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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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In Reply to: 6DJ8 - your preference for less than $1,000/pair posted by Frihed89 on May 6, 2008 at 07:08:10:
Frihed89,
I haven't looked up what 6DJ8s could possibly cost $1,000 a pair- they must be nice and come in a Cartier box! The tubes in the 6DJ8 family have become very expensive, but the ECC88 is the cheapest and I should think you can find really, really good ones, well tested from dealers in the $60-100 each range- see below for an idea on purchasing.
I tried several 6DJ8s in the SP10 until learning they would be short lived, mainly in the Philips/Amperex/Valvo family. In the SP10, the best sounding of all were early 60's Amperex Heerlen ECC88 with white labelling. These had a wonderful wide and deep soundstage and the kind of effortless, open bass I like. When I heard these I thought I'd really found the tube that would reveal the best aspects of the preamp. Then, after about 10 hours- one became an amazing noisemaker. I checked for a photo of these, but couldn't find one.
A co-favourite though is the Amperex Bugle Boy from the early to mid 60's. It's really much like the white print ones, but in some way seems more "delicate" or subtle, perhaps better balanced top to bottom, but a bit less forcelful.
The other ECC88 I grew fond of was the Amperex A-Frame- the getter is supprted on a pair of very strong flat bars that lean inwards. Some have commented that the A-frames are not as supple as the splatter shield 6DJ8, and even a bit hard, but my experience was of a more energetic approach while retaining that very open quality I like in the 6DJ8.
I should mention that I never spent much time with either Mullards or Telefunken ECC88, both of which some people really like. I had a pair of very old, heavily used Telefunkens that a repair shop gave me- pulls from an oscilliscope- and though they were quiet, I thought the sound was too lean- very dynamic and great natural timbre, but I didn't have the sense of authority of the white labelled Amperex. The Mullards I tried very briefly were late ones- late 70's? and I thought actually a bit unrefined at the extremes- slightly hard treble, -nice in the middle-, and the bass was a bit opaque.
My recommendation for you- given where you live- would be to shop on German Ebay. The German seller diebu- and in fact all the German sellers I've dealt with are serious about testing and giving real descriptions, plus the prices even with the strong Euro are still lower than in the US. As well, when the same tube is labeled Valvo instead of Amperex, it costs much less. I was thinking you might want to try two or more kinds before settling on one and Ebay DE might make this less painful!
That said, these days, you might spend less buying thouroughly tested ones form a dealer that tests for noise and microphonics like Kevin Deal and with whom a return policy might be established. I spent quite a lot on the 6DJ8 types and calculate only about 1/4 of the tubes I bought could be used in the SP10,- which uses 12. The second tier tubes can go into the SP8 (2) and the D155 amplifier (3).
Cheers,
Bambi B
6DJ8 [17] 4 low noise, 2, 8, 3 TOTAL: 111 (> )
6- Philips Miniwatt E188CC- Holland- NOS
6- Philips SQ E188CC- Holland -NOS- VR9
5- Valvo E188CC- Holland- VR5- NOS
2- Valvo E188CC- Holland- NOS [60 9.18.07
5- Amperex Globe-ECC88 A frame-NOS
> > 3- RAM- ECC88 SA low noise Amperex A frame-NEW < <
6- RAM - A std- Ampx - A frame- NEW
4- RAM -AA std- Ampx A frame -NEW
> > 5- Amperex White Logo ECC88- Holland- USED < <
8- Amperex Orange Globe ECC88- USED
2- Harma 6922- 6H23p-EB- NOS
10-Russian 6DJ8- NOS
14-Russian 6DJ8 -NOS
> > 3- Amperex Bugle Boy ECC88- USED < <
28- Tungsram E88CC- Red label- steel pins- Hungary- NOS 69-79 [15
2- Siemens &H E88CC- A-frame, gp- Germany- NOS [50
1- Siemens &H E188CC- Germany -NOS [50
2- Siemens & H- E88CC- splatter- Germany - NOS [40
1- Valvo E88CC- Red label, Holland- NOS [35
1- Philips E88CC- Holland- NOS [35
2- Telefunken ECC88- DE- USED [0
1- Siemens E88CC- NOS
2- Amperex US CEP E188CC- ANOS
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Follow Ups
- 6DJ8 preferences - Bambi B 05/6/0809:28:17 05/6/08 (4)
- Thanks Bambi. Here's the $1,000 a pair - Frihed89 11:20:48 05/6/08 (3)
- I spent too many years in the Twin Cities (10). - Barney's Beanery 04:08:50 05/7/08 (0)
- WOW! I've bought at least 15 cars that cost less than those two tubes! - Bambi B 12:13:58 05/6/08 (1)
- The "Tube Lore" is not Joe Rosen's - Jack G 16:05:28 05/6/08 (0)
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