[manishex]

The cheapest I found for a pair of the Amperex 7308 was $120 http://www.ebay.com/itm/121240558193 will look at it in the future, quality comes with price. Also what gain settings do you use with your hd558? +10db seems alot.

How comes on Amazon. Com it's $159 and over here in the UK it's 125 cheapest :s and that's from china so add vat and customs charge

 

[teb1013]

The cheapest I found for a pair of the Amperex 7308 was $120 http://www.ebay.com/itm/121240558193 will look at it in the future, quality comes with price. Also what gain settings do you use with your hd558? +10db seems alot.

How comes on Amazon. Com it's $159 and over here in the UK it's 125 cheapest :s and that's from china so add vat and customs charge

Upscale Audio sells this tube for $50 driver grade (which works great with the T1 which uses the tube as a buffer). Unfortunately, I understand that UA is absurdly expensive for non-US orders. Once again I would check out the 6922s first to see if you like them. Then roll in some of the budget recommendations on this thread to see how they affect the sound. CoiL has many interesting reviews of lower cost tubes. Also look at Salvatore's posts and Joeq70s. The trick of tube rolling isn't to go and buy a high cost tube but to find synergy with the type of music you like and your headphones. Most of all enjoy the music, and have fun!

 

[manishex]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amperex-6GM8-ECC86-Bugle-Boy-Vacuum-Tube-Made-in-W-Germany-/251388342987?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3a87e9b2cb

Someone mentioned that these sound similar to the 7308, but have different grades? Would these Amperex-6GM8-ECC86 be worth buying for $24.thanks for the quick reply!

 

[exSpire]

Hey guys..
For $10 is it worth it to get the upgraded version? (6922 over the 6N11)
How about for $20? (I'm still not sure what seller I'll be going for on eBay)
 
Thanks

 

[arcorob]

yes..get the upgraded
 
Order from amazon, not ebay
 
I went with this PRIME seller...fast and sure
 
http://www.amazon.com/Aune-T1-Upgrade-Version-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QJMRY/ref=sr_1_1?m=A2Q0JVLI22BSVA&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1388801601&sr=1-1

 

[CoiL]

6922EH is definitely better than 6N11 but is it worth 10$ or even 20$ ? Imho no. Instead get some NOS tube from eBay.
What headphones are you using? 
What music do you mainly listen?
What sound are you looking for - "flat" sounding, intimate & warm, large soundstage or bass "boosting" etc. ? 
What is your budget?
Are you going to tube roll more?
 
Clear those things out for yourself and use thread search tool of 1st post useful info!
 

 

The cheapest I found for a pair of the Amperex 7308 was $120 http://www.ebay.com/itm/121240558193 will look at it in the future, quality comes with price. Also what gain settings do you use with your hd558? +10db seems alot.

How comes on Amazon. Com it's $159 and over here in the UK it's 125 cheapest :s and that's from china so add vat and customs charge

Once again I would check out the 6922s first to see if you like them. Then roll in some of the budget recommendations on this thread to see how they affect the sound. CoiL has many interesting reviews of lower cost tubes. Also look at Salvatore's posts and Joeq70s. The trick of tube rolling isn't to go and buy a high cost tube but to find synergy with the type of music you like and your headphones. Most of all enjoy the music, and have fun!

 
All has been said! nothing much to add. Make some things clear about tubes and their factory codes etc. and then ask. Most active members in this thread can`t and won`t do everything for you. You must do your own research and find what you are looking for.
There are lots of info, just start reading

 

[lwrs10]

Ok. I by accident found a tube that sounds leaps and bounds better than any other tube I have tried in this thing. And I have tried quite a few. All the normal ones everyone is trying here.....
 
I was digging around in my "tube room" and found some tubes that no longer had any labels on them, and after looking the pinout up determined it was the same as a 6DJ8, but the plate structure was quite different. I said what the hell and threw one in my Aune. And holy hell, what a glorious sound. Every single thing about this tube was on another level over the Amperex 7308, Bugle Boy 6DJ8, etc etc. 
 
Only markings on them were a capital R, and a 7....both between the pins. It also had the tale tell signs of Mullard on it....the 2 lines on the top from the point. After some research I was able to determine it is in fact a Mullard, but still not what tube it is.
 
It took me a few days to figure out what this tube was, but with the help of others finally nailed it. Its an ECC85/6AQ8. I have not looked up exactly how compatible it is yet, but I have been using it for 3 days now with no issues. 
 
 
 
So if anyone else wants to give it a shot, buy a Mullard ECC85 off the 'bay. You will not be disappointed. 
 
 
 
Here are some pics of 2 different ECC85's I have tried so far. A mid 60's Siemens and this Mullard. Both sound great, with a slight edge to the Mullard.
 
 

 

 

 

 

[CoiL]

Mmmmm`kay... seems that ECC85 is going to be on my list! ;P But please keep using them for little longer so we can see if your unit dies or not! ;D
ECC85 requirements are little higher @ mA - ~435mA for heater plate current. But Heater plate voltage is spot-on 6.3V.

 

[lwrs10]

  Mmmmm`kay... seems that ECC85 is going to be on my list! ;P But please keep using them for little longer so we can see if your unit dies or not! ;D
ECC85 requirements are little higher @ mA - ~435mA for heater plate current. But Heater plate voltage is spot-on 6.3V.

 
I have a good 200 of them right here....You pay shipping.....

 

[CoiL]

Can you maybe describe more what`s exactly is better than Amperex 7308 about this Mullard ECC85 tube? Maybe it is better only for your taste/cans/music combination? 

 

[exSpire]

  6922EH is definitely better than 6N11 but is it worth 10$ or even 20$ ? Imho no. Instead get some NOS tube from eBay.
What headphones are you using? 
What music do you mainly listen?
What sound are you looking for - "flat" sounding, intimate & warm, large soundstage or bass "boosting" etc. ? 
What is your budget?
Are you going to tube roll more?
 
Clear those things out for yourself and use thread search tool of 1st post useful info!
 

 
Thanks.
I'm using the AD700 but this is going to be my very first Amp\DAC and I'm also purchasing new heaphones. Still haven't made my mind about the phones, debating whether to risk no comfort with the Q701 or go with the lower risk DT880 (I did read a lot around here and found good feedback about the Aune T1 with each of those). Regardless of that I'll also be purchasing the MDR-MA900. And.. later on I'll get some closed-back phones.
I was actually contemplating about grabbing the Audinst HUD-mx2 but I really liked the idea of tubes and their versatility.
So I'm not exactly in need of a tube recommendation for some specific needs but just a good one overall and later on I'll definitely want to grab some tubes to play around with.
I guess that if there aren't better all-around starting tubes for $20-30 then I'll go with the 6922 or the 6N11.
 
The NOS Tube, can you be more specific?

 

[CoiL]

NOS means New Old Stock. And for 20-30$ I would certainly go for Amperex OG (OG means orange globe logo) 6DJ8 from eBay. Or some other tube that is recommended by DT-880 users.

 

[Tristan944]

Its crazy how with the Aune T1 and my Sennheiser HD598 even 320kpbs song files sound muffled. Amazing gear.

 

[CoiL]

Muffled? in a bad way? 

 

[exSpire]

  NOS means New Old Stock. And for 20-30$ I would certainly go for Amperex OG (OG means orange globe logo) 6DJ8 from eBay. Or some other tube that is recommended by DT-880 users.

Like so?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Radio-Tubes-6DJ8-ECC88-Amperex-Test-110-115-/350639692868?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item51a3c11c44
*fixed