[Guidostrunk]

Lol. Or some Amperex Orange globes.

Guido and Thurstonx are waiting for me to say Mullards. Because that's exactly what they bring to the table. I've got some ecc88s marked for Hewlett Packard from the Blackburn plant that I love . I think you'll be quite happy with the HGs for a lot of reasons. Musicality being a huge one. You can pick up some of those mullards for around $50. A good pair of bugle boys have similar characteristics . Both lack the soundstage and pop of the Heerlens best and reflektors. But Vocals and tone...love those blackburns

 

[nightsky87]

Guido and Thurstonx are waiting for me to say Mullards. Because that's exactly what they bring to the table. I've got some ecc88s marked for Hewlett Packard from the Blackburn plant that I love . I think you'll be quite happy with the HGs for a lot of reasons. Musicality being a huge one. You can pick up some of those mullards for around $50. A good pair of bugle boys have similar characteristics . Both lack the soundstage and pop of the Heerlens best and reflektors. But Vocals and tone...love those blackburns

 

Lol. Or some Amperex Orange globes.

 
That's a lot of options already. 

 This is why tube rolling is dangerous, huh?
 
Well, I don't know exactly which Reflektors I got (noob tube purchasing) so I guess I'll have to wait for that amp and tube set. Of those recommendations, though, which ones won't break the bank?

 

[tvnosaint]

Not good sir. A little research can save a lot of sinking feelings. There's a lot of experience in this forum. I'll only get the Russians that came through rb. Others have had better experiences and gotten lucky. Reflektors I've heard that are good are the 74 and 75 swsp 6n23ps. But I don't even hold the rockets in a higher regard. Nice bass but that's where they stop to me. You may love what you get. Everyone on this forum (active) has a different favorite group of tubes they roll. So tastes vary. Some cheaper tubes rock some us, some expensive tubes have flavor some don't care for. It's a personal journey, pack a lunch.

 

[ThurstonX]

  That's a lot of options already. 

 This is why tube rolling is dangerous, huh?
 
Well, I don't know exactly which Reflektors I got (noob tube purchasing) so I guess I'll have to wait for that amp and tube set. Of those recommendations, though, which ones won't break the bank?

 
Tube Maze on eBay has really nice mid-1960s Blackburn Mullard ECC88s on sale for $63 and change.  Just search for "ECC88 Blackurn".  That's a good place to start.
 
As far as Heerlen tubes go, personally I'd go for older ECC88s, vs the "Orange Globes" which is just a late '60s version of the same.  Don't get caught up on the label.  While "Orange Globe" is a convenient way to refer to those tubes, in the end they are the same tube type (ECC88) as the earlier "Bugle Boys" from the same factory.  One reason referring to some label can be confusing to tube noobs is that the same labels were used for different types, incompatible with the Lyr.  It's best to learn the basics of the compatible types (see the link I posted earlier).  Brent Jessee's site has good info under the 6DJ8 link.  Those are all Lyr-compatible.
 
There's also no mistaking that to get a real sense of what sounds good with your rig and taste in music requires you to try different tubes.  Fortunately, you can usually sell them on, if you don't like them or don't want to keep them.  I've gotten some great deals just being subscribed to this thread and jumping on an offer.
 
Mind the rabbit hole, and good luck 

 

[CFGamescape]

Anyone have experience with these E88CC Teslas?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231775742646?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6922-E88CC-CCa-NOS-TESLA-MATCHED-PAIR-RHODIUM-TUBES-VRCHLAB-PLANT-32-MILITARY-/291655645968?hash=item43e807fb10:g:s6EAAOSwLN5Wj9rZ

 

[ThurstonX]

  Anyone have experience with these E88CC Teslas?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231775742646?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6922-E88CC-CCa-NOS-TESLA-MATCHED-PAIR-RHODIUM-TUBES-VRCHLAB-PLANT-32-MILITARY-/291655645968?hash=item43e807fb10:g:s6EAAOSwLN5Wj9rZ

 
I've got a couple pairs from the '60s (from the '32' factory; the other being designated '37').  I like them.  Wouldn't pay much more than $80-$90 for them, but I bet they can be found cheaper, with patience.  So to me, those are seriously overpriced, esp. if you think older = better.  FWIW, I find almost everything from that seller to be overpriced.  YMMV, of course.
 
I've not heard any E88CCs that don't use gold pins.

 

[kolkoo]

  Anyone have experience with these E88CC Teslas?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231775742646?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6922-E88CC-CCa-NOS-TESLA-MATCHED-PAIR-RHODIUM-TUBES-VRCHLAB-PLANT-32-MILITARY-/291655645968?hash=item43e807fb10:g:s6EAAOSwLN5Wj9rZ

If you want teslas hit up tubemonger they have a lot of them or in europe there was one bulgarian seller bgebus - I bought several pairs from him locally here in bulgaria and he has a good tester (Tesla BM 215) and tubes are quite good sounding to my ears, have listened to both 32 factory (Roznov yellow print) made in the 60s and 37 Trinec factory made in the 70s - very similar sound between those two but the 70s ones are much cheaper and stronger measuring. The sound is really accurate, tight and pleasant to listen to but sometimes too accurate some highs may blow your head off
 
EDIT: Just to clarify some highs may hurt your brain when heard on headphones sometimes If listening to speakers with the lyr as preamp everything was ok though

 

[TK16]

  Anyone have experience with these E88CC Teslas?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231775742646?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6922-E88CC-CCa-NOS-TESLA-MATCHED-PAIR-RHODIUM-TUBES-VRCHLAB-PLANT-32-MILITARY-/291655645968?hash=item43e807fb10:g:s6EAAOSwLN5Wj9rZ

I got the red tip tesla from that site, e88cc 1975 yellow cross swords SP 31, factory 32, they are cracking tubes, great bass, dont have experience with those other 2 sets, though the second linked 1 used to be $20 cheaper iirc just a few days ago. Still need to burn them in yet fully though. Prices on that store are pretty high you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere.

 

[rnros]

  About the PCC88 running on 6.3 Heater Voltage:
It's quite a controversy on this topic - I see two camps about this (for any amp with 6.3 Heater voltage and PCC88) - one camp says because of the undervoltage there is cathode poisoning and the tubes die faster, other camp says they work great and are interchangeable.
 
I read some place that Schiit does not recommend usage of pcc88 but there was no real explanation why. I wonder what Schiit's take on this is outside of "we do not recommend", the only thing mentioned in Schiit FAQ is heater current requirement should be under 415mA, which for most PCC88 is 300mA (way under the limit).

Agree with the other posts: Never had any problems with PCC88s in the Lyrs.
To the cathode poisoning issue, I don't see how running the heater filament at ~90% of spec voltage would introduce contaminants; reduced heat and emissions, yes. (Datasheets give maximums but not minimums.)
Some of the established tube dealers actually claim a longer life span when using it as 6DJ8 replacement with 6.3V in lieu of the spec 7V.

 

[MWSVette]

 
 
Some of the established tube dealers actually claim a longer life span when using it as 6DJ8 replacement with 6.3V in lieu of the spec 7V.

Agreed I read that on both Upscale Audio and Brent Jesse's web sites...

 

[kolkoo]

 
Agree with the other posts: Never had any problems with PCC88s in the Lyrs.
To the cathode poisoning issue, I don't see how running the heater filament at ~90% of spec voltage would introduce contaminants; reduced heat and emissions, yes. (Datasheets give maximums but not minimums.)
Some of the established tube dealers actually claim a longer life span when using it as 6DJ8 replacement with 6.3V in lieu of the spec 7V.

Yeah I mean don't get me wrong I'm using them from time to time And I am trying out different PCC88s, just sharing what I saw around the interwebs

 

[tvnosaint]

The price is usually very agreeable with p88cc.

 

[Kon Peki]

Can anyone recommend some very warm and lush tubes for my Lyr 2?  Right now, my Lyr 2 with Amperex Orange Globes (bought here) sounds almost the same as my Violectric V200.  I can hear and appreciate a subtle difference, but I want to try some tubes that will more obviously enhance bass, warm the mids, and tame highs.  Basically I want to hear more of a difference between my two amps.

 

[Guidostrunk]

Mullard Blackburn E88CC/ECC88/6922.

Can anyone recommend some very warm and lush tubes for my Lyr 2?  Right now, my Lyr 2 with Amperex Orange Globes (bought here) sounds almost the same as my Violectric V200.  I can hear and appreciate a subtle difference, but I want to try some tubes that will more obviously enhance bass, warm the mids, and tame highs.  Basically I want to hear more of a difference between my two amps.

 

[MWSVette]

  Can anyone recommend some very warm and lush tubes for my Lyr 2?  Right now, my Lyr 2 with Amperex Orange Globes (bought here) sounds almost the same as my Violectric V200.  I can hear and appreciate a subtle difference, but I want to try some tubes that will more obviously enhance bass, warm the mids, and tame highs.  Basically I want to hear more of a difference between my two amps.

 
 

Mullard Blackburn E88CC/ECC88/6922.

+1  Those would be the warm lush tubes you are looking for...