RCA 12AU7A ECC82 Dual Triode High Fidelity Vacuum Tube

RCA 12AU7A ECC82 Dual Triode Vacuum Tube. This RCA-branded, miniature nine-pin dual-triode provides two independent triode sections in a single glass envelope, designed for small-signal audio amplification. The 12AU7A designation identifies it as RCA's variant of the ECC82 family, widely used in hi‑fi gear, phono stages, and guitar-amp preamps where clean, detailed signal reproduction is important. It uses a standard 9-pin B9A socket and a heater requirement of 6.3 V at approximately 0.3 A, aligning with the common power rails used in vintage and modern preamp circuits. Encapsulated in a classic glass envelope, the tube is appreciated for its balanced linearity and reliable performance in dual-triode configurations, making it a staple in both new-old-stock and refurbished equipment. In practice, designers rely on the two triode sections to split amplification tasks—one section handling input gain and the other serving as a second gain or driver stage—while maintaining smooth tonal characteristics desirable in high-fidelity audio paths.