{"type_number":"12AY7","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/12AY7","manufacturer":null,"tube_type_key":"small_signal_triode","tube_type_display_name":"Small Signal Triode","base_name":"Noval","description":"Medium-mu twin triode, miniature type. Two independent medium-mu indirectly heated cathode type triodes in a 9-pin miniature construction, intended for use in high-gain audio amplifier service where particular attention is paid to microphonics, hum, and other sources of internal noise.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["Heater can be wired in series (12.6V, 150mA) or parallel (6.3V, 300mA). For 12.6V operation, apply voltage between pins 4 and 5. For 6.3V operation, apply voltage between pins 4/5 connected together and pins 9 connected to the other side.","RCA (1953) specifies mu=40 and ra=22,800 ohms; Tung-Sol (1956) and GE (6072 datasheet, 1952) specify mu=44 and ra=25,000 ohms. The mu=44 / ra=25,000 values are more widely cited.","When operating from an AC heater supply, do not use the 12.6V series connection if low-hum capabilities are to be realized (per Tung-Sol datasheet).","The 6072/6072A is the industrial/military grade version with tighter tolerances, ruggedized construction, and heater designed for many thousands of intermittent operation cycles. Pin-for-pin compatible.","Developed by General Electric, first registered December 7, 1948. Widely used as the first preamp tube in Fender tweed-era guitar amplifiers, contributing to their characteristically warm, dynamic overdrive tone."],"references":["https://www.drtube.com/datasheets/12ay7-rca1953.pdf","https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/1/12AY7.pdf","https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/093/6/6072.pdf","https://www.jj-electronic.com/images/stories/product/preamplifying_tubes/pdf/12AY7.pdf"],"source_urls":{"r_type":"https://www.r-type.org/exhib/abn0034.htm","tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=12AY7","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_12ay7.html"},"raw_equivalents":["6072","6072A","CV2650","CV3650","CV8073"],"equivalents":[],"similar":[{"type_number":"6C8G","reason":"Electrically similar predecessor but uses Octal base — not pin-compatible","has_detail_page":false}],"pins":[{"pin_number":"1","function":"Plate (Section 2)","function_code":"a2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"2","function":"Grid (Section 2)","function_code":"g1_2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"3","function":"Cathode (Section 2)","function_code":"k2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"4","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"5","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"6","function":"Plate (Section 1)","function_code":"a1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"7","function":"Grid (Section 1)","function_code":"g1_1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"8","function":"Cathode (Section 1)","function_code":"k1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"9","function":"Heater Center-Tap","function_code":"h","notes":null}],"specs":[{"key":"Vh","display_name":"Heater Voltage","value":"12.6 / 6.3","numeric_value":"12.6","unit":"V","param_group":"heater"},{"key":"Ah","display_name":"Heater Current","value":"0.15 / 0.3","numeric_value":"0.15","unit":"A","param_group":"heater"}],"sections":[{"section_number":1,"section_label":"Triode","tube_type_key":"small_signal_triode","specs":[{"key":"Va_max","display_name":"Anode Voltage (max)","value":"300","numeric_value":"300","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Pa_max","display_name":"Anode Dissipation (max)","value":"1.5","numeric_value":"1.5","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Ik_max","display_name":"Cathode Current (max)","value":"10","numeric_value":"10","unit":"mA","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Vhk_max","display_name":"Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)","value":"90","numeric_value":"90","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Va","display_name":"Anode Voltage (typical)","value":"250","numeric_value":"250","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Vg","display_name":"Grid 1 Bias Voltage","value":"-4","numeric_value":"-4","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mAa","display_name":"Anode Current","value":"3","numeric_value":"3","unit":"mA","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"ra","display_name":"Anode Resistance","value":"25000","numeric_value":"25000","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"gm","display_name":"Transconductance","value":"1.75","numeric_value":"1.75","unit":"mA/V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mu","display_name":"Amplification Factor (μ)","value":"44","numeric_value":"44","unit":"—","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Cgp","display_name":"Grid-to-Plate Capacitance","value":"1.3","numeric_value":"1.3","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cin","display_name":"Input Capacitance","value":"1.3","numeric_value":"1.3","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cout","display_name":"Output Capacitance","value":"0.6","numeric_value":"0.6","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-07T12:04:25.434Z"}