It isn't easy to get the perfect sound for your audio system. Plenty of people are content with something that comes off the rack, but there are many different types of gear available for people who want more. Tube amps, like the 12AU7 series from General Electric, are a great choice for people who want more than a stock system can offer. The 12AU7 is a vintage audio tube system that is one of several notable choices for a tube preamp in high-fidelity stereo equipment. It was popular when it was first manufactured because it is a low-gain tube. The high quality of the design has made sure that it has remained a favorite to this day. Tubes like the ones in this 12AU7 series have gotten attention because they offer several advantages over both solid-state amplifiers and many stock stereo options. A tube amp has fewer circuits than other amplifiers. That makes it more reliable since there are fewer parts that can break. It also offers fewer opportunities for signal degradation than many stock systems, which can lead to improved audio quality. Vacuum tubes also suffer from less distortion when they reach their maximum power, and the distortion that they do experience appears gradually. Gradual distortion is less disruptive to the human ear than anything that appears suddenly, so its impact is minimized when using tubes. Musicians can benefit from using tubes instead of solid-state amplifiers due to the superior tone that tubes offer to their users. The 12AU7 has impressive physical specifications. It is a twin triode system device that can be used as a Class A amplifier in each triode section. Most of them feature ribbed back plates, a top getter, and a famous white label, but some have gray plates and a new logo. These tubes move the getter to the side of the tube and are sometimes known as "cleartops" because the change leaves the top uncovered. This series of tube can be used in any 12AU7 circuit or ECC82 circuit. Both types of these stock tubes were usually made in the United States by RCA, but Sylvania, Mullard, and Amperex also produced many. These companies had a reputation for producing excellent products, so you can be assured of a high-quality amp regardless of the manufacturer. The amplifiers manufactured in America are sometimes called the 12AU7A to distinguish them from the otherwise identical European models. The 12AU7 series was considered appropriate for use in broadcast equipment, military gear, and even pipe organs when it was new. Today, it's not hard to find one that is still in excellent condition thanks to its wide range of uses. Adding a 12AU7 tube amplifier is a great way to improve a stock sound system. It is a vintage tool, but there are times when the original is better than newer pieces of gear. This type of amplifier has been popular for decades and has stood the test of time. Whether the devices were made by RCA, Sylvania, Amperex, or Mullard, you'll discover the unique benefits that come from a tube system when you use this product.