[tvnosaint]

Burning in HGs now. So far, 15 minutes in, when compared to MatNats , not as loud, but clearer with more air and a better soundstage as well as tighter but more pronounced bass. Especially in the vibros, not as evident on the 560 but same response. they really shine with more volume. Nothing aggravates your ears. Just more space in the music.

 

[ThurstonX]

I was just marveling at the '75 SWGP Rockets I got from Bob... last year it must have been.  I burned them in for just over 200 hours, then put them away until last week.  They've got another 120+ hours on them now.  Listening to a couple ancient Genesis albums (Trespass and Nursery Cryme, both from the box set remasters) was a wonder of detail, holography and a certain dynamic energy Russian tubes seem to impart.  While listening I didn't recall those things from the tubes I recently rolled (1963 Siemens E88CCs and 1960 'D' getter Amperex 6922s from the US).
 
To be fair, it's been a few days since I had time to really sit down and listen to music, so this is not a statement of comparison, just an idle observation.  I need to pick out a few songs for doing a serious comparison.  I think the 1966 French-made Dario Miniwatt E188CCs are next up.  Should be interesting, and quite different, I expect.  The Rockets do make me wonder about Bob's HGs, though.  Damn him... 

 
FWIW, I used my HE-560s, which get the call now for all serious listening.  I can't see upgrading unless I heard (rather than buying blind) some cans that beat them at or around their price.  But I ain't lookin' 

 
Happy rolling 

 

[Exacoustatowner]

I was just marveling at the '75 SWGP Rockets I got from Bob... last year it must have been.  I burned them in for just over 200 hours, then put them away until last week.  They've got another 120+ hours on them now.  Listening to a couple ancient Genesis albums (Trespass and Nursery Cryme, both from the box set remasters) was a wonder of detail, holography and a certain dynamic energy Russian tubes seem to impart.  While listening I didn't recall those things from the tubes I recently rolled (1963 Siemens E88CCs and 1960 'D' getter Amperex 6922s from the US).

To be fair, it's been a few days since I had time to really sit down and listen to music, so this is not a statement of comparison, just an idle observation.  I need to pick out a few songs for doing a serious comparison.  I think the 1966 French-made Dario Miniwatt E188CCs are next up.  Should be interesting, and quite different, I expect.  The Rockets do make me wonder about Bob's HGs, though.  Damn him... 

FWIW, I used my HE-560s, which get the call now for all serious listening.  I can't see upgrading unless I heard (rather than buying blind) some cans that beat them at or around their price.  But I ain't lookin' 

Happy rolling 

I like them with my 560 as well! EDIT: I meant Rb2013 HG's.

 

[MWSVette]

  I was just marveling at the '75 SWGP Rockets I got from Bob... last year it must have been.  I burned them in for just over 200 hours, then put them away until last week.  They've got another 120+ hours on them now.  Listening to a couple ancient Genesis albums (Trespass and Nursery Cryme, both from the box set remasters) was a wonder of detail, holography and a certain dynamic energy Russian tubes seem to impart.  While listening I didn't recall those things from the tubes I recently rolled (1963 Siemens E88CCs and 1960 'D' getter Amperex 6922s from the US).
 
To be fair, it's been a few days since I had time to really sit down and listen to music, so this is not a statement of comparison, just an idle observation.  I need to pick out a few songs for doing a serious comparison.  I think the 1966 French-made Dario Miniwatt E188CCs are next up.  Should be interesting, and quite different, I expect.  The Rockets do make me wonder about Bob's HGs, though.  Damn him... 

 
FWIW, I used my HE-560s, which get the call now for all serious listening.  I can't see upgrading unless I heard (rather than buying blind) some cans that beat them at or around their price.  But I ain't lookin' 

 
Happy rolling 

Thurston you have described what I like most about the best Russian tubes.  You have got to try the 75 HG's.... 

 

[ThurstonX]

  Thurston you have described what I like most about the best Russian tubes.  You have got to try the 75 HG's.... 

 
One day, perhaps.  While they're on my radar, they're off in the distance maintaining a circling pattern, not a beeline to my wallet 

 

[MWSVette]

   
One day, perhaps.  While they're on my radar, they're off in the distance maintaining a circling pattern, not a beeline to my wallet 

 
+1

 

[lekoross]

Hey guys. Picked up some Valvo red label e88cc's with various codes. All are 7L to mark the e88cc designation. But then there are variations. I originally thought that the 7L4 & 7L5 were early and the others late, but that wouldn't seem to make sense unless the 7L4 was 1959. 
 
D=Delta
 
7L4 D9L
7L5 D0B
 
7L8 D2K1
7L9 D1J2
 
Anyone have any insight on this?

 

[mikoss]

Are they D? Those are Hamburg and not the same production batches as delta which was Heerlen. They would be late 60's if so.

Edit nvm didn't see your D = delta note. I would say yes they are 1959.

 

[gibosi]

  Hey guys. Picked up some Valvo red label e88cc's with various codes. All are 7L to mark the e88cc designation. But then there are variations. I originally thought that the 7L4 & 7L5 were early and the others late, but that wouldn't seem to make sense unless the 7L4 was 1959. 
 
D=Delta
 
7L4 D9L
7L5 D0B
 
7L8 D2K1
7L9 D1J2
 
Anyone have any insight on this?

 
I have a 1961 Heerlen-made (7L6 ⊿1K3). And 7L4 and 7L5 would be earlier than 1961. Further, there is no week digit. So I believe you have a 1959 and a 1960 tube there.
 
However, the year codes for the 7L8 and 7L9 tubes don't seem quite right... 7L9 should be later than 7L8.... (I have a 1964 New York-made E88CC (7L9 *4J).

 

[lekoross]

Hmmm... just checked again with a 10x magnifier. It's definitely:
 
7L8 D2K1
7L9 D1J2
 
This would have to mean that 7L8 and 7L9 have to refer to batches that were not necessarily chronological, and so I would think that the 7L8 D2 = 1972 and teh 7L9 D1 = 1971. What other possibilities are there?

 

[gibosi]

  Hmmm... just checked again with a 10x magnifier. It's definitely:
 
7L8 D2K1
7L9 D1J2
 
This would have to mean that 7L8 and 7L9 have to refer to batches that were not necessarily chronological, and so I would think that the 7L8 D2 = 1972 and teh 7L9 D1 = 1971. What other possibilities are there?

 
Change codes are most certainly chronological, 7L8 is definitely earlier than 7L9. Further, about four days ago, I think many of us agreed that by 1970, the change code for E88CC was up to "G", that is 7LG. And thus by extrapolation, change codes 8 and 9 were in use sometime in the middle to late 1960s.
 
So again, the years and change codes on your 7L8 and 7L9 tubes simply don't jive.... As to why, I cannot say....

 

[billerb1]

 
Change codes are most certainly chronological, 7L8 is definitely earlier than 7L9. Further, about four days ago, I think many of us agreed that by 1970, the change code for E88CC was up to "G", that is 7LG. And thus by extrapolation, change codes 8 and 9 were in use sometime in the middle to late 1960s.
 
So again, the years and change codes on your 7L8 and 7L9 tubes simply don't jive.... As to why, I cannot say....

 


Laurence, are you buying those "funny" tubes again ??? You know, the ones where "up" is "down" , "black" is "white" and 9 < 8 ???
Ha, just givin' you a hard time bro. Question is...how do your mystery red labels sound ????

 

[lekoross]

Somehow I believe I may have inadvertently purchased tubes that broke the laws of quantum physics as we know it! LOL!
 
Actually they sound very good. Can't really make out any difference between the earlier tubes ('59 & '60) and these... whatever they happen to be.
 
As for the codes, the tubes are definitely legit with the acid codes on the glass. So, with all due respect to my tube brothers here who are confident in their extensive tube code knowledge... you've got to be wrong. The codes are what they are. Still waiting for a legitimate explanation....
 
Cheers!

 

[Rayoki]

hey is anyone using the lyr as a pre-amp? 

I'm running my LSR 305's out of them and I'm starting to think it affects the sound in a positive manner!

more testing will need to be done!

 

[Oskari]

  Hmmm... just checked again with a 10x magnifier. It's definitely:
 
7L8 D2K1
7L9 D1J2
 
This would have to mean that 7L8 and 7L9 have to refer to batches that were not necessarily chronological, and so I would think that the 7L8 D2 = 1972 and teh 7L9 D1 = 1971. What other possibilities are there?

 
That it is an incomplete digit 4 for 1964. The 7L8 is from 1962.