[MWSVette]

  Ok, you lot have a lot of explaining to do to my wallet!
 
So far I have....
 
LISST's
The "Made in Canada" stock tubes that came with the Lyr2.
On order I have
1974 Matched pair of Voskod Grey Shield 6N23P's
Matched pair of Dario Miniwatt Gold pins, Date codes F8J2 & F9A3
 
Is there any other tube to get that will be ground breaking without killing my wallet?

 
I would recommend that you listen to the ones you have so far.  You have a nice set to start.  Decide what you like and do not.  Then read more of the posts to determine if any other tubes share the traits you enjoy.
 
The Dutch boys would tell you to pick up some made in Heerlen Holland Amprex E88CC.  The Telefunken and Seimens are great too.
 
It will come to personal preference.  
 
Enjoy your growing collection... 

 

[Jamesy1969]

I bought a cheap pair of Voskhod Rockets a few months back and definitely found them to be an upgrade from the stock tubes. However, there is a lot of hiss developing in the left channel, so I'm guessing one is on its way out already (perhaps why they were cheap).
 
I'm ready to take the leap to "big boy" tubes and I've had these in my "watch list" for some time. Do they seem expensive to you guys? I'm willing to pay a little over the odds to have them shipped from the UK but I don't want to be totally ripped off!
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311283083356?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[ThurstonX]

  I bought a cheap pair of Voskhod Rockets a few months back and definitely found them to be an upgrade from the stock tubes. However, there is a lot of hiss developing in the left channel, so I'm guessing one is on its way out already (perhaps why they were cheap).
 
I'm ready to take the leap to "big boy" tubes and I've had these in my "watch list" for some time. Do they seem expensive to you guys? I'm willing to pay a little over the odds to have them shipped from the UK but I don't want to be totally ripped off!
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311283083356?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 
Given you're willing to pay a bit more, that's about the going rate.  Seems like a good seller, and the tubes certainly look good.  For reference, I got mine from Upscale Audio here in the US for $250.  ebay.com says these are ~$290, while Upscale has increased their prices beyond that.  You can wait around for a better deal in an eBay auction, but you know how that can go.  If you trust this seller, and really want these tubes, I say go for it.
 
The first Russian tubes I bought were 1974 Voskhod Rockets.  I got four for really cheap.  I made a good pair out of two of them.  YMMV, but I'd be surprised if you don't find the Telefunken E88CCs better the Rockets in almost every respect.  If the seller's info is accurate, these should last you a long time (rated at 10,000 hours).  Just be sure to give them 50-100 burn-in time before being too critical of the sound.
 
Keep us posted.

 

[Jamesy1969]

   
Given you're willing to pay a bit more, that's about the going rate.  Seems like a good seller, and the tubes certainly look good.  For reference, I got mine from Upscale Audio here in the US for $250.  ebay.com says these are ~$290, while Upscale has increased their prices beyond that.  You can wait around for a better deal in an eBay auction, but you know how that can go.  If you trust this seller, and really want these tubes, I say go for it.
 
The first Russian tubes I bought were 1974 Voskhod Rockets.  I got four for really cheap.  I made a good pair out of two of them.  YMMV, but I'd be surprised if you don't find the Telefunken E88CCs better the Rockets in almost every respect.  If the seller's info is accurate, these should last you a long time (rated at 10,000 hours).  Just be sure to give them 50-100 burn-in time before being too critical of the sound.
 
Keep us posted.

 
Thanks (I think!). That's given me the confidence to pull the trigger. I'll order them tomorrow afternoon and will definitely keep you guys posted.
 
<excited>

 

[tvnosaint]

^^agreed. Enjoy what you have before going crazy. I only pick up deals these days. Because I really like some of mine. I've got tubes nowhere near burned in because the others sound so good. Even my old amperex pair better with some hps than my best tubes.

 

[oAmadeuso]

I would recommend that you listen to the ones you have so far.  You have a nice set to start.  Decide what you like and do not.  Then read more of the posts to determine if any other tubes share the traits you enjoy.

The Dutch boys would tell you to pick up some made in Heerlen Holland Amprex E88CC.  The Telefunken and Seimens are great too.

It will come to personal preference.  

Enjoy your growing collection... 

Thank you for the voice of reason

 

[ThurstonX]

I've never seen Siemens D getters before:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Siemens-E88CC-CCa-Goldpin-D-Getter-1-/391284683225

 

[Guidostrunk]

I'm actually watching those. Not something you see everyday. LOL

I've never seen Siemens D getters before:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Siemens-E88CC-CCa-Goldpin-D-Getter-1-/391284683225

 

[Guidostrunk]

There's one type of Siemens I've never seen before, that Bob used to talk about ,and that's the old horseshoe getter. I guess those are extinct.Lol. I believe he said they were the first production Siemens e88cc , and we're only made 1 year.

I've never seen Siemens D getters before:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Siemens-E88CC-CCa-Goldpin-D-Getter-1-/391284683225

 

[ThurstonX]

I'm actually watching those. Not something you see everyday. LOL

 
I just bought a new NAS (ouch, but so much storage... send me your CDs!!!  I kid and paid for the Multibit upgrade for my Bifrost (that's BEEF-roast), so none of these are happening, sadly:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/391277567146
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/391277570094
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/391284683225

 

[Guidostrunk]

Hahahahahahaha I'm watching all the same. Hopefully the person who pm'd me about the yellows, wins them. Would be an excellent first set of upgraded tubes. Hopefully the new tube rollers are taking advantage of these awesome deals.

I just bought a new NAS (ouch, but so much storage... send me your CDs!!!  I kid and paid for the Multibit upgrade for my Bifrost (that's BEEF-roast), so none of these are happening, sadly:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391277567146

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391277570094

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391284683225

 

[billerb1]

I hope one of y'all got these mis-advertised Heerlen, not German, Valvo E188CC's for $129.  Auction just ended.  Not the best numbers for a 'matched pair' but I'm sure they'll sound glorious.  Very nice price...
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Valvo-E188CC-CCa-Red-Print-VR6-Date-Code-Gold-Pins-NR-2-/391277637744?autorefresh=true&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=mp%252BOGEWQogIJDcZvqXhNtH%252BCk04%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[Guidostrunk]

Had someone in pm that I had watching them. I hope he got them. They went at an excellent price.

I hope one of y'all got these mis-advertised Heerlen, not German, Valvo E188CC's for $129.  Auction just ended.  Not the best numbers for a 'matched pair' but I'm sure they'll sound glorious.  Very nice price...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Valvo-E188CC-CCa-Red-Print-VR6-Date-Code-Gold-Pins-NR-2-/391277637744?autorefresh=true&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=mp%252BOGEWQogIJDcZvqXhNtH%252BCk04%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[Guidostrunk]

Actually Billy, he was watching the yellows. They sold for $175. Lol

I hope one of y'all got these mis-advertised Heerlen, not German, Valvo E188CC's for $129.  Auction just ended.  Not the best numbers for a 'matched pair' but I'm sure they'll sound glorious.  Very nice price...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Valvo-E188CC-CCa-Red-Print-VR6-Date-Code-Gold-Pins-NR-2-/391277637744?autorefresh=true&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=mp%252BOGEWQogIJDcZvqXhNtH%252BCk04%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[Hardwired]

  I hope one of y'all got these mis-advertised Heerlen, not German, Valvo E188CC's for $129.  Auction just ended.  Not the best numbers for a 'matched pair' but I'm sure they'll sound glorious.  Very nice price...
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Valvo-E188CC-CCa-Red-Print-VR6-Date-Code-Gold-Pins-NR-2-/391277637744?autorefresh=true&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=mp%252BOGEWQogIJDcZvqXhNtH%252BCk04%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 
I didn't get that set because the numbers seemed a bit off for a pair, as you say, but I did get a set of the Valvo E188CCs that were a better pair for $150.
 
And I couldn't resist checking out a set of Seimens E88CCs for $129.
 
So yeah, thanks for pointing up the swiss-tubes auctions, ThurstonX. Um, I think.