Brimar CV4003 / 12AU7 Platinum Grade / No Cryo Reviews

4.9 Rating 156 Reviews

Visit Product Page

Phone:

909.931.9686

Email:

joel.m@upscaleaudio.com

Location:

2058 Wright Avenue,
2058 Wright Avenue
California
91750

Visit Product Page

“I collect tubes and have examples of most every 12AU7 made over history. Mazda, Siemens, Telefunken, Amperex, Mullard, Radiotechnique, you name it. The two favorites for my ears are Mullard and Brimar, but Brimar has a edge as I get the incredible midrange I crave but no loss of air. They are also VERY quiet and never fail to please. I only wish Uncle Kevvy had some Brimar 12AX7 for me to scoop up too (How 'bout it Kevin? Do me a favor!). Also I should note that other tubes dealers selling Mullard, Tele, Siemens, etc are selling "used - tested" tubes. Upscale is the only place left with actual stock of true new-old-stock tubes. Even if I paid twice the price that makes it worth it to me as "used-tested" tubes were pulled out of a piece of gear at some point for being "worn". I have had some tubes from "other suspects" that have failed pretty quick and tested weak. If you are new to tubes some of these other guys with fancy websites are pretty shady. Sometimes.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago

“I have loved Brimar tubes forever. I'm from the UK and was used to having access to them so easily, but here in the States they don't come up. So when I saw Upscale had them I was thrilled. They are superb in my VAC. They have the midrange glory of a Mullard but still remain super open. Now this comes down to taste as I love Mullards too. It's system dependent. Mullards are just a teeny bit softer on top. I'm an engineer by trade, and set up a rather sophisticated noise analyzer. I've bought supposed "low noise" tubes elsewhere and they are always just tubes. Not low noise tubes. In my system I must have REAL low noise tubes...not B.S. Upscale does impress I must say. Every tube I've bought that is Platinum grade really is Platinum. Good job.”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago

“Great, airy tube. I'm running one of these and one Cifte in each channel of my Prologue Premium preamp on Maggie 3.7s. . Try it, you'll love it.”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago

Clarence Boggs

Unverified Reviewer

“Love these tubes, the air, the sense of space, worth the price”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago

Vance Dubberly

Unverified Reviewer

“Used in tandem with a Tung Sol 5998 in my Bottlehead Crack + Speedball. Leaps and bounds beyond the stock tube or the Gold Lion I had in it previously. Very quiet, dynamic, nice sound stage and rolls off only at the deepest sub bass.”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago

“Best tube I've used in the Bottlehead Crack! Better soundstage and bass slam and extension compared to the Mullard. Comparable highs to the stock RCA's. Slightly more forward mids compared to both. Now my daily driver...”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago

“Running these in a Primaluna Dialogue Hp integrated and love them. They have great bass, phenomenal midrange and a nice layed back top end. They through a nice wide soundstage and sound great with classic rock, singer song writer music. Very impressed.”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago

“The Brimar CV4003 is one of my favorite driver tubes for the Bottlehead Crack OTL headphone amplifier. It brings to mind the story of Goldilocks. Highs, Lows, and Mids all sound “just right” no matter the musical genre.”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 years ago