The 10 Best 12AX7 Tubes For mic Preamp (2023 reviews)

We consider a 12ax7 tube for mic preamp to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your needs from all the best available products in market today.

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Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: JJ electronic Vacuum Tube READ REVIEW

Best For voice: Buy: Kailas accessories 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For Audio: Buy: tubedepot 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For Blue Jr: Buy: JJ / Tesla 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For some applications: Buy: JJ electronic 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For metal: Buy: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For Blues: Buy: Sovtek 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For mic Preamp: Buy: Tung Sol 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For hard rock: Buy: Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For dollar value: Buy: Genalex Gold Lion Great sounding Tube READ REVIEW

Best Overall: JJ electronic Vacuum Tube

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Jj Electronic line of tube come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. This is a great tube to add perfomance to your chinese c-12 clones. It works great, 5 watt laney guitar tube amplifier. It can be used on avantone and the other chinese c-12 clones and it will double the perfomance. The high frequency's are almost transparent in a good range but with no "ice picking" with a even bottom.

These tubes have a buttery smooth sound to them. The sound gained greater intensity and brightness. They work great with low microphonics and no screeching. They are reasonably quiet but not as quiet as the EH and Sovtek premium versions they offer.

• Very warm tube, doesn't hold up well to microphonics however
• Good if you love warm, thick tones
• Extremely reliable and consistent sound quality
• Works very well in gutiar preamp

Best For voice: Kailas accessories 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp

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Next on the list, we've got yet another tube that manages to win our hearts. It's the kailas accessories 12ax7 tube for mic preamp and it's widely considered as one of the best convenient tube you can buy. The JJ 12AX7 / ECC83 Preamp Vacuum Tubes (Three Pack) are one of gold standards for preamp tubes and these are the best. These just bring the whole unit alive, gorgeous woody-rich tones, mids and highs are smooth and clear, just beautiful. It is also highly recommended for studio pre-amps and hi-fi gear.

The short plate tubes are better if you have a combo amp as they tend to be less microphonic. It will be a great replacement in any amplifier requiring ecc83 or 12ax7 and many of their variants. There are so meany effected areas of performance so it’s best to try it out to see what works for your application.

• Clean sound and tight bottom end
• Warm, musical, any genres of music, high gain and excellent sound
• Good sounding tubes that have a ton of clean
• Not harsh, jagged distortion, but creamy, bluesy drive

Best For Audio: tubedepot 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp

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Best part: tubedepot 12ax7 tube for mic preamp costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. This set contains 2 JJ ECC83s / 12AX7 Preamp Vacuum Tube. It has a sharper sound to it but great tube.

• Tone ranges from ultra clean to warm to mega crunchy
• Good investment for long term

Best For Blue Jr: JJ / Tesla 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp

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Jj / Tesla line of tube come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. These tubes just sound amazing. If your amp requires 3x12AX7's and 2x EL84's then this set will work perfectly. They match the tubes for you and ship extremely fast. They are tested at the maker to be a close of a match as possible, get a nice dry cloth and don't touch the glass (Oil on the skin will make a hot spot), plug em' in.

These tubes will work in any tube amp that uses el84's and 12ax7 s. The sound is much less treble spiky/ice pick-ish and more rounded. They are very sensitive to a low voltage current, so they blow.

• Easy to install and sound great
• Good balanced tone without the micro phonics
• Good brand reputation

Best For some applications: JJ electronic 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp

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This is an opportunity for you to spend money on a NOS JAN tube,or a NOS sylvania tube. It is perfect driver tube for fx loop, reverb, and tremolo. It works hard in the reverb send position and can be a fail point. You can also use this in your PI slot to lower your breakup point on your power tubes.

The 12AT7 can also be substituted with a 5751 tube which has a gain factor. The pins are normal size, so the tube fits snugly into the socket. This one just excels at hearing your reverb noise but not the ambient noise. It is great for some applications like bass amps, except for the extremely high, hissy noise floor.

• A great tube for low gain requirements
• Perfect for reverb, tremolo or effects loop
• Way less "splash" and more sparkly presence
• Excellent quality device for on-air voice processing

Best For metal: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp

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These tubes are a considerable improvement over the 6N2 Chinese tube in a Dared MB-5BT headphone tube amp. It will raise the height of the tubes so you can remove the tubes easily. They sound better than the stock tubes but the bass is boomy, the highs are slightly lacking but the mids and vocals are more detailed. If you want/need hot, these tubes are awesome.

These are splendid sounding preamp tubes. It reduces oxidation in the socket to add to that features balanced sections and gold plated pins. It depends on what your looking for like, a quiet tube, that is warm or bright, different brands have different plates long and short.

• Holds up against great nos tubes
• Wonderful for upgrading tubes in a phono pre-amp
• Silky smooth, warm and sweet reproduction tubes

Best For Blues: Sovtek 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp

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The Sovtek 12AX7LPS is a high gain version of a 12AX7 tube. It has good balance and a very satisfying tube sound. The tone has a bit of emphasis on the mids and is perfectly clean. The upper bass and lower midrange are more clear, pronounced, and stronger but still blend well with the rest of the music, and the separation of individual instruments and voices is much better.

This long plate Russian tube is smooth and tight. It has a high gain with a very smooth presentation. The Sovtek Long Plate Spiral is a great tube in either V1 or the Phase inverter socket. This tube has a harder edge distortion than other ones.

• Noisy and issues with unwanted feedback
• Excellent" sounding tube in the right amp
• An easy and oft-overlooked preamp upgrade for middle-of-the-road and boutique guitar amps
• Highly recommended for hi-fi valve amps

Best For mic Preamp: Tung Sol 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp

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The Tung-Sol ECC803s is a low noise version of the standard Tung-Sol 12AX. Warm in character with lots of detail, this tube is perfect for any hi-fi or musical instrument amp out there. Compared to Electro-Harmonix, JJ Electronics, and the stock Chinese-manufactured tubes, these just have an unparalleled depth to them. The original tube sounds good, the tungsol performs in clarity, warmth, punch, and detail. These are durable and will enhance your tone.

This tube is such a gorgeous looking tube, and it sounds even better than it looks. It's warmer and mellow sound. The tube is quality made and sounds great.

• Works great nice mellow but with full tonal expression
• Best preamps tubes for high gain marshalls
• Dual pedal, it comes stock with the sovtek

Best For hard rock: Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 Tube For mic Preamp

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The electro-harmonix 12ax7 tube for mic preamp is suitable and reliable and fits well with your regular usage. This gold pin eh is very golden with the amp wide open, not only creamier and warmer but also quieter than the other tubes. It provides high gain with ultra low noise and detailed detail. It is good for hard rock. The sound of this EH tube changes everything about this amp. It is great for your amp's v1 slot.

• Sweet and singing, great for your amp's v1 slot
• Best pre-amp tubes for high gain
• Pretty low noise for being high gain

Best For dollar value: Genalex Gold Lion Great sounding Tube

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Not everyone likes to purchase tube for their regular usage, but the genalex gold lion great sounding tube would be an anomoly. The JJ junk tube gives more crisp and clear sounds, but has a lot of empty and hollow feeling. It is great sound tube for the dollar value. It works in preamplifier and it does sounds as good as long plates telefunken that is no longer made and cost stupid money if found no longer made and cost stupid money if found no more.

This tube is perfect for that super harmonic rich mid boosted tone. It cleans are more crisp and the gain is off the charts. The sound is quiet and the soundstage is correct again. It’s amazing too being that the tube splits duty as a phase inverter and preamp circuit.

• Bass is tight and more detailed with more punch
• Fantastic ability to push the tube
• Good clear sound, no noise issues and slightly bright
• Very clean and very low noise