Well, the Teslas Mil Spec E88CC gold pins (cross sword white label) are a bit of a dissapointment, so back they go.
To my ears, they sound just like the Siemens CCa of the early 60's..(they are actually 60's Siemens copies with splatter shield) so no suprise the sound. The Cayin loses the wonderful dynamics and presence. Bass is fuller, but less defined. The soundstage really shrinks into the backround and rolls off the top end to excess. Hard to believe that the stock EH is worlds better, but,IMO, it is in this player.