One Year Warranty
Most vacuum tubes are notoriously fickle. That’s why warranties are rare. But we trust our products and we’re proud to offer our One Year Warranty against manufacturing defects. Click here for details.
Compatible Amps
Click here to explore Ray Tubes' Tube Amp Compatibility List.
Package Contents
- Set of four, two, or single vacuum tube
- User handbook featuring burn-in guidelines
- Certificate of authenticity and warranty
Technical Specifications
Tube Type: 12AX7 / ECC83 / CV4004
Tube Socket: 9-pin
Max Anode Dissipation Power: 1 W
Max Screen Dissipation Power: N/A
Output Power in Class A1 Amp (Single Tube): N/A
Output Power in Class AB1 Amp: N/A
Max Anode Voltage: 300 V
Max Screen Voltage: N/A
Max Grid Voltage: ~50 V
Heater Voltage: 6.3 V
Heater Current: 0.3 A
Transconductance: 1.6 mA/V
Amplification Factor: 100
Internal Resistance: 62.5 kΩ
Specs
Dimensions
About Ray Tubes
Warranty
The Ray Tubes One Year Warranty
This warranty covers manufacturing defects for twelve months after purchase. We believe that everyone who buys our tubes deserves at least a year of quality, hassle-free sound, and if our tubes get in the way of your bliss, we'll make it right. Click here for more details.
You May Also Like
Browse these similar products.
Ray Tubes
Ray Tubes 12AU7 SELECT Vacuum Tube
$119.00 - $579.00
Ray Tubes
Ray Tubes EL34 SELECT Vacuum Tube
$89.00 - $459.00
Ray Tubes
Ray Tubes 6SN7 SELECT Vacuum Tube
$99.00 - $499.00
Ray Tubes
Ray Tubes 12AT7 SELECT Vacuum Tube
$119.00 - $579.00
Personal Attention, Expert Advice
We’re here to answer your questions and help you make the right choice.
Service Department
Our advisers and technicians are standing by to assist after your purchase.
