6DJ8/6922 tube advice needed

halo
halo Posts: 5,616
edited February 2006 in 2 Channel Audio
Last week I bought a pair of Ei Elite 6DJ8 / ECC88 tubes from Uncle Ned for my CDP. While they were burning in they started to sound real nice but after 50 - 60 + hours the bass response has fallen off slightly but the highs have become, for lack of a better word, distorted. They can't keep up with Norah Jones "Don't Know Why".

So, since I'm still new to tubes, I'd like to get some advice on what I should try next (I don't have the coin for NOS Amperex, Mullard, etc. right now). The following tubes are what I've narrowed my choices down to (In no particular order):
  • JJ / Tesla E88CC / 6922
  • JAN Philips Blue 6922
  • JAN Philips Green 6922
  • Tesla Saber E88CC / 6922
  • Matsushita ECC88 / 6DJ8
  • Brimer ECC88 / 6DJ8

Any advice or reccommendations would be appreciated :)
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2006
    The JJ and the JAN, your going to like it.

    RT1
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2006
    Hey, you know what, I once mentioned a tube swap program but not really alot of interest, I have some JAN sitting in a drawer, if you like I will send them to you to try your ears out on.

    RT1
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  • jfb4548
    jfb4548 Posts: 168
    edited February 2006
    reeltrouble1 wrote:
    Hey, you know what, I once mentioned a tube swap program but not really alot of interest, I have some JAN sitting in a drawer, if you like I will send them to you to try your ears out on.

    RT1

    My Jolida CD and my ELP both are running Electro-Harmonix. 12AX7EH in the CD and 6922EH in the pre. and I can't say anything bad about it. I also have JJ's for my pre but everytime I swithch back to them it's like there is something missing. EH seem to have better bass and are faster on things like bass guitar. The JJ's tend to make those bass notes all blend togeather like a slur while the EH plays every note separately.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited February 2006
    RT1 - Wow man that sounds like a great idea - very nice of you to offer too. The only drawback to a tube swap, that I see anyway, is unless we're swapping pretty pricey tubes the postage would be prohibitive.

    jfb4548 - thanks for that advice it made me consider something else entirely.

    I called Triode Electronics and they're going to replace the Ei's for me - I'll probably pick up a pair of JJ / Tesla's while I'm there. Heck their prices are so good I'm thinking of trying one pair of everything (except the Sovtek's) in their stock of 6DJ8 / 6922 - EH, JAN, & JJ.

    I'd like to know if the Tesla Saber, Brimar, or Matsushita tubes are worth the higher prices.
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  • scottyf
    scottyf Posts: 129
    edited February 2006
    The Mastushias are smoother and highlight the "body" of an accoustic guitar more than the "bite" of the strings. Nice, fat tubey sound, plenty of detail without getting strident. Very cohesive top to bottom. Green JANs can be a bit much on the top registers with some music. Not considering the NOS Amperex or Siemens, my next favorite tube and much nicer sounding than the Russians, though the Brimar is the least offensive of the Russians. At least in my Counterpoint gear.
    (Note: the majority of the Brimars I've seen lately have been relabeled Russian tubes. Old, authentic Brimars are supposed to be a superior tube, though I've not heard them.)

    I got in an argument with John Hillig (Musical Concepts) about which tubes sounded better, Amperex or Matsushita, and he very much preferrs the Japanese tubes.

    Try a pair. Of that group of tubes, I found them to be the most musical (though I've not listend to the JJ's)

    HOME: VPI Classic/Grado Reference Master, EVS-modified Oppo BP83, Bryston DAC, Counterpoint 3000/SA-100 modified by Alta Vista, Polk LSi15

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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2006
    I was not thinking of tube swap, these I have are sitting in drawer not doing anyone any good, they really dont cost much like 10.00 a tube or something, I have a set of the Brimar, they are better than say the average run of the mill Soviet whether they are worth the dough, eh, I dunno, I suppose a bit more. I get great bass extension with the JJ's in the Dodd I know others have found this also. I will have to try the EH I have, since falling for the Amperex I have a new set of EH that have never been out of the box.

    Several folks here use the JAN Phillips and are in love in with it, they are very good no doubt, I used them for a while till I fell for the Amperex 6dj8. You just need to trust you own ears and find what blows your skirt up.

    The offer stands for the JAN, just helping out a member and fellow Chicagoan. Tubes weigh nothing, they are cheap to ship. There are just too many problems with a full bore tube swap though.

    RT1
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited February 2006
    RT1 - pm sent

    I appreciate the advice guys. :)
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
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  • scottyf
    scottyf Posts: 129
    edited February 2006
    Where and how much are you getting the Matsushitas for? I might be able to send you a pair to audition...

    HOME: VPI Classic/Grado Reference Master, EVS-modified Oppo BP83, Bryston DAC, Counterpoint 3000/SA-100 modified by Alta Vista, Polk LSi15

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  • jfb4548
    jfb4548 Posts: 168
    edited February 2006
    reeltrouble1 wrote:
    I was not thinking of tube swap, these I have are sitting in drawer not doing anyone any good, they really dont cost much like 10.00 a tube or something, I have a set of the Brimar, they are better than say the average run of the mill Soviet whether they are worth the dough, eh, I dunno, I suppose a bit more. I get great bass extension with the JJ's in the Dodd I know others have found this also. I will have to try the EH I have, since falling for the Amperex I have a new set of EH that have never been out of the box.

    Several folks here use the JAN Phillips and are in love in with it, they are very good no doubt, I used them for a while till I fell for the Amperex 6dj8. You just need to trust you own ears and find what blows your skirt up.

    The offer stands for the JAN, just helping out a member and fellow Chicagoan. Tubes weigh nothing, they are cheap to ship. There are just too many problems with a full bore tube swap though.

    RT1


    Garry told me the 'Amperex Orange Globes' are his personal choice for the ELP. I don't have the $ to try um so it's the cheapies like the JJ and EH's for now. The both sound great, but overall I tend to prefer the EH.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited February 2006
    scottyf wrote:
    Where and how much are you getting the Matsushitas for? I might be able to send you a pair to audition...
    V.T.S.
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  • scottyf
    scottyf Posts: 129
    edited February 2006
    Andy rocks! I got the tubes from Hillig, but Andy has tested them for me.

    If you are interested, I would be willing to send you a pair to audition. If you like them and want to keep them, I'll sell them to you for something less than Andy is selling his for. Honestly, I have fallen for the Amperex USN-CEP 7308 and wouldn't mind turning some of my other tubes for more of those.

    Lemme know...

    HOME: VPI Classic/Grado Reference Master, EVS-modified Oppo BP83, Bryston DAC, Counterpoint 3000/SA-100 modified by Alta Vista, Polk LSi15

    TRUCK: Pioneer 8600MP, Soundstream 300SX, pr of Xtant 1001i, Autotek SS490.2, Polk SR6500, Polk MMC6500, pr of Polk MM2084DVC
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited February 2006
    pm sent
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2006
    The EH6922's are garbage. If you have them, get rid of them, before you keel over from bad sound. You should hear a noticeable difference trying most ANYTHING else.

    JAN 80's green, Groove Tubes, or JJ, in that order.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited February 2006
    Thanks Russ
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited February 2006
    Of the new production tubes, I like the Groove Tubes as much as anything. They can be had for about $20/pr shipped. Doesn't get much cheaper than that.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited February 2006
    7308's
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited February 2006
    7308s are gonna be price prohibitive for Victor at this time. ;):)

    Unless of course you have a source that we don't know about. :D
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited February 2006
    does anyone know the source tube for the groove tube 6922 since groove tube wants $30 ea. for their tubes and they only rebadge other manufacturer's tubes.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
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    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
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    Puritan PSM156
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited February 2006
    gary said the amperex 7308's were the best for the elp and he also likes the jj's.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited February 2006
    Here's the linky for the GT 6922/6dj8, this is who I got mine from and everything went very smoothly. Had them within 3 days of payment received

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Groove-Tubes-GT-6DJ8-6922-Tube-Tubes-NEW_W0QQitemZ5864224576QQcategoryZ64629QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2006
    Again, price prohibitive douchebags, read the POST.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited February 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    Again, price prohibitive douchebags, read the POST.

    The 7308s, right?
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2006
    Yes.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited February 2006
    I've never been called a douchebag before.

    Well, nothing wrong with buying used tubes from a reputable dealer or individual (I can suggest some, if you like). US-branded used 7308's, for example, aren't too expensive.

    I got NOS RCA 6DJ8's from Antique Electronic Supply quite inexpensively.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited February 2006
    Thank you everyone for your advice and thank you Ted and Scott for your generous offers.

    I managed to stop in to Triode Electronics today and I regret to inform all of you that Uncle Ned no longer works there - "he just stopped showing up for work. He's out there somewhere."

    Noel - thanks for the GT link :)
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2006
    Never, not you broham.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited February 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    Never, not you broham.
    I'm just relaying the message I was given today
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2006
    Im not quoting or posting fast enough today - that was for Mhardy. ;)
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited February 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    Im not quoting or posting fast enough today - that was for Mhardy. ;)
    Whoops - sorry brudda :o
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  • scottyf
    scottyf Posts: 129
    edited February 2006
    Just wondering if you had a chance to do any comparing yet.....at least on a preliminary basis.....

    HOME: VPI Classic/Grado Reference Master, EVS-modified Oppo BP83, Bryston DAC, Counterpoint 3000/SA-100 modified by Alta Vista, Polk LSi15

    TRUCK: Pioneer 8600MP, Soundstream 300SX, pr of Xtant 1001i, Autotek SS490.2, Polk SR6500, Polk MMC6500, pr of Polk MM2084DVC
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