[CoiL]

Salvatore, I bought my miniwatt/dario pcc189 from different seller (france) but it should not be much for germany, depends on what seller chooses for posting.
 
Now, I have some hard comparing to do - Philips PCC189 (Holland) vs. Lorenz PCC189 (Holland) vs. Mullard ECC88 vs. Miniwatt/Dario PCC189.
Damn, it`s going to be ear-"pain".

 

[BluesDaddy]

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Btw, I got my Miniwatt/Dario PCC189 and I think it might be better than Mullard ECC88 & Philips PCC189 & Lorenz PCC189. Not sure though because I haven`t done analytical listening yet but it sounds really good. Bass and drums are very very tight with great punch/kick in them. Soundstage and instrument separation are also very good. I`ve been burning it for 2 days and mid section seems to got better. Will update soon.
 
There`s only 1 miniwatt/dario pcc189 left @ eBay atm: http://www.ebay.com.my/itm/330861699249?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_868wt_906
Great alternative to Mullard ECC88 or Philips PCC189.

 
What did the shipping wind up costing you? Quite honestly I've shied away from sellers outside the US due to tubes taking 2 weeks from Italy and going on 4 weeks from Russia. Still haven't gotten my Mullard from the UK either, going on two weeks now.  When they all get here, I'll have ten tubes. I think that's probably enough unless I can sell or trade one of the Voskhods. The Mullard has been the most expensive of the tubes I've bought at $31 (including shipping). I think that's pretty much my limit. You can get good deals if you search Ebay every day - but you have to be looking at listings that might not have all the key words.  Can't find a PCC88 for under $30.

 

[Salvatore]

Ok I already contacted the seller. If the postages are reasonable I'll be pulling trigger on this. Thanks for suggesting this.

 

[CoiL]

BluesDaddy, same goes for tubes sold in US... since I´m at EU (Estonia) then I`m trying to avoid US tubes due to high cost & time of postage. But inside EU things go fast. Only long shipping was with Lorenz PCC189 from Bulgaria due to russian airpost. The landpost took very fast from Bulgaria when I bought Tungsram PCC88.

 

[Salvatore]

Quote:

Now, I have some hard comparing to do - Philips PCC189 vs. Lorenz PCC189 vs. Mullard ECC88 vs. Miniwatt/Dario PCC189.

 
For me it's enough if you say that they are similar. Really liked the Mullard, but can't help but think that the ebay sellers are overpricing them at the moment. Miniwatt seems like a good cheap substitute. If the postages are reasonable I can get this using the Mullard refunds.

 

[BluesDaddy]

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Amperex "A" frame with dimpled getter.

Researching this tube a little more, it obviously states "Made in GT Britain" on it. The codes on the back are "GAO", which the "GA" refers to the tube type (6dJ8), not sure about the significance of the "O". the Factory/Date code is "B6H5". The best I can interpret this is that it was manufactured at the Mullard, Blackburn factory in 1956, August, 5th week. Of course, I could be interpreting these all wrong - it is a bit confusing trying to de-cypher this stuff.

 

[Salvatore]

Quote:

The codes on the back are "GAO", which the "GA" refers to the tube type (6dJ8), not sure about the significance of the "O". the Factory/Date code is "B6H5". The best I can interpret this is that it was manufactured at the Mullard, Blackburn factory in 1956, August, 5th week. Of course, I could be interpreting these all wrong - it is a bit confusing trying to de-cypher this stuff.

 
Hey that's awesome research. I have this one tube that has no logos left whatsoever. It only has codes saying DJ3 and D2L3. I just really don't know how to start getting info on this one. The tube itself has large halo getter and was part of that 6 tube haul so I guess it's a German tube.

 

[CoiL]

Quote:

 
For me it's enough if you say that they are similar. Really liked the Mullard, but can't help but think that the ebay sellers are overpricing them at the moment. Miniwatt seems like a good cheap substitute. If the postages are reasonable I can get this using the Mullard refunds.

I`m comparing them all atm (notes in progress):

Mullard ecc88 (vs. miniwatt) - better mids, highs are more flat.
 
miniwatt pcc189 (vs. mullard) - more open soundstage, highs have more "life", 
mids tinybit laid back.
 
lorenz pcc189 (vs. miniwatt) - tinybit closer/smaller soundstage, highs little flat,
instruments less separated, less air, tinybit less punchy bass & kick.
 
Philips pcc189 (vs. lorenz) - 

 

So far, I think I have found new best allarounder tube - Miniwatt/Dario PCC189, enough air for electronic music but also very good "intimacy" @ metal/rock. 
 
Mullard ECC88 is still best for metal/rock/jazz amongst them because of better mids section.
 
Lorenz PCC189 vs. Philips PCC189 is still in progress but atm seems that Philips is better for metal/rock/jazz because more similiar sound to Mullard ECC88. But it`s not final opinion. 
 
But I have to add that all those tubes are still very similiar and differences come out with serious analytical listening. 
 
E:
 
Got to rest my ears littlebit. Hard to choose my opinion on philips pcc189 vs. lorenz pcc189. Put my HP`s away and switched to external speakers, listened littlebit with philips (just for background) and decided to try lorenz with external speakers - lorenz was better.
Like I said, got to rest ears littlebit. Will update soon.

 

[BluesDaddy]

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Mullard ECC88 is still best for metal/rock/jazz amongst them because of better mids section.
 
 

What Mullard do you have, i.e. place of manufacture and date? The one I have coming apparently was made in Holland, but don't know date yet. Hopefully it arrives in the mail today.  No telling when the Voskhods will get here.

 

[CoiL]

I`ve already spoken about my Mullard ECC88 earlier. White new style shield logo, ECC88, BVA, Imported (thus probably Holland made), coded GAG delta5D2. It`s best tube after my GAC Amperex (for metal/rock/jazz). It should be same as Mike @ rockgrotto is selling: http://rockgrotto.proboards.com/post/126075/thread
 
E: Salvatore, I`m really sorry, I decided to buy that another miniwatt/dario pcc189 because of great tight bass/kick & soundstage, this tube can take any genre music imo. I already lost once a good backup to my amperex, decided not to lose this one. But well, you had your chance anyway  
 
E2: I think this miniwatt/dario pcc189 actually has best punchy tight bass & kick out of my tubes, even my amperex. But everything else, amperex wins for sure.
 
e3: btw, post from germany was 6€ , not quite cheap but oh well, 14.5€ including post for this tube is bargain actually

 

[Salvatore]

Quote:

E: Salvatore, I`m really sorry, I decided to buy that another miniwatt/dario pcc189 because of great tight bass/kick & soundstage, this tube can take any genre music imo. I already lost once a good backup to my amperex, decided not to lose this one. But well, you had your chance anyway  

 
No problem mate. After all it was you who suggested it in the first place. Without you I wouldn't even be aware of the whole tube. I'll add it to my watch list.

 

[CoiL]

I`m actually littlebit sad, that somebody else didn`t get it to try. It has freakin tight & punchy bass / percussion. The only little "drawback" is mids section not being same as Amperex orange globe but well, no other tube has it like amperex anyway (yet, imo). It doesn`t lack mids but once you hear orange`s "enhanced" mids then you miss it in every tube, at least I do. Soundstage is something between Amperex and 6922EH. Great tube for every genre. 
 
Btw, I have these coming in:
 
Brimar ECC88 (looks like 6N23P structure)

 
Sylvania 6922 

 
Ultron PCC189 

 

[BluesDaddy]

Quote:

I`m actually littlebit sad, that somebody else didn`t get it to try. It has freakin tight & punchy bass / percussion. The only little "drawback" is mids section not being same as Amperex orange globe but well, no other tube has it like amperex anyway (yet, imo). It doesn`t lack mids but once you hear orange`s "enhanced" mids then you miss it in every tube, at least I do. Soundstage is something between Amperex and 6922EH. Great tube for every genre. 
 
Btw, I have these coming in:
 
Brimar ECC88 (looks like 6N23P structure)

 
Sylvania 6922 

 
Ultron PCC189 

Coil you are killing us. Every time you find another great tube, it makes it almost impossible not to try and find one! I've read good things about the Brimars. Don't know anything about the others. 

 

[CoiL]

Well, I have one Brimar but this one sucks! Worst tube I have! I only use it for movies, lousy bass + small soundstage make dialogue easy to hear  
Brimar ECC88/6DJ8 (late 70`, round large Halo getter, "Cinemascope" logo), it has copper-like wires (continuing from pins), like this one:

 
 
Ultron`s might be actually same as Tungsram PCC189 and made in Hungary but I have not found any certain data to confirm that. Hope they are good
 
 
E: I think it was last drop into my "tube-cup". On the last second someone grabbed those amperex globes with absurd price: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360612466459?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649
 
grrrrrr -.- , I think I`m out of this tube business, it makes me nervous already. Just want to get backup for my amperex but... no... someone always gets it from front of my nose -.- And all those globes seem to be located @ USA, comoon?!? why? -.-
 
But if someone is willing to give up his amperex orange globe for Lorenz pcc189 + Miniwatt Dario PCC189 + maybe little money, then I`m going to do it. PM me if there is anyone willing to make this deal. 

 

[CoiL]

For my luck - Ultron PCC189 is very good! And I say it only after it has been in my amp for about 1min. Got two of them. Got to burn-in these babies. I think it might be as good as my Mullard ECC88 or even Amperex GAC. Tight bass & kick, great mids section, great soundstage. Better than Miniwatt/Dario PCC189 for sure. But we`ll see what is my opinion after analytical comparing.
 
E: Going to pick up my Brimar and sylvania now. Will post later first impressions about these.
 
E: Well, first impressions about Sylvania 6922 & Brimar ECC88 (6n23p like structure) - both seem to have airy and large soundstage. Overall, they seem more towards to 6922EH. Ultron PCC189 beats their ass in every way! But this is only first impression with external speakers.
 
Got to burn-in those NOS tubes littlebit. Takes some time and will post comparing results in the end of this week.