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Blackburn UK production !
Some time ago I was able to buy seven Mullard ECC81 that were still in their original packaging. The tubes were individually wrapped in a protective cardboard and a warranty form (see photos). It was a magical moment to get them out of their wrap since their production in the 60s!. These tubes are therefore absolutely unused.
This early ECC81 is produced by Mullard in1965 in Blackburn UK (version Tk3). The tube bears the old Mullard logo. And has a halo getter on ‘copper’ post and smooth grey plates, see pictures. Tube with balanced systems; see test results.
Sonics
The Tk3 version of Mullard is known as a very fine ECC81; with a liquid, creamy and very detailed sound image. I refer to the many threads on the web for more information. Excellent preamp valve, very low noise, very smooth extended highs, very good in phono stages. Balanced and smooth sounding with liquid midrange, recommended!
Note from the web: “The overall tonality of Mullard Mitcham tubes is warm and lively with a very spacious sound stage. “Like a warm British jacket of the finest tweed, these glorious tubes have an attractive sweet warmth in their midrange and lower regions.” This is how the experts on audiotubes.com describe the sound signature of British-made Mullard tubes. The top end is silky and pleasant and doesn’t get rolled off. They retain a fine sense of “air” at the top, and the upper midrange is smooth and liquid. These tubes reproduce the human voice, especially female voices, with haunting realism. The British made Mullard tubes are also known to have an attractive sparkle at the top with rich bass…now we know where that “warm British jacket” comes from!
Note: if your system is to “warm sounding’, this tube is not a first choice. Philips Holland made ECC81 tubes are to be considered in that situation.
Test method & results
The tube has been tested carefully with the official Telefunken test set-up and our sophisticated test equipment. Please read our testmethod for the ECC81 tube family. The measurement data below show that the tube is internally balanced. And meets the factory specifications of a new/NOS tube.
| Valve 1
V198 |
Ia (plate current):
Transconductance (Gm): Gas test, Shorts test: |
9,7 / 9mA
5,4 / 5,1 mA/V OK |
= NOS / NOS
= NOS / NOS
|
Where NOS is : Ia = 7 to 14 mA, Gm= 4,5 to 6,5 mA/V.
* For test methods and factory specification read the tube testing page.
Short description
| Tube type | ECC81 (Tk3) |
| Quantity of Tubes | One tube |
| Brand | Mullard |
| Manufactured in | Blackburn UK |
| Dates | 1966 ( (TK3) B 4K4) |
| Construction | Three hole, smooth grey plates, copper grid posts |
| Getter Construction | Halo getter on ‘copper‘ post |
| Print Condition | See pictures |
| Box included | Original Mullard box with warranty form included (see pictures) |
| Equivalent tubes: | 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AT7A, 12AT7WA, 12AT7WC, 33A/101K, 6060, 6201, 6679, 7492, 7728, A2900, B1, B172406, CV1, CV3508, CV4024, CV455, CV6091, E81CC, ECC801S, ECC81, KT88 6550A, M8162, QA52406 |
| General test results | NOS /NIB |
