In Reply to: RE: No, but it's been done more or less, with the related 6GH8A posted by becketma@yahoo.com on April 27, 2010 at 13:21:36:
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A McIntosh MR67 tube tuner (1964). The 6BL8 "Audio Amplifiers" are at the centre back- the two left of the back row in the photo above
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Valvo E80CF red label, pinched waist, gold pin. You can just see the typical Philips double triangle getter support. All Philips, Amperex, Miniwatt, Mullard, and Valvo have this same design.
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The Telefunken E80CF, which has the Telefunken construction of a wide, reinforced single bar getter support. Tubes labeled Telefunken and Siemens are both made by Telefunken
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becketma,
I had the same experience- after trying the premium/military 6BL8- the E80CF/7643, I only looked to those. My impression was that the E80CF was more resolved and detailed, somewhat more energetic.
In 2005-6 the E80CF was inexpensive- the glamourous NOS Valvo red label pinched waist E80CF were $15 and many others were $5-8. The Telefunkens were more- $24 each, until I discovered that the Siemens are made by Telefunken- they have the diamond in the base- were $5 and $15. There's a clear demonstration that the Telefunken name makes the same tube cost more!
Checking German ebay.de- the best place to find the E80CF- I see prices have gone up, but these are still inexpensive compared to something like 12xx7's and 6DJ8 family stuff.
As the 6BL8 had not been made in nearly 30 years, I over-bought thinking I'd want enough to select from three types to fill the 6BL8 positions for two tube tuners for 30 years- and that would mean buying about 20 tubes. However, I bought twice that:
6BL8 /ECF80 /E80CF /7643 (2) TOTAL: 41
2- Telefunken E80CF- goldpin- NOS - [24
4- Philips Miniwatt ECF80-- Brazil- NOS -[5
4- Valvo E80CF Red lbl, pinch waist- gldpn–DE- NOS -[16
2- Philips SQ E80CF - Germany, gp-USED-TNOS -[8
4- Philips SQ / Mullard- E80CF- disc gtr- UK- NOS- [12
3- Siemens by Telefunken 7643- square gtr - gp- DE- NOS- [5
3- Amperex PQ E80CF-gp-Hamburg-db.gtr-NOS 64- [5
5- Siemens & H by Telefunken E80CF- gp- - NOS-[16
4- Amperex PQ 7643- gp- Hamburg- db.gtr s- NOS - [7
4- GE ECF80 -UK - NOS [2
2- RCA 6BL8- US - NOS [2
3- RCA ECF80 -France- NOS [2
1- Sylvania 6BL8- US [2
As I say, from the sound of the McIntosh MR67, I'd like to find a headphone preamp that can use the 6BL8/E80CF. Of course, a 6GH8A-based one would be the one.
Cheers,
Bambi B
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Follow Ups
- 6BL8_ECF80_E80CF_7643 - Bambi B 04/27/1015:28:21 04/27/10 (4)
- RE: 6BL8_ECF80_E80CF_7643 - becketma@yahoo.com 22:39:18 04/28/10 (2)
- Yes, I found only two European designs - Bambi B 06:59:15 04/29/10 (0)
- RE: 6BL8_ECF80_E80CF_7643 - becketma@yahoo.com 22:42:41 04/28/10 (0)
- Thanks for all the info and - bcguitar 19:19:22 04/27/10 (0)