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Six 6922/E88CC/6H23 tubes compared

I thought I'd reprise my early post on this subject after evaluating my latest acquisition, the vintage Amperex.

As before my system consists of:

FLAC/ALAC on my NAS ==> Windons 10 & Foobar2000 ==> Topping D90 DAC ==> Sonic Frontiers Line 1 preamp ==>
VTV Purifi power amp ==> Zaph Audio ZRT speakers.

These components, including the preamp, are what some might call "analytic", so that's the way it is.

Personally I perceive tube characteristics as (a) layered or 'holographic' imaging (b) smooth versus bright, etched or harsh highs, (c) warm, full-body upper base/lower midrange. Conversely there is likely to be some loss of extension, detail and tightness of bass.

These are the six tubes I listened to in decreasing order of "tubeyness":

  1. Amperex 6922 'PQ' USA white label (vintage) -- most holographic; distinctly full-bodied
  2. JJ E88CC/6922 gold pin (new)
  3. Electro-Harmonix 6922 Gold (new)
  4. Genalex Gold Lion E88CC/6922 (new) -- fairly holographic & smooth but good detail & tight bass
  5. Reflector 6H23P-EB/6922 (10-15 y/o) -- only a touch of holography but excellent extension, detail and bass
  6. Siemens E88cc 'Rohre' (semi-vintage) -- detailed & extended but highs are intolerably bright.

For a few days after getting the Amperex they were my favorites. (I as lucky to get, used, for a very good price.) Unfortunately they became increasingly cloying on account of their full-body "fat", and soft bass. Now I'm in full rebound to the Reflektors, but that could change!




Dmitri Shostakovich



Edits: 06/21/21 06/21/21

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Topic - Six 6922/E88CC/6H23 tubes compared - Feanor 17:12:05 06/20/21 (10)

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