I would not characterize the 6C45pi as "cheap Russian glass", anymore than I would characterize Rachmaninoff as some piano player who wrote a few tunes. The closest tube you are going to find electrically is the WE437A.
Well no. There's good Russian glass and poor Russian glass. Previously even some of the best I've heard still had some of the characterization that I personally found so oddly un-palatable. An odd oily quality that could be akin to handling styrofoam or perhaps like nails on a chalkboard to some. Not that it sounded like that, just a way to describe how difficult it was for me to listen.
According to Bob's tube shootout (
http://www.head-fi.org/t/761078/6922-tube-review-17-top-6922-6n23p-e88cc-cca-7308-e188cc-tubes#post_11464856 ) some Russian 6922 equivalents come out pretty strong against historically accepted titans of the 6922 world. A point he has beat to death. Shortly after his post above, a conclusion we came to in the Lyr Tube rolling thread is that around %50 of people either prefer the Siemens CCa or the good Russian 70's era as their top picks. Oddly, those who did make those decisions after hearing both felt strongly for one over the other as their own first pick. Of course, that poll was not over a very large group.
People are wired differently. *shrug* I suppose that's a good thing.
The 1963 Siemens CCa glass tested in that review happened to be my own pair that I just let go (much to my chagrin) in order to pave the way for my Mainline purchase. I also still have a pair of the '75's which Rob reviews as #1. But then again, that's his preference and that's what he sold to me based on that. I gave it an honest go, but unfortunately I just couldn't grok it.
I guess the point I'm really after is that there are a whole heck of a pile of Russian 6N23Ps from the 80's and 90s that are IMHO just complete ****. I am pleasantly surprised that the 6C45Pi is NOT in the category at all. Its a totally different animal. In fact, in the Mainline, I feel the 6C45pi stomp the "Reflektor Holy Grail '75 6N23P SWGP Silver Shields" as they stand implemented in the Leer.
I am in fact kind of happy I can't roll tubes in the Mainline. Nor does it sound like it needs too. That alone is guaranteed to save me at least a foolish $1K over the next few years.
I'm really impressed, and I don't say that lightly. I'm not one to give away my stars. On my scale there is no 10, but the stock Mainline so far to my ear is pulling a solid 9.
