|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
203.144.251.90
To date I have tried Telefunken ECC88 gold pins which were very nice, analytical, good soundstaging. Amperex 6DJ8 and Bugle Boy ECC88 with treble clef logo - which were also rather pleasant with a warm rich sound. [The treble clef version possessing more 'charm'].
But the pair that betters even the Telefunkens I have to say, are the Amperex A frame Hewlett Packard ECC88's. They sound wonderful, you know when something just clicks into place...They've got it all - a rich full bodied 3D sound, sumptious in every way.
I have a pair of Siemens CCA [1960's] on order, wonder how they'll stack up? I'm using a Cary SLI80 BTW.
Any comments would be most welcome.
Follow Ups:
Bibi,I have tried a few of the 6DJ8 family:
Philips Miniwatt E188CC- Holland- NOS
Philips SQ E188CC- Holland -NOS- VR9
Valvo E188CC- Holland- NOS
Amperex US CEP E188CC- NOS
Amperex Globe-ECC88 A frame-NOS
RAM- ECC88 SA ln Ampx A frame-NEW
RAM - A std- Ampx - A frame- NEW
RAM -AA std- Ampx A frame -NEW
Amperex White Logo ECC88 USED
Amperex Orange Globe ECC88 USED
Harma 6922- 6H23EB- NOS
Russian 6DJ8- NOS
Amperex Bugle Boy ECC88-USED
Siemens E88CC- NOS- and you might notice the concentration of the Amperex A-frame: I ended up with 30 of these. The sound does not apparently suit everyone- the Bugle Boy adherents are greater in number- but I like the A-frame very much - there's a certain energy- liveliness compared to the BB. I do not seek out tubes that have a particular noticeable "tube" quality and the SP10 seems to like the "faster" sound.
Unfortunately, I bought all these by experimenting with tubes for only a few hours at a time- without knowing they would survive in my Audio Research SP10 preamplifier for as little as 20 hours. They are not weak, but the SP10 just pushes them too hard.
The tubes for the SP10 were so difficult, I thought to sell it and go "back" to my SP8***, but for phono the SP10 is so refined I may never be able to part with it.
** That's not too painful a sentence!
Because of the demands on the tubes, I soon (well, actually it took about 10 years) realized my future life with the SP10 was reducing itself to Sovteks- or the 7308/ E188CC and I now have about 20 of these. My 7308 of choice is Dutch Amperex and I hope that of my 20 of these, I can find 4-6 the SP10 can use. I just bought a pair of USN-CEP and have high hopes for those too- a little variety.. Otherwise all my valve gear will be speak with a Dutch accent!
I did try the (ordinary) Siemens E88CC and I was not enamoured of it enough to pursue that one***, but the CCA are supposed to be very nice. I would be interested to read of your results with that one in your Cary.
*** These will go into my SP8, but are not in the signal path.
cheers,
Bambi B
Could you look at the etched codes on these?I have about a dozen of these in HP coarboard tubes that have UK etched codes ("B" as first letter in second row.)
In my counterpoint I found that the mullard shield 6922 w/ gold pins
to have that warm rich sound. (circa 1958 or so) I don'tknow if it is my pre or the nature of the 6dj8 family, but changing that tube can make my pre sound any where from total crap, to wonderful. They are SUPPOSED to last 10,000. I own three and am always looking for more.
The CCa I have not heard, but that IS the legendary member of the family!
Russellc
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: