NOS tubes for Sonic Frontiers Line 1

Hi Jim, Lawrence here, the guys who sent you email regarding which pair of 6922 in Line 1 affected the sound most. As I mentioned to you I have both old Siemens CCa and Amperex 7308 PQ (white label). I been plucking in and out on both type tubes on both my Line 1 and Power 2. At the end of the day, I prefer Amperex 7308 PQ over Siemens CCa. Amperex sounded more full body and a touch of warmness as compared to Siemens CCa. Siemens sound clean, accurate, airy high and better control of bass but overall sound is kind of lean as compared to Amperex full body sound. Hard to put them in word, anyway, I prefer Amperex over Siemens CCa in my system. I let the Siemens CCaa sitting in SFCD-1 at the end of day. And last but not least, the white label certainly sound better than the orange label. Will continue with my experiments and post my opinions if there is new findings.
Lawrence

Jim, I suggest the next group of E88CC/6992 you should try out is the Holland made Philips. I managed to get hold of 3 types of Holland made Philips and my comments are as follows:

(1) Philips E88CC SQ - Same construction as Mullard E88CC, from what I know, Mullard have no plant in Holland so Mullard E88CC most likely made by Philips Holland plant. The sound is refine with good details. Soundstage is quite wide but slightly lack the warmest of tube sound.
(2) Philips E88CC CCa Miniwatt SQ - Great tube! details, dynamics and musical engagement first class. Sound have the magnet feel.
(3) Philips 7308 SQ - Quite similiar to no. 2 but slightly lost in details and also bass is slightly lesser. Overall a very good tube.

Okay, that my comments on Philips E88CC, I hope this is useful to you guys out there looking 6922 replacements.

Jim, as for the reasons for getting a SS amp to match with Line 1, I heard one of setup using line 1 with pass labs amp and it sound beautiful and yet have dynamics of a SS amp. I was thinking to myself that maybe it is time to replace the Power 2 with SS amp.

P.S Forget about Telefunken, they are over price for their performance. I think the price is so high just because it is rare and not because it is the best. My next group of E88CC/6922 to try is Europe made Tungsram and RTC.
Lawrence

Jim,

I always find the center row affected the sound most which lead me to post the question in this thread before. I also asked around, Sonic Frontiers, PartConnexion, Line 1 owner etc. Guess I am right that center row V2 and LV2.

You tubes setup are very close to mine now, I have the 60's Siemens in V2/LV2 as it gave a better mid and sounded more muscial. I placed Telefuken in V1/LV1 as it gave better extended high (airy). Amperex 7308 PQ white label is now in V3/LV3.

As I mentioned to you before, 70's (with engaged code inside and metal support between plates) Siemens sounded very warm especially the A frame type. As for the 80's (just a thin metal bar support the halo above plate) Siemens, you cannot forget it. Not worth trying at all. The 60's (no engaged code inside and no metal support between plates) Siemens sounded the best in my system.

I am still having fun playing around with different combinations and I have purchased a rare pair of Brimar CV2492 recently. It will be interesting how it sound.

Lawrence