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Fav Tube/Best tube

E80CC my all time fav, any brand, all sound nearly identical (pinched waist, getter stuff = snakeoil)
Tungsten, Siemes, Philips = same tube.
some have rhodium pins, ebay seller claims *sought after = superior to brass pins*,,,but these rhodium pins, do not have the copper posts, which i perfer. I will have to roll the E80’s , so far I perfer vavlo by a *hair*, but can not say for sure, as all sound nearly identical, at least to my poor hearing( I failed a hearing test at Valero Refinery some yrs back , but only in testing the highest FQ’s).
Next fav tube
is Tele 12AX7, Siemens are very close,,at least as far as i can tell, have not made a further compare on that as yet.
Next and last is the power drivers.
For that I’ll have to go with the KT150’s, which i’ve not heard, but am sure will love that tube.
When I rolled the 90’s to 88’s, i might have perfered the 88’s ,,,both sound very close,,,,sorry i should have made more shootouts on those 2 , before i sold off the 90’s.
Considering nearly all amps come with stock 88’s, that pretty much confirms the 88’s is the all around best tube for most amps, |
BUt if you have power to spare in your trans, as my Defy does (2 side trans run cold, mid trans runs slightly warm,,and thats running super low super high demanding 87 db speakers!!! Testimony to jadis' trans, built like german tanks, yet sing like ,,,,, Heavenly Angels) the 150’s is the best option as a long term investment.

So thats my 3
1) E80(far superior to the wimpy 12AU7’s, if the e80 did not exist, the 12AU7 is a excellent tube <<<tongue in cheek>>>)
2)Tele12AX7
3),KT150’s.
and yours?
and go ahead and dunk all snakeoil you’ve heard over the years about certain aspects of a tube, such as *Holy Grails*

mozartfan
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
Of the 6922's, My fav is the E288, which CONTRARY to info posted on various (Brent Jesse and others) who cliam a  288 is *basically a  188 in a  slightly taller bottle*, Not true
The 288 is in a  slightly taller bottle, yes, but the grids are taller.
Which makes the 288 my fav of all/every/any 6922 variation, including the Tele E88cc's (which i've not heard and have no intentions hearing) 
The 288 offers everything all 6922's can muster and a  sonic nuance more.
Not trying to pump my 288 Ebay listings at all, Just saying. Bigger tube results in more gain/dynamics when needed/as muisc dictates = less breakup/less distortion.

.  http://www.audiotubes.com/6dj8.htm

https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_e288cc.html

188 = 88
288 is in a  class all by ~~itself~~



jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,926 posts
 
goofy thread
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
6,513 posts
 
goofy thread

No.  This Thread's Totally Tubular  :-)
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
have you guys seen lately the prices on Tele AX/AU's? UNREAL, Prices are ROCKETING,,each DAY higher bids. 
IMHO, Tele's stand alone,,all others are 2nd place. 
= a used  tele is superior to Siemens NOS.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,563 posts
 
Assuming that we are talking about ideal implementations to get to the stereotypical sound :

Western Electric 300B 90s/00s reissues - amazing tube that in the right implementation, is insanely good.  Wondering what the new WEs will sound like when they come out.  The new reissues are getting closer and in fairness, I have never heard the original WEs.  No one I know has $20K for a NOS pair.  

KR 845s - the 1.0a filament current vs. the standard RCA 3.5a filament current radically limits the amps you can put this tube in without modification but the soundstage it delivers is huge.  Incredible detail and godlike imaging.  

NOS Cifte 12AU7s - Very rare but they deliver a very three dimensional soundstage with a bit of top end sparkle that in the right amp, makes pianos sound perfect.  
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