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Tubes for Audio Research LS7 ) Siemens and Tungsram E88CC

Posted by Bambi B (A) on January 29, 2009 at 10:49:09

In Reply to: Tube advice sought (E88CC) posted by amos on January 29, 2009 at 09:50:35:

PHOTO: 4- Tungsram E88CC and below Two Siemens and Halske E88CC

amos,

I should mention first that I only heard the LS7 in the shop when it was current and have not heard an LS7 with other than the standard issue ARC tubes.

There are a lot of 6DJ8 family choices possible for the LS7. My impression of the stock LS7- which came with Sovtek 6H23p-EB (E88CC)(6922) was that it could be slightly lean. I'm a bit surprised that, "it is fairly typically valvey. i.e. highs are a little rolled off and lows are a little soft and light," as I would have intuited the opposite. It may be due to the Philips 6922s.

For an LS7 you're finding soft and rolled off with Philips 6922, I would suggest the energetic and authoritative Siemens and Halske E88CC. These are detailed and dynamic with extended lows and highs and have possibly the best, most transparent bass. Very quiet and long lasting too. These are among the more expensive NOS 6DJ8 family tubes and I would suggest buying from a dealer like Kevin Deal of Upscale who grades them for noise and microphonics. I would also only consider the earlier "S&H" version with the splatter shield- the little table under the getter- and not the later SIEMENS version.

If the Siemens are too expensive and difficult to find, you might consider contacting Zeitmann Tubes in Budapest and trying the Tungsram red label E88CC. These are mid-60's to late 70's (more or less) copies of the Siemens and though I've spent little time with them so far(over time, I bought 28 of these), have a strong reputation for good sound, well-matched sections, being quiet, and rugged. The good news is that if the Tungsrams don't please as gain tubes in the LS7, they will still be useful as the cathode followers or elsewhere and these are under $20 each as compared to the $XXX of the Siemens, Amperex, Telefunken, and other NOS.

You might look at the LS7 schematic as I believe only two of the four tubes are gain tubes. This means that you only need a pair of the NOS and the other two- if cathode followers- need only be good quality current production like the Sovteks in the preamp now or the EH6922.

Also, as the 6DJ8 family tubes are so often microphonic, consider some experimentation with tubes dampers. I use the ARC ones and haven't tried others, but the Herbies are well-thought of by those who've tried them.

Cheers,

Bambi B

[ ARC: SP8, SP10, LS3, D115, D130 ]

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