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Telefunken vacuum tube E88CC-TK; NOS versus brand new.


Telefunken vacuum tube E88CC-TK; I just purchased a pair of these and they are fantastic; they raised my phono to a new level.


Now here's the question, I paid $60 apiece for a pair of these brand new. "Uncle Kevin" at Upscale Audio, sells these for $349. apiece. His are NOS, they should cost more, they also probably last longer, but do they sound better? That is the question. It is not in my budget to pay $700. to find out. Do you have any comments on this?
orpheus10

Showing 1 response by terry9

terry9
2,239 posts
 
According to the old stories, HP used to hire co-op students to test their E88CC's etc. and reject 98% of them. A percent or two got to bear the HP logo. Those tubes populated the instruments that sent men to the moon.

They sound better than the rest, as you would expect. Used to cost the earth, now no-one remembers what they really were. Major bargain.

Best of all were those made and selected for HP by TFK. I bought a sleeve of E88CC's, three of which still bear the TFK and HP seals. Never heard a tube close to them, and that includes pinched Amperex, TekTronix, etc.
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