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RCA

12AU7 / ECC82 Baldwin by RCA AMPLITREX Matched Pair Clear Top Long Gray Plates Side D Getter Tubes

12AU7 / ECC82 Baldwin by RCA AMPLITREX Matched Pair Clear Top Long Gray Plates Side D Getter Tubes

€79,95 EUR
€79,95 EUR
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12AU7 / ECC82 Baldwin by RCA Matched Pair Clear Top Long Gray Plates Side D Getter Tubes Made in USA '50s

AMPLITREX Tested - Low Noise & Microphonics - VERY STRONG

Description:

This matched pair of 12AU7 / ECC82 Baldwin by RCA – Made in USA, circa 1959 represents one of the most interesting configurations of late 1950s American production.

Baldwin branded tubes were often produced by RCA for organ applications, following high quality standards and a selection focused on stability and consistency over time.

The construction configuration is particularly distinctive:

  • Clear Top
  • Long Gray Plates
  • Side D Getter

The Clear Top design, typical of some RCA productions, promotes more efficient dissipation and a more open and linear response, contributing to clean and well-defined sound reproduction.

The pair comes from the same manufacturing batch and has undergone careful selection using Amplitrex AT-1000, resulting in a matched pair with extremely close values.

Both tubes are classified as VERY STRONG, with stable emission, low noise and microphonics, and have passed the burning test.

Timbral characteristics and sound description

This Baldwin by RCA pair offers a balanced, transparent and highly consistent sound signature, with a presentation that emphasizes precision, naturalness, and control.

The Clear Top construction, combined with the long plates, delivers a clean and articulate sound, with a remarkable ability to maintain order and definition even in the most complex passages.

Bass
Fast and well-controlled, with excellent articulation.
Not intrusive, but always present and functional to the structure of the sound message.

Mids
Linear and very legible.
Vocals emerge with clarity, maintaining a natural and uncolored rendition.

Highs
Open and clean, with good extension.
Never aggressive, they contribute to an overall sense of air and transparency.

Dynamics
Reactive and precise, with very controlled transient management.
Excellent in both micro and macro dynamics.

Soundstage
Orderly and well-focused, with clear instrument separation and a stable soundstage.

🎧 Use in Hi-Fi Amplifiers

This pair is perfectly suited for high-level hi-fi applications:

  • line preamplifiers
  • phono stages
  • drivers and buffers

The combination of professional matching, low noise, and operational stability makes it ideal for systems where consistency and quietness are essential.

🎸 Use in Musical Amplifiers

In musical applications, it offers:

  • very controlled response
  • excellent definition even in high-gain contexts
  • predictable and consistent behavior between tubes

Particularly suitable for configurations where uniformity between multiple stages is required.

🎯 Note for audiophiles and technicians

  • Baldwin by RCA – Made in USA (circa 1959)
  • Clear Top – Long Gray Plates – Side D Getter
  • Same manufacturing batch
  • Matched pair
  • VTT Classification: VERY STRONG

This pair represents a high-level solution, designed for those who desire a truly coherent set, carefully selected and ready to be integrated into demanding systems.

It is not just a simple set of tubes, but a pair built and verified to work together, offering stability, precision, and reliable sound reproduction over time.

A selection that fully expresses the value of RCA's American production, in the true style of Vacuum Tubes Treasures.

Test Results:

Tube tested on AMPLITREX AT-1000 Tube Tester:
Test Conditions: Va = 250V, Vg = -8.5V
Average 100%: Gm = 2200 ; Ia = 10.5 mA
Test Result: VERY STRONG

Tube #6:

Section 1: Gm = 2000 ; Ia = 8.8 mA
Section 2: Gm = 1900 ; Ia = 8.2 mA

Tube #22:

Section 1: Gm = 2000 ; Ia = 9.6 mA
Section 2: Gm = 1900 ; Ia = 8.4 mA

Additional Tests Performed:

  • Microphonics: Low. Tested and compliant for hi-fi use, including phono stages and guitar amplifiers. Also suitable for V1.
  • Balance: The sections are coherent and well-aligned, making the tube suitable for use as a phase inverter in hi-fi and instrumental applications.
  • Emission Quality: Excellent – Very strong and stable emission, without fluctuations.
  • Shorts and GAS: Absent.

Conditions:

  • Condition: Vintage - Tested and working - Supplied in our custom box for optimal protection. 
  • Functionality: Perfectly operational.
  • Aesthetic condition: Fair – Markings almost completely faded. See photos for details.
  • Manufacturing Code: undecipherable, identifiable by construction characteristics. Late 1950s

Discover why our tubes are different →

Terms of Sale & Safety

Sales Terms & Product Safety

Each vacuum tube is carefully selected, tested, and verified in our laboratory before shipment. Where stated in the listing, test results, matching data, and declared characteristics refer to measurements performed using the specified test equipment and operating conditions.

Sound descriptions are provided for guidance only and reflect the characteristics generally associated with that particular tube type. Personal sound preferences, tube rolling, or perceived differences between audio systems do not constitute a product defect.

Before installation, please verify the tube’s electrical and mechanical compatibility with your equipment and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

New production and NOS tubes are shipped with a tamper-evident security seal and internal technical documentation to ensure traceability of the product’s condition at the time of shipment.

Product Safety (GPSR)

Vacuum tubes are electronic components intended exclusively for use in compatible equipment and must be installed in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.

Due to their historical or vintage nature, certain technical specifications may be based on original datasheets or equivalent technical documentation when documentation from the specific manufacturer is unavailable.

Use only with suitable equipment. Keep out of reach of children.

Shipping & Returns

Shipping & Returns

We ship worldwide using carefully selected express carriers and protective packaging specifically designed for vacuum tubes.

If you change your mind, you may exercise your right of withdrawal within 14 days of delivery, where applicable under the relevant consumer protection laws. The product must be returned complete with its original packaging and accessories, in the same commercial condition in which it was received. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.

Every returned item undergoes a technical inspection. Installation, use, tube rolling, or any other handling may reduce the product’s commercial value and may affect the refund amount, in accordance with applicable law.

If you believe the product has a lack of conformity, our laboratory will carry out the necessary inspections and apply the remedies provided by the applicable consumer protection legislation.

For further details, Customers are invited to consult the “Terms and Conditions” and “Refund Policy” sections of our website, or to contact us before placing an order.

Vacuum Tubes Treasures
www.vtt.store | www.vacuumtubestreasures.com
📧 info@vacuumtubestreasures.com

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  • ATTENTION PLEASE

    Please understand that the writing on the glass of vintage valves has become very delicate over the years and comes off easily. You must handle them with extreme care to avoid this. Wear and damage to the writing on the valves reduces their market value and causes damage. Please exercise extreme caution.

  • ATTENTION PLEASE

    We wish to inform you that any attempts to manipulate shipping destination information in order to obtain lower shipping rates may be considered fraudulent acts. Please provide accurate information and contact us if you have any concerns. We reserve the right to review and, if necessary, cancel orders that we deem to be in violation of our conditions. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.