I like Seimens and Mullards the best.Amperex are more clean and transparent but never dry and sterile,so I use them sometimes just to change things up.Reflektors are warm with great bass.That's what I hear anyway:-)None sound bad really,it's just personal preference.
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$, except the Siemens e88cc might find for a bit less.
Any suggestions?
I couldn't find much info on the Reflector seems a bit of a dark horse except that one head-fi thread where 17 tubes get compared. Really as good as they say or just one persons experience?
It would be interesting to hear your opinions and experiences, i haven't found any posts where these tubes get compared.
Best regards
I spent 2 days researching about tubes, from technicalities like measurements, what to look for when buying etc how they sound and which sound the best as a common consensus.
I only need a single driver tube for my Decware Taboo MK III, currently i am using a Siemens E88CC with silver shields, 2x Tungsram EL84 and 1x Svetlana rectifier.
Khadas tone board as DAC and Fostex X00 Purple Hearts as headphones. I really like how the Siemens sounds but i am not the first owner of the amp so i can't say how much use that tube has gotten already.
I've also tried the Philips SQ Heerlen '60, which are a bit cleaner/slightly less veiled than the Siemens, they were not new either around 66%/70% of NOS value. So it may not be a direct apple to apple comparison. They seem to boost the midrange quite a bit tho which is very noticable considering that my headphones have very recessed mids.
After testing back and forth i always end up back to the Siemens and don't feel the need to look back, but as soon as i try my Philips for more than 1 hour i start to miss the Siemens. But i don't think that the Siemens are objectively better than the Philips.
Anyway. I narrowed it down to:
Siemens E88CC. cca. Telefunken cca, Amperex 7038 or Amperex PQ US made, Reflector 1975 "holy grail".
They all score well above 100% except the Reflector which are like 95% of NOS spec and all costs around 80$, 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
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- 29 posts total
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I modded the lid to my preamp to compensate for the extra heightTalk about overcomplicating things lol. 12ua7 run at half the voltage than 6922, how did you even do that and why? The Reflektors are much more extended top to bottom, with an almost solid state quickness to it.Sounds very promising, that’s exactly what i want! I If they don’t sound as good to me, would you buy them off me? I’ll make you a very (!!) favorable price! Regardless of application; they always sounded the most natural(least colored, most extended, top/bottom) while provided the best sound stage and imaging. They seem to extend more than the Philips aswell in my application. However, that might be a "placebo" effect because the Philips tend to boost what is very tuned down with the Siemens and tune down what’s very elevated with the Siemens. Guitar track becomes the dominant element. With the Siemens it’s usually the snare drum. But that’s what makes the Siemens interesting for me, not all the frequencies are equally loud. When listening to metal or rock, or any music with drums. The snare drum is always very dominant louder than everything else, while guitars are more in the backround. The highs are accentuated quite a bit, right on the limit. Makes me think that the Siemens are very transparent because what i described (strong bass, weak mids, strong highs) is the signature V shape which Fostex headphones are known for. Anyway seems to depend a lot on the amplifier itself. |
jtcf891 posts02-28-2020 7:19pmReflektors are warm with great bass.That's what I hear anyway:-)Reflektors are not warm sounding tubes. Musical, yes. Warm? Not in the sense of a Tele or any of the other warm sounding tubes. 75 silver shields are just to the musical side of the spectrum without sounding overly warm and lush. They are highly detailed and dynamic while also maintaining a great sense of musicality. The bass is balanced, fast and controlled. |
- 29 posts total