2. amps-preamps
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Is it common for tubes to outweigh the cost of the amp or preamp?

I just got my first tube (headphone) amp and was wondering if it is common to spend more on the tubes than the actual cost of the amp. The amp was $599 with stock tubes. I just ordered NOS driver tubes that ran $640 for the pair and the power tube upgrade I'm planning will be another $300. That has the tubes sitting at 1.5 times the cost of the amp itself.

I don't find the total of $1539 for the amp and upgraded tubes unreasonable but considering the next model (amp) up is $1199, it has me wondering what would be better... a lower cost amp with superior tubes or a higher cost amp with stock tubes?
samiamnot

Showing 2 responses by tomcy6

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,532 posts
 
The Siemens gray shield CCa tubes are considered by many to be one of the best 6922/E88CC ever made. That doesn’t mean that you’ll like the sound they make in your headphone amp or that you’ll hear how good they can sound in a top tier component.

I’d say hang on to them if you plan to own a top tier component one day and experiment with good but not top tier tubes in your headphone amp. This will tell you how good your headphone amp is at conveying the sound of different tubes and how good you are at hearing the differences between tubes without spending big $. If after experimenting a while you think your headphone amp and you are up to the task of appreciating the best, roll them in and enjoy!
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,532 posts
 
Just for anyone who is interested, there is a difference between shields and plates. All Siemens 6922/E88CC have gray plates. They made a chrome plate 12AU7 and you can’t mistake these, but as far as I know they never made chrome plate 6922s.

What the gray shields are are two vertical strips located beneath the getter supports where the supports attach to the top mica. The gray shields look just like the gray plates.

Siemens 6922/E88CC made after 1964 or 65 or so have silver shields and gray plates. A silver shield can be seen on the tube on the left in the picture in this ad from ebay. The M in Siemens is printed right over the top of the silver shield.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/E88CC-CCa-6922-6DJ8-Siemens-Matched-PAIR-NEW-NOS-SILVER-SHIELD-Strong-/182403712807

Why care? Back when I was buying tubes it was said that the gray shields were a far superior tube to the silver shields. The silver shields were described as being bright and sounded terrible compared to the gray shields. Even CCas come with either gray or silver shields.

Opinions change as stocks of the most desirable tubes disappear, though. Silver shields may be considered good quality tubes now. I don’t know. Anyway, if you’re buying Siemens 6922s you should know that there’s a difference between gray and silver shields.
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