12AT7

Small Signal Triode — Noval

Data: HighHigh quality — base, heater, all universal parameters present, and ≥50% of desirable parameters filled in. Safe to use for design decisions.

↗ r-type.org ↗ TDSL ↗ Radiomuseum

Known Equivalents & Substitutes

ECC81CV455CV10662CV8154CV9859B309B152B7396201606066797492772812AT7WA12AT7WCA2900CV4024E2157E81CCECC801ECC801SM8162CC81ECK6201

Similar Tubes (Not Drop-In Compatible)

12AU7

Same Noval dual triode pinout but low-mu (mu=17); higher plate current, used as driver/buffer

12AX7

Same Noval dual triode pinout but high-mu (mu=100) vs medium-mu (mu=60); lower plate current, higher ra

12AY7

Same Noval dual triode pinout, medium-mu (mu=44); popular in early Fender guitar amp preamps

12AZ7

Electrically identical (same mu, gm, ra) but higher heater current (225mA series) and higher Vhk_max (200V); designed for series-string TV sets

5751

Same Noval dual triode pinout, reduced mu (mu=70); military grade, common lower-gain substitute

6SL7

High-mu dual triode (mu=70) but Octal base; similar application as voltage amplifier

Electrical Specifications

Absolute Maximum

Anode Voltage (max)Max Plate Voltage300V

Anode Dissipation (max)Max Plate Dissipation2.5W

Cathode Current (max)Max Cathode Current15mA

Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)Max Heater-Cathode Voltage90V

Max Grid Resistor

Notes

Originally designed for VHF/RF use up to 300 MHz in grounded-grid amplifier and oscillator-mixer circuits.
Widely used in audio as a driver tube and phase inverter, particularly in guitar amplifiers.
The 6201/12AT7WA is the ruggedized military version with tighter tolerances.
The 6679 is a GE special-quality version (Special 12AT7) with controlled characteristics.
The 6060 is another special-quality variant (Special 12AT7) for high-frequency service.
No direct Soviet/Russian equivalent exists for the 12AT7.
Can be operated with 6.3V or 12.6V heater supply using the pin 9 center tap.
VT-207 is the US military Signal Corps designation.

Pin Layout — Noval

1Anode 2 (Triode section 2)

2Control Grid 2 (Triode section 2)

Socket-Compatible Tubes ⚠ Not electrically compatible

12AU7 12AV7 12AX7 12AY7 12AZ7 12BH7 12CG7 5751 5965 6/30L2 6922 6AU7 6BK7 6BQ7A 6CG7

References