Tubes rule, but EH sucks

Early B.
Early B. Posts: 7,900
edited September 2008 in 2 Channel Audio
Listening to my system tonight and the sound was bright as the sun. So I switched out the EH power tubes in my monos for some Tungsol 6550's and the brightness disappeared. Sounds great now! Very smooth and mellow.
HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

"God grooves with tubes."
Post edited by Early B. on
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Comments

  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited September 2008
    Good deal, bottles are always personal choice and system dependent.

    I tend to find a tube I like with a piece of gear and then just sit back and enjoy the tunes. In some cases the manufacturer did the work for me, Antony Michaelson at MF despises tube rolling and hard wires them in, gotta admit though, at least for me, I like his choices. I use some EH in the Manley different tube than yours EB and they sound good.

    Rock on and

    Tubes Rule.

    RT1
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2008
    I've never had good experiences with anything by EH.
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited September 2008
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    I've never had good experiences with anything by EH.


    Me neitherr...




    Nick
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  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited September 2008
    The EH E88CC/6922 are known to be really quiet tubes, great for phono stages, and they were dead quiet in my 65db gain MC phono stage. However, I thought they sounded thin and weak compared to my Amperex USN-CEP 6922s. I was open minded too. I 'd much rather be able to use an affordable tube like the EH. They may simply need time to break in as many users feel they are a pretty good tube, although surpassed by the JJ 6922 for current production that is.

    I'll probably keep mine as backups.

    DC
    For Sale 2019:
    Tortuga Audio LDR passive preamp
    Decware EL34 amp
    Allnic H-1201 phono
    Zu Union Cubes
    iFi iDSD DAC, .5m UBS, iFI Gemini cable, Oyaide Tunami XLR 1.3M, Oyaide Tunami Speaker wire 1.5M, Beyerdynamic DT1990 headphones, PS Audio P3 power center

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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited September 2008
    jj 6922 sound veiled in my monoblocks. I like the Jan Phillips 6922...open, airy, and dead quiet.

    I do like EH's 6CA7's (drop in for EL34's). Very well balanced I think.

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited September 2008
    Let those big caps burn! Then try your EH again:)
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited September 2008
    EH are my favorite current production tubes. All the way from preamp to power tubes. As for 6922's I don't think I've heard better ones than the amperex bugle boys.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited September 2008
    Are you talking about this JAN?


    Phillips 6922 JAN ECG.
    5749841151.jpg

    I've heard more than one person claim it is the WORST 6922 ever made; maybe open & airy could be lack of detail and resolution? I got rid of mine a few years ago, but have one left oddly. Maybe you got a good batch...:D

    DC
    For Sale 2019:
    Tortuga Audio LDR passive preamp
    Decware EL34 amp
    Allnic H-1201 phono
    Zu Union Cubes
    iFi iDSD DAC, .5m UBS, iFI Gemini cable, Oyaide Tunami XLR 1.3M, Oyaide Tunami Speaker wire 1.5M, Beyerdynamic DT1990 headphones, PS Audio P3 power center

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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited September 2008
    I am pretty sure that is what I have. However, my system is boxed and in storage at the moment. I do really miss it.
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited September 2008
    Like Ben said" Let the caps burn in" . You are talking about power tubes? Give the "new amps" some time to mellow. After a couple hundred hours tell us what you think. EH tubes are not top of my list but give it some time.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited September 2008
    Try EH Gold tubes they are way ahead of the regular stock EH tubes.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited September 2008
    bikerboy wrote: »
    Like Ben said" Let the caps burn in" . You are talking about power tubes? Give the "new amps" some time to mellow. After a couple hundred hours tell us what you think. EH tubes are not top of my list but give it some time.

    The previous owner(s) used those EH power tubes, so they probably have hundreds of hours on them. They are the stock tubes for my amps.

    I've used EH power tubes before in another amp and had a similar experience with them. There's better stuff out there.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2008
    Early B. wrote: »
    The previous owner(s) used those EH power tubes, so they probably have hundreds of hours on them. They are the stock tubes for my amps.
    The Mundorfs need to burn in, not the tubes. ;)
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited September 2008
    Early B. wrote: »
    They are the stock tubes for my amps.

    Oh, I see the problem now... What self respecting audiophile could leave the "stock" tubes in place. :p
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited September 2008
    I remember using eh tubes in my Jolida (granted, they were 12ax7's)

    they did not last long. same complaint, they were oddly bright and a skosh grainy for my ears.


    those Jan Phillips 6922's I believe came in a blue and green label variety, both sounding a little different. I remember both being listenable when I used a Dodd ELP, but paled compared to the Amperex Bugle Boy (which seemed to be THE tube to run in that little pre.)

    I still use my Jolida, but with an external CAL Sigma tube dac. I think its got 1 6922 or 12ax7 in it. not sure, all I remember is the guy that sold it to me said I could try all the tubes in the world but none will sound better than the one I got in it. I took his word for it, as it sounds fantastic......I never popped thew unit open to see what it is. I should, as it is the only tube in my 2 channel for now and the forseeable future.
    Living Room 2 Channel -
    Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.

    Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
    Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.

    Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited September 2008
    These source is pretty reliable and they say that these are the Bugle Boy tubes. Just thought I would throw that out there.

    http://thetubestore.com/janphilips6922.html

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited September 2008
    Midnite Mick wrote: »
    These source is pretty reliable and they say that these are the Bugle Boy tubes. Just thought I would throw that out there.

    http://thetubestore.com/janphilips6922.html

    Mike


    They make the statement they will not work in the Modulus 3a preamp due to microphonics. I have found this to be the case with bugle boy tubes. (well they work for a very short period of time then become microphonic). This just strenthens their assesment that these are bugle boy tubes. Doesn't prove anything though. And yes, I trust the tube store.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited September 2008
    Hey Ealy, how many hours do you have on the M-caps ? The SED/Winged C power tubes are also a very nice tube.thanks....WCW III
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited September 2008
    W WALDECKER wrote: »
    Hey Ealy, how many hours do you have on the M-caps ? The SED/Winged C power tubes are also a very nice tube.thanks....WCW III


    I was just thinking about these tubes, I use them in my Mites. GREAT tube. The 6550 seems like it gets criticized for being colder than the EL34 in the mid, but this tube is nice. Also read these have less overall distortion than the EL34.

    DC
    For Sale 2019:
    Tortuga Audio LDR passive preamp
    Decware EL34 amp
    Allnic H-1201 phono
    Zu Union Cubes
    iFi iDSD DAC, .5m UBS, iFI Gemini cable, Oyaide Tunami XLR 1.3M, Oyaide Tunami Speaker wire 1.5M, Beyerdynamic DT1990 headphones, PS Audio P3 power center

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