Tír Na HiFi

Tony , you have a PM , you can make contact and I'll deliver the 12au7's and then you're on the slippery slope.
KM

Thanks Paul I might try and get it to buy the EH12au7 to at least get 2 of the chinese tubes out of the amp asap.
Ken I will give you a call when the bad weather disappears. Thanks again

Got my eh in town today thanks again Paul. btw it cost €16. Starting to get a bit of an understanding and it looks like Ken's link is a decent shop with ok prices. I think I have caught the rolling bug can't stop looking at various options.
Once I avoid the stratospheric ones I should be able to get them in the door without rising credit controller suspicion.

Just an update on my illness. Seems Fran and Ken were correct.
Well Ken started me on the slippery slope with his kind donation of Siemens 12Au7. I subsequently purchased a pair of matched mullard EL84's made in canada( Dont know if that is possible or not but they were tested and seller seems to be around a long time without any bad reviews)
Bought a telefunken long plate 12ax7 to complete the package. I didnt buy from recommended suppliers so would need a tube expert to tell me if they are genuine or not. Reason being was the prohibitive cost. I wont elaborate too much on the changes in sound but when I start listening I find it hard to turn off and for the reasonably small outlay I appear to have gained a lot even if its only in my mind.

Bumping this thread, because I can already feel myself getting sucked in. I read somewhere that Sovtek 6922 (aka E88CC) valves are crap and should be upgraded to Telefunken CCA versions before you even consider taking another breath. I honestly can't get over the price of these things and I'll need 4 of the buggers.

Mercifully the power tubes in my new amp are very cheap, virtually all of them seem to have been made in the one factory, and they all reportedly sound pretty much the same (assuming they work). Thank heaven for eBay, eh?

Take a big deep breath and jump in here http://www.audiotubes.com/6dj8.htm . Enjoy the read. I found this company to be very good.
KM

Thanks Ken. That's the afternoon sorted.

I've said it before and I'll say it again without fear of contradiction... in that way lies madness. As has been touched on in another thread but IMHO 'synergy' is the key to a good system. You'll find it's not always expensive valves that work best or indeed the big names. Trial and error and many tears.

Honestly, I won't be paying big, not least because I've just cleaned myself out! I actually find the "lore" about these tubes very entertaining, but I'll be looking for the cheap n' cheerful version for now. It's just as well there's nowhere I can go to locally and browse boxes of valves!

I actually have some ECC88s at home in a drawer from a previous amp, so I must see what they are.

I got an octet of 6N6P on ebay from the Ukraine, which should be an upgrade from the 6H30 in my BAT cd player. I cannot hear the difference to be honest. But great to have two spare sets of tubes for 30 euro! ;) If anyone has a great phonostage diagram, using these valves in their drawer, I would happily borrow it for DIY venture... Thanks.