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Help me decide which E88CC tubes i should buy

Hey

I spent 2 days researching about tubes, from technicalities like measurements, what to look for when buying etc how they sound and which sound the best as a common consensus.

I only need a single driver tube for my Decware Taboo MK III, currently i am using a Siemens E88CC with silver shields, 2x Tungsram EL84 and 1x Svetlana rectifier.

Khadas tone board as DAC and Fostex X00 Purple Hearts as headphones. I really like how the Siemens sounds but i am not the first owner of the amp so i can't say how much use that tube has gotten already.

I've also tried the Philips SQ Heerlen '60, which are a bit cleaner/slightly less veiled than the Siemens, they were not new either around 66%/70% of NOS value. So it may not be a direct apple to apple comparison. They seem to boost the midrange quite a bit tho which is very noticable considering that my headphones have very recessed mids.

After testing back and forth i always end up back to the Siemens and don't feel the need to look back, but as soon as i try my Philips for more than 1 hour i start to miss the Siemens. But i don't think that the Siemens are objectively better than the Philips.

Anyway. I narrowed it down to:

Siemens E88CC. cca. Telefunken cca, Amperex 7038 or Amperex PQ US made, Reflector 1975 "holy grail".

They all score well above 100% except the Reflector which are like 95% of NOS spec and all costs around 80$, except the Siemens e88cc might find for a bit less.

Any suggestions?

I couldn't find much info on the Reflector seems a bit of a dark horse except that one head-fi thread where 17 tubes get compared. Really as good as they say or just one persons experience?

It would be interesting to hear your opinions and experiences, i haven't found any posts where these tubes get compared.

Best regards


128x128yoshimitsu
chazzzy007
540 posts
 
rodman999994,223 posts02-29-2020 4:49pmWell; your tastes in sound seem to mirror my own.     As I asked: do you have a lead, on any genuine, NOS of the specific Reflektor tube, that topped that list?     At what price?     I haven’t seen any, in quite a while, for anything reasonable.     I HAVE been looking.

You're not going to find them with any American dealers. The original sources are all in the former Soviet bloc countries. As the OP posted here you're going to have to go to E-Bay to find a nice pair.

The first matched pair I bought tested strong at approx 12.5 ma average each tube and sound amazing. I've since picked up better testing tubes but haven't popped them in because my first pair sound so good. I also have several pairs of 75 grey shields but haven't rolled them in for the same reason... lolz Grey shields are also called Voshkods because of the factory they are produced at.

74 Silver shields are also supposed to be quite good, and I've found they cost about 1/2 the price of the 75's. They are supposed to have the same sound signature with just a bit less detail and sound staging ability.


chazzzy007
540 posts
 
Regarding the EBay listings posted here...

Brandimix’s pair at $299 are way overpriced for what they test. They aren't even matched very well. I’ve found that matched 75 silver shields testing at 11-12 mA/V range are generally selling in the $150-$180 price range.
yoshimitsu's avatar
yoshimitsu OP
9 posts
 
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.


yoshimitsu's avatar
yoshimitsu OP
9 posts
 
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?
rodman99999
6,035 posts
 
Thanks for the above info.    The only reason I've purchased tubes, from the Germany based, eBay seller mentioned: I was dealing with him,  years before eBay was a thing and very confident of his expertise/honesty.     It's been my iron-clad rule, never to buy anything on the Bay, from anyone with less than a 100% feedback rating.      Not even an inner tube, for my Grandson's dirt bike.        There are a select few tube purveyors, this side of The Pond, in which I place my confidence.       None, on eBay.      Happy listening!
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