.thumb.jpeg.f66510ea2d57936819414b0d60fc9402.jpeg)
RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
12AU7 Valves/Tubes Hi, Looking for some NOS 12au7's, Mullards, Amperex - but open to any offers really. Cheers Condition: NOS Payment Method: Region/State: (VIC) Victoria/Australia By Jack_ 5 Comments AUD $250 Date: June 22, 20241 yr
The Amperex 12AU7 is a classic low-gain preamp tube, widely respected for its smooth headroom and versatility in hi-fi and guitar gear. At A$250, the asking price sits just above the median of A$238 from recent comparable used listings, making it a fair deal rather than a bargain or overpriced outlier. It comfortably falls below the 75th percentile of A$492, so there’s no cause for concern about ambition in pricing.
This is a worthwhile buy for anyone needing reliable 12AU7 performance, especially if the tube is in original-owner condition or includes matching accessories. The Amperex Holland variant is well-regarded for its consistent tone and durability, offering solid value at this price point. With no noted condition issues or missing parts, and a price that aligns with typical market behavior, this listing represents a genuine buying opportunity for a fellow enthusiast seeking quality without paying premium retail.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Amperex Electronic emerged in the mid-20th century as a pivotal player in the vacuum tube industry, originally established in Brooklyn, New York, at 79 Washington Street as a manufacturer of transmitting tubes. Around 1955, the Dutch firm Philips acquired it, expanding operations and relocating to a new facility in Hicksville, New York, in 1953, which served as headquarters for North American Philips until its closure in 1989. Under Philips, Amperex bridged the era of tube dominance to the transistor age, distributing high-quality miniature tubes to fuel America's postwar hi-fi boom.
The brand specialized in vacuum tubes, particularly receiving types like the 12AX7, 12AU7, and 12AT7, which powered amplifiers from iconic marques such as Marantz, Fisher, and H.H. Scott. Amperex's crowning achievement was the 1958 6DJ8 (also known as ECC88), initially developed for video and radar applications but revered in audio for its high transconductance. Variants like the 6922 and 7308 frame-grid tubes, including the "Bugle Boy" series and later map-etched models, offered exceptional noise rejection, balanced tonality, and soundstaging.
Today, Amperex holds vintage-collector status among audiophiles, prized for its "sweet and airy yet full and solid" sound that endures in tube rolling and restoration projects. No longer in production, its tubes command premium prices in the niche market for golden-era hi-fi components, embodying the craftsmanship of a bygone analog pinnacle.
See all Amperex listings on RADAR.
