Unlock New Layers of Sound
The SELECT 12AU7 is the best 12AU7 vacuum tube you’ll ever need. It goes above and beyond the baseline with more involved production and stricter selection, all in pursuit of superior sound. The SELECT Collection brings out the best in all your favorites.
Hand selected and tested, the Ray Tubes SELECT 12AU7 features gold pins for corrosion resistance and improved conduction. The SELECT Collection is a substantial upgrade from both New Old Stock and other new production tubes. Fewer than 5% of production meets our standards.
Introduced in 1946, the 12AU7 was the world’s first noval (nine-pin) vacuum tube. The 12AU7 is a double triode, consisting of two 6C4 tubes in a single envelope. Before the advent of solid-state electronics, it was valued for its versatility and portability. Nowadays, it’s a common sight in the pre-amp phase of tube amplifiers, where it functions as a phase inverter or driver.
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Sound Characteristics
SELECT 12AU7 delivers a well-balanced tonal signature with excellent resolution and dynamic sensitivity, providing a clear, transparent, and layered sound presentation.
- Bass Performance
Clean, tight, and well-controlled. Its focus on precision and clarity makes it well-suited for fast-paced music. Bass depth avoids excessive weight, ensuring a clean and well-defined low-frequency response. - Midrange Performance
Clear and well-balanced, offering good transparency and resolution. Vocals sound natural with distinct layering and detail. Instrumental sounds are reproduced with accuracy and separation. - Treble Performance
High frequencies extend smoothly with a sense of brightness and airiness. Treble detail is rich, adding liveliness and texture to the overall sound. Ideal for listeners who value purity and micro-dynamic expression in their music. - Dynamics and Soundstage
Fast transient response makes the sound feel crisp and well-articulated. It excels in presenting music with strong rhythmic elements. Soundstage is precise with well-defined layering, enhancing the depth and immersion of the listening experience.
Technical Specifications
- Tube Type: 12AU7 / ECC82 / 6189 / CV4003
- Tube Socket: 9-pin
- Max Anode Dissipation Power: 2.75 W
- Max Screen Dissipation Power: N/A
- Output Power in Class A1 Amp (Single Tube): N/A
- Output Power in Class AB1 Amp: N/A
- Max Anode Voltage: 300 V
- Max Screen Voltage: N/A
- Max Grid Voltage: ~50 V
- Heater Voltage: 6.3 V
- Heater Current: 0.3 A
- Transconductance: 2.2 mA/V
- Amplification Factor: 17
- Internal Resistance: 7.7 kΩ
Package Contents
- Set of two, or single vacuum tube
- User handbook featuring burn-in guidelines
- Certificate of authenticity and warranty
The Ray Tubes One Year Warranty
Most vacuum tubes are notoriously fickle. That’s why warranties are rare. But we trust our products and we’re proud to offer our One Year Warranty against manufacturing defects. For more details, check out our warranty page.
Positive Feedback - Tom Gibbs
I thought the stock tubes provided playback that was as good as it gets. Replacing the pair of input tubes was an eye-opener, but replacing the entire tube complement with Select and Reserve tubes has improved my impression of this amplifier by an order of magnitude. The RAY Tube upgrade has so transformed my listening experiences, I feel as though I easily could be listening to an amp that retails for more than double the price of the EVO 300.
6/09/2025
Link to Review
THE HEADPHONE EXPERIENCE - William Murdock
The Ray Tubes bring more dynamic, a little bit more punchy in sounding. I love them and they sound outstanding.
9/8/2024
Positive Feedback - Tom Gibbs
I'm giving the 12AU7 SELECT my highest recommendation; at their price point, they're definitely among the best of the best.
8/30/2024
Link to Review
Tharbamar
Clear, precise... Refinement all over the frequency range while still giving me that nice and rich tube sound signature.
8/30/2024
project86 on Head-Fi
The Ray Tubes just bring out a little bit more of everything, from spacious airy treble to low-frequency solidity to a more convincingly open soundstage. Clean and clear sound with just the right amount of warmth, open and spacious, very low noise floor.
5/27/2024
Link to Review
Currawong
The Ray 6SN7 SELECT tubes are a very neutral-sounding tubes with a reasonable amount of detail and they're very suited to kind of mid-range amps.
5/18/2024
Sound Perfection Reviews
I consider these a safe and excellent buy for those worried about the variability in NOS valve quality. These just work.
4/20/2024
Link to Review
Tharbamar
The Ray 12AU7 SELECT tubes are very impressive.
4/16/2024
ThanatosVI on Head-Fi
The Ray 12AU7 SELECT have excellent sound quality, extremely low noise floor, great bass extension and quantity, enchanting mids, extended but not overly bright treble and slightly warm tilt.
2/7/2024
Link to Review
Reviews By WaveTheory
The 12AU7 tubes are very good. These are excellent tubes. The 6sn7 Select does a little bit of the warming and thickening of the sound that is stereotypical of the tube sound.
1/27/2024
ThanatosVI on Head-Fi
Sound
qualityVery good workmanship
Modern packaging
Price definitely reasonable for what it offers.
12/26/2023
Link to Review
Evshrug on Head-Fi
Quickly sound great right out of the box, even before the recommended 6-hour burn in.
Extremely resistant to EMI and vibrational ringing.
11/29/2023
iiWi Reviews
These proved to be so good, so resolving, yet never harsh, never annoying...instead they combine really smooth and natural sounds with higher-resolving, really open, really spacious sounds that we expect from great tubes.
11/24/2023
GadgetryTech
The Ray 12AU7 SELECT tubes have a remarkable change both in resolution and stage, smoother, more resolving, and more energetic.
11/16/2023
betula on Head-Fi
Tubes sound very good! They offer warmth, with clear, detailed sounding with excellent dynamics.
10/13/2023
Link to Review
Joshua Valour
In one word: coherent...compared to stock tubes they're more clear. They have a more well-defined and solid bass response. The real differences lie in the upper mid-range and treble response. The fidelity of the upper mid-range is actually quite significantly better than that of the stock tubes....the sound-staging width is a lot more substantial.
9/25/2023
ecoustics
It proved to be a good option that offers some of the warmth you might want from a tube but without a loss of detail or clarity.
9/23/2023
Link to Review
Passion for Sound
A brilliant, brilliant new production tube. I don't have anything negative to say. I can't find any cons or negative with the Apos Ray tubes.
9/19/2023
Z Reviews
They add an overall veil of comfy.
8/29/2023
SoundNews
Resolving...clear-sounding...you can hear more music and less noise...tight...smooth....warm....I do believe these are worth it if you want to improve the sound of your amplifier.
8/29/2023
Where to Buy
Local retailers are the heart of audiophile communities around the world, which is why we believe they’re best positioned to help you with your purchase. Ray Tubes are available from our retail partners worldwide—click the button below to find one in your region.