The 12AU7 and its variants are miniature nine-pin (B9A base) medium-gain dual-triode vacuum tubes. It belongs to a large family of dual-triode vacuum tubes which share the same pinout (RETMA 9A). 12AU7 is also known in Europe under its Mullard–Philips tube designation ECC82.[1] There are many equivalent tubes with different names, some identical, some designed for ruggedness, long life, or other characteristics; examples are the US military 5814A and the European special-quality ECC82 and E182CC.
The tube is popular in hi-fi vacuum tube audio as a low-noise line amplifier, driver (especially for tone stacks), and phase-inverter in vacuum tube push–pull amplifier circuits. It was widely used, in special-quality versions such as ECC82 and 5814A, in pre-semiconductor digital computer circuitry. Use of special-quality versions outside of the purpose they were designed for may not be optimal; for example, a version for digital computers may be designed for long life without cathode poisoning when mostly switched to low-current mode in switching applications, but with little attention to parameters of interest only for linear applications such as linearity of transfer characteristic, matching between the two sections, microphony, etc.
This tube is essentially two 6C4/EC90s in the same envelope. However, this latter type is officially described in manufacturer's data as "a special quality R.F. power amplifier or oscillator for frequencies up to 150 MHz".[2] The 12AU7, on the other hand, is described as an "A.F. double triode".[3] Data sheets suggest an upper frequency limit of 30 kHz for the 12AU7/ECC82 and it is not described as a "special quality" device. [4] This contrasts with the 6AB4/EC92 and 12AT7/ECC81 which are both R.F. devices operating up to VHF.
Double triodes of the 12AU7 family have a center-tapped filament for use in either 6.3V 300mA or 12.6V 150mA heater circuits.
As of 2012[update] the 12AU7 continued to be manufactured in Russia, Slovakia (JJ Electronic), and China.
The 12AU7 and its variants are miniature nine-pin (B9A base) medium-gain dual-triode vacuum tubes. It belongs to a large family of dual-triode vacuum...
as the electrical characteristics are too different. The 1946 miniature 12AU7/ECC82, with similar, but not identical, electrical characteristics to the...
pinout (EIA 9A), including in particular the very commonly used low-mu 12AU7 and high-mu 12AX7. The 12AT7 has somewhat lower voltage gain than the 12AX7...
harmonic distortion (less objectionable than odd-order distortion). The 12AU7 is a medium-mu dual triode often found in the driver / phase inverter stage...
emergency or for different performance characteristics, include the 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AV7, 12AY7, and the low-voltage 12U7, plus many four-digit EIA series...
characteristics. Similar, but not identical, tubes are the 12AD7, 12AE7...12AT7, 12AU7, 12AV7, 12AW7 (rare), 12AY7, and the 12AZ7. A system widely used in Europe...
See 6BK7 6C4/EC90 – 3.6 W small-power V.H.F. triode up to 150 MHz; single 12AU7/ECC82 system 6C6 – Sharp-cutoff R.F. Pentode. Most common commercial uses...
Guitars produces one made of cedar and koa, with a preamp powered by a 12AU7, the first acoustic guitar with a tube preamp. Fylde Guitars produces the...
needed for tonal clarity. The preamp tubes were consistently one ECC82 (12AU7) tube and three ECC83 (12AX7) tubes. Early designs came outfitted with a...
identical sections in one envelope are used, usually the noval types 12AT7, 12AU7, or 12AX7 or equivalents, less usually the octal 6SN7. The earliest mass...
common to machine translation systems. Pre-amplifiers MS-12B 2*12AX7, 2*12AU7 tubes MM pre-stage with additional line-input Phono Stages MS-11B solid...
quad of KT88's, 2 x 12AX7s and a 12AU7. YBA 300 - A 300 watt bass head utilizing 12 X 6L6GC's, 2 x 12AX7s and a 12AU7. DynaBass 400H – A 400 watt hybrid...
and knowledge. The BHK Signature Preamplifier input stage features two 12AU7 dual triode vacuum tubes, which act as a zero-feedback balanced input amplification...
name to distribute their new line of Dutch-made miniature tubes, (12AX7, 12AU7, 12AT7) to feed the booming U.S. hi-fi market. Classic hi-fi brands such...
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