Tubes For Compressor

[hofner1980]

Hi Everyone,

I have a Behringer T1952 Tube Composer Compressor/Limiter. I'm looking to change the vacuum tubes to something a little better. The current tubes installed are 12AX7-A. I'm looking for a warm and punchy sound. Does anybody have any suggestion as to what model/brand I should purchase? Thanks.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Without knowing the circuitry, and where exactly the triodes are in that said circuit, it's virtually impossible to suggest anything.

I'd say buy one or two of each type You find in your price range and start rollin' 'em.

Without having any experience about the said B-product, I'd be willing to guess that You won't find much difference either way. If the said tubes are in good working condition that is.

Regards
Sam

 

[seamonkey]

Google: Behringer T1952

All kinds of hits on tubes and mods to this unit, and there's a video on youtube

Look around for a shop or a hobbyist on CL that has a bunch of tube. Take it there and try them out.

 

[madmachinist]

i've had good luck replacing the stock chinese tubes in my
ART and Alesis preamps with N.O.S. GE and Sylvania 12ax7a's and 12au7a's . ($8 - $10 on ebay)

they sound less metallic and a bit warmer/fatter to my ears .

the
12au7 has a bit less gain than the 12ax7 , and thus cleaned-up
the ART's hissy pre- limiter (the gain of the stock 12ax7 tube was way more than i'd ever need anyway)

some may debate that these pre's are chinese to begin with,
and designed for the chinese tubes that come with them...

but.... a $2 tube sounds like a $2 tube . if nothing else, the NOS tubes will generally have a much longer life.

 

[spigmu]

Unless I'm remembering this wrong (and I'd be happy to be set straight), I don't think the tubes in this were even in the path of the compressor. Likely sitting there not part of anything, just something for the signal to run through to get some (hopefully) not-offensive tubish mosh. I can't imagine them not being part of a "starved plate" design of the preamp, in which case they don't even get to act like tubes. I doubt that upgrading to better tubes in it will yield any improvement in the "warm and punchy" dept.

OTOH, it's not an expensive or complicated endeavor (which I couldn't claim to have not done similar : ) ) so just make sure to report back with results if you do : )

 

[madmachinist]

while a replacement 12ax7 may or not sound much different,
a 12au7 probably will . it 'should' reduce the gain 30-40 %
of whatever stage it's amplifying ... and in some cases ,clean-up
the sound , which might make it -punchier- , but in a spongey comp unit...who knows ...might make it soggy.
you'd have to try it to find it out!


i have/had many "hybrid" products which used 12xxx tube stages
- some use the tube for marketing/show more than go.(red led lamp next
to the tube ) (perhaps better OP amps and connectors
could've replaced a ceramic triode socket / tube selection
and ????

others - both my Dean Markley rack mount preamps - the tube is
integral to the sound.... makes a world of difference ....
if i put a chinese or russian 12ax7 in one of those - or
replace the GE 12ax7a tube that came stock.
it sounds night and day.