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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: Your favorite 6DJ8/6922/ECC88 posted by Hamover on August 4, 2006 at 22:52:15:
The eternal question. Literally. Here's a few basics. The differences in MANY variants of this tube have to do solely with WHEN it was made; a 1962 USA Amperex PQ 6922 is gonna be much different from 1982 production. SO, just saying "Amperex 6922 is great" is a non-statement. 2nd, there is a website that waxes insanely enthusiastic over CCa versus other versions, etc. It offers details about the diameter of wire in the frame grids of CCa, making it seem like CCa is some magical version of 6922, MADE DIFFERENTLY FROM ALL OTHER 6922s. It isn't. Any superiority of CCa is due exclusively to (actually rather basic) factory quality control of tubes labeled CCa; think about it: if the gridwires etc were of diferent pitch/diameter, it WOULDN'T BE A DIRECT COMPATIBLE "upsub" for 6922! It would spec differently. There are SO, SO many misconceptions and outright BS about "facts" about this tube family, it's ridiculous. Best advice; 1st post what you plan to USE these in. If it's a DAC, amp, or follower you can get by with much different tubes than, say, a phonostage (in terms of both quality and microphonics/noise) Try "Joe's tube Lore" and read his 6DJ8 impressions. They are reasonably on point, as opposed to his useless & less than worthless guide to 12AX7s. Mostly, don't get caught up in getting the best best best until you have really done research, that is if you NEED blueblood tubes. A well selected, balanced triode section, low microphonics tested 6DJ8 will afford the SAME performance in 98%+ of apps than the multi$ "special versions" of the same tube. And 6DJ8 can do it all. It's published specs are a little different but it's he SAME tube, essentially. Mainly, special versions like Ccas are a TOTAL ripoff these days when tested/selected/graded 6922s and 6DJ8s are available from reputable dealers. You are paying a high premium for those three little letters (CCa)printed on an ordinary 6922 that went thru a bit of factory/OEM quality control. For true believers in CCa-- YES some look different and have slightly different internals from "same brand" 6922s, like gold plated grid posts, etc.. This is a product of VINTAGE of production not special CCa construction; remember, CCa, even in the factory literature, is a selected 6922. Period. Same vintage/maker 6922s are identical by DEFINITION to the 6922s they were selected from! CCa labeled 6922s just went thru a bit of xtra QC or they'd say "6922" Quick answer: I like white letter, 1959-1964 Amperex 6922 USA PRODUCTION best, about equal with Dutch Amperex 6922s from the same era. The USA version is a bit livelier in the treble. Early Amperex USA 7308s (white letter 1964 or so) are great. I actually like TUNGSRAM 6922s OK (red lettering, not yellow, 1971 or so vintage) in driver and linestage use. Teslas are OK in DAC and driver stages but except for the very earliest and most selected I like the Amperexes much better; Teslas can be a real bargain, tho. A note of caution about ANY Siemens 6922, CCa, or 7308; the REALLY good sounding versions of this tube were produced for about only 4-5 years in the early 1960s; and the rest of them are NOTHING SPECIAL, IMHO. And the late 1970s EAST GERMAN Siemens 7308s are a total ripoff. If you research it and spot the "good" Siemens, they are great. The others are merely overpriced. (Too much detail needed to post here a "spotters guide" to verifying the good versions of this or other 6922/6DJ8 types)Above all; research, don't go crazy for "names" (lotsa sleepers out there)and get a pair of hipboots to wade thru the misinformation---- Like maybe even some I have offered; this tube is not one I use much anymore--but I HAVE used them extensively, and also really did my homework when using them.
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- Re: Your favorite 6DJ8/6922/ECC88 - ARC 09:03:22 08/05/06 (0)
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