Who has heard s**t loads of tubes/valves...?

Nothingface

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I will soon be replacing a pair of JJ E88CC in my ModWright PH9.0X phono stage & wanted to know if anyone could recommend a pair with a big 3D soundstage & extremely detailed...

I was contemplating the Gold Lion...any views on this option?

From what I've read the Siemens will be too smooth.

 

Jazid

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Mullard E88CC with dimpled disc getters. Or Czech Tesla E88CC.

 

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Mullard E88CC with dimpled disc getters. Or Czech Tesla E88CC.
Agreed, I'm now using Mullards after wasting money on Gold Lions (not a bad tube but just a bit dull).

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

 

StingRay

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Agreed, I'm now using Mullards after wasting money on Gold Lions (not a bad tube but just a bit dull).

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk
 
Gold Lions are not bad for new tubes, currently using them now, but I agree there are better choices. But some are now rare therefore very expensive. 

Mullards produced 1,000s of tubes, they also produced some for other brands such as Philips. 

@RabSki has a shed load of tubes, many quite rare and expensive. A few other members are quite knowledgeable on tubes. 

 
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Nothingface

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Thanks for the info guys...you've saved me from a wasted purchase. 

Interestingly I was considering Tesla but unsure as I've never used them. I use NOS Telefunken in my integrated so was thinking about doing the same for the ModWright but the prices have really increased. 

 

rabski

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1950s/1950s Siemens Cca, but good luck with finding any. 1950s and early 1960s Mullards are decent, 'normal' Siemens E88CC from the same period. Everything made after the end of the 1960s is not as good. Supposedly some (but definitely not all) of the Russian 6N23P are excellent, but I've never tried them.

Those are the only ones I can remember. However, it's a fair old time since I used any. Mostly I don't use 9-pins any longer.

YMMV and as always with valves, don't expect 'night and day' differences (apart from your Barclaycard balance).

 

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I once saw shit loads of em ..I remember back in 1965 walking into George Gross’s electrical repair  shop in Pilsley near Tibshelf . He repaired everything and he had a room with shelves stacked floor to ceiling with valves on three walls .

That would be Rabs Nirvana

 

rabski

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I once saw shit loads of em ..I remember back in 1965 walking into George Gross’s electrical repair  shop in Pilsley near Tibshelf . He repaired everything and he had a room with shelves stacked floor to ceiling with valves on three walls .

That would be Rabs Nirvana
That would be Rab's garage 🤣 Except mine are all in boxes, tea chests and other packing cases.

 
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uzzy

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Came across this for 6DJ8 (ECC88) and I am just quoting others here - as for me I just have a hybrid with 6DJ8 tubes and I have tried a few and buggered if I can tell the difference in my preamp .. latest change was to 7dj8 valves from National Panasonic and they sound fine to my ears (no different to the last ones if truth be told) 
 

 Phillips Miniwatts PCC88 preamp tubes,  these premium quality low noise US Military Spec.valves are made in Holland in the Herleen Factory and although rated at 7.2 volts, when used in standard 6.3 volt applications for any ecc88/e88cc/6922 give great performance with the benefit of a lower noise and longer life. Some claim these tubes are the standard by which other ECC88/6922/6DJ8 types are judged

And from another article I found on the net some years back a guy tested and rated as follows 

6922 = e88cc  And here is the final ranking! The point average across all songs to the right.









Reflektor Holy Grail '75 6N23P SWGP Silver Shields



121.7





Siemens Cca Gray Shield '63s



117.8





Siemen Cca Gray Shield '65s



117.5





Telefunken Ulm E188CC '60s



117.3





Reflektor '74 6N23P SWGP Silver Shields



116.1





Amperex PW D Getter



115.2





Philips Miniwatt SQ E188CC Herleen Halo Getter VR9 '64



114.2





Amperex USN-CEP 7308 White '65 VR5



113.7





Voskhod '75 6N23P Gray Shield SWGP



111.3





Amperex 7308 Green Print '68



109.1





Siemens E88CC '60s Gray



107.6





Telefunken Ulm E88CC '60s



107.5





Reflektor 6N23P '65 Dual Straight Wire Getter



106.8





Valvo Herleen E88CC '67 Large Halo Getter



106.3





Nevz 6N1P-E '66 



105.3





Siemens E88CC '70s Silver



100.0





Mullard England CV2492



94.6











 

rabski

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I've seen that test, but I didn't like the context. Basically, the only way you can form any opinion about the 'sound' of valves is when you're absolutely certain they're running at their ideal operating point. Either way, the circuit always makes more difference then the valve in it.

The last point is the killer, because if valves are run (often deliberately) outside the ideal point, changes and differences may be emphsaized, but all bets are off in terms of consistent results. Experimenting is the best way, and if you buy sensibly, old valves won't lose much value, and may well increase.

 
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uzzy

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I've seen that test, but I didn't like the context. Basically, the only way you can form any opinion about the 'sound' of valves is when you're absolutely certain they're running at their ideal operating point. Either way, the circuit always makes more difference then the valve in it.

The last point is the killer, because if valves are run (often deliberately) outside the ideal point, changes and differences may be emphsaized, but all bets are off in terms of consistent results. Experimenting is the best way, and if you buy sensibly, old valves won't lose much value, and may well increase.
Nice one Rabski  .. as I said I was quoting from others and it might be of help but having the input of the experts is the key.  My experience is very limited as mine is a hybrid and it does not seem to make a difference which make I have put in it to date.   I went for the 7DJ8 this time as I am hoping they will last much longer (as I leave the thing on standby when not in use - perhaps I ought to start turning it off)

 

Jazid

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@nothingface
Tesla E88CC are gold pin frame grid valves, selected from ECC88 production. They are few and far between, now people put gold on ordinary ECC88 tubes and sell for more. But absolutely nothing wrong with the standard variant IMO. Solid reliable and built with Telefunken tech, there's little to worry about. The Siemens CCA stuff is excellent but essentially unobtainable, as is Telefunken and now Tungsram CCA selections. It's fetishism at the end of the day, pay what you can afford, if you will, and don't sweat what you don't have.

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toprepairman

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Unless they're tired or faulty then they all sound the same to me, but then I don't buy into Foo nonsense. I make sure all valves are operating correctly but have seen circuits where they don't. Chinese tend to be the least reliable often going noisy.

 

rabski

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Unless they're tired or faulty then they all sound the same to me, but then I don't buy into Foo nonsense. I make sure all valves are operating correctly but have seen circuits where they don't. Chinese tend to be the least reliable often going noisy.
I would tend to say more that there are differences, but certainly that they are small differences. I don't do 'night and day', because it's usually people trying to pretend their hearing is better than other people's, or more often trying to justify the enormous amount they've spent.

 

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