Help me decide which E88CC tubes i should buy

Prices are just ludicrous, i can get the tubes this guy is selling for 400$ each for 80$.

Idk how audiophiles can get a long with that. It's a tube, shouldn't costs more than 40$ realistically. 

There is no engineering or manufacturing costs involved, don't even take up a lot of storage space.

Anyway

I don't have a CCa, i have a normal E88CC.

https://imgur.com/a/tEcacPO

I'll go with a Reflector and maybe a Siemens aswell if i can find one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

And maybe a french Mazda aswell.

Has anyone had experience with the Tungsram E88CC and italian tubes?

Not trying to fix headphones, just an observation.

About Andy, i am not a big fan of selection processes like he does.

If a tube is NOS and unused, factory surplus etc the tube should work great.

Factories had quality control aswell back then.

Also his doing rather agressive marketing trying to cause distrust and sceptiscism towards competition. The prices are outrageous aswell, 200$ for a pair of EL84 is a scam.

I modded the lid to my preamp to compensate for the extra height

Talk about overcomplicating things lol. 12ua7 run at half the voltage than 6922, how did you even do that and why?

The Reflektors are much more extended top to bottom, with an almost solid state quickness to it.

Sounds very promising, that’s exactly what i want! I
If they don’t sound as good to me, would you buy them off me?
I’ll make you a very (!!) favorable price!

Regardless of application; they always sounded the most natural(least colored, most extended, top/bottom) while provided the best sound stage and imaging.

They seem to extend more than the Philips aswell in my application. However, that might be a "placebo" effect because the Philips tend to boost what is very tuned down with the Siemens and tune down what’s very elevated with the Siemens. Guitar track becomes the dominant element. With the Siemens it’s usually the snare drum.

But that’s what makes the Siemens interesting for me, not all the frequencies are equally loud. When listening to metal or rock, or any music with drums. The snare drum is always very dominant louder than everything else, while guitars are more in the backround. The highs are accentuated quite a bit, right on the limit.

Makes me think that the Siemens are very transparent because what i described (strong bass, weak mids, strong highs) is the signature V shape which Fostex headphones are known for.

Anyway seems to depend a lot on the amplifier itself.

I checked again and my current Siemens actually has a grey shield.

I would be curious to try out Tungsram E88CC, from what little i heard they sound very good but barely anyone uses them.

Has anyone experience with Siemens 6BQ5/El84?

There are on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-6N23P-Tube-Silver-Shield-75-Rare-SWGP-Reflector-Pair-ECC88-6922-E88CC-NOS1975/254255564580?hash=item3b32d00724:g:rLYAAOSwSrNaPGea

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-MATCHED-PAIR-6N23P-REFLECTOR-Silver-Shield-1975-SWGP-NOS-in-BOX-2pcs/114117748484?hash=item1a91f2a704:g:PHgAAOSwROleVBvn

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-MATCHED-PAIR-6N23P-Tube-1975-SWGP-Reflector-Same-date-ECC88-6922-E88CC/113695077657?hash=item1a78c13519:g:e9kAAOSwc1BeWCcB

I posted 3 listings, there is a fourth one aswell for 145$. Which tested 95% NOS (14.2 mA) with well matched triodes.

It’s worth knowing that the Reflector are designed to run at 15 mA just like the ECC.

However there is a small caviat, the Siemens more often than not end up being over manufacturers specc in emission tets. I’ve seen Siemens measuring 22/23 mA that’s 150%. That’s not good either. Ideally they should be as close as possible to 15 mA. But more often than not they are above that around 16.5 mA.

The Reflectors are the opposite it’s very rare that they go up to 16 mA.

Anyway 12.5 mA isn’t strong, not even NOS, 17% lower than they should be. But of course, differences may or may not be audible.

I am not even going to attemp winning the Tele E88CC's on ebay,,although i am in the bid war,,I'm going to hold at $100,,and figure they'll fetch $160 winning bid.

I know a guy that has been selling tubes for 60 years he is on Ebay aswell, very trustworthy and honest, he has a pair of Telefunken E88CC for sale in NOS condition for 117$.

If you want i can send you the link.

E88CC's, a EU seller I've been buying from, maybe Bulgaria, says he perfers the E88CC's over all.

Can you link me his website?

I am rolling Siemens, Tele, Philips (= Amperex). and can hardly say which is superior in my cayin CD17 player, running a pair on the unbalnaced out.

Those are all mighty fine tubes, probably all equally good just different.

I have dutch Philips aswell and the they differ from the Siemens because the guitars in rock and metal are the loudest with the most emphasis. It's as if someone said during recording "hey bro lets crank those guitars up" can be fun for metal/rock and other music feautirng guitars but kinda dull for electronic.

What would the advantage/benefit be of using EL83 or 8BQ5 instead of EL84?

Has anyone experience with the black plates RCA and GE grey ovale plate from 1960? And Sylvania black plates?

I am using Tungsram EL84 now, not sure if the RCA or GE would be an upgrade.