[KingFiercer]

Hi guys. I have 3 pairs of JJ Electronics E88CC. And each one sounds different. Stock plain JJ's are great overall, but with a less resolution. Gold-pin's have great resolution, but with specific darker mids presentation (interesting though) and boosted low bass. And third plain JJ's are too rough-sounding, too edgy on bass and mids, just not musical enough. I bought them from vivatubes and another ebay seller.
And here is my question. Is it okay? It looks like russian roulette to find the same sounding tube. I like stock JJ's, and just want to buy a replacement for them. Also tried Genalex Lion, Tesla E88CC, but they're not my cup of tea either.
Anyway Gold Pin JJ's are good enough to enjoy the music.

 

[Wes S]

After a tube rolling weekend, I have settled on the CBS-Hytron 5814a, as the current winner. This tube is pretty much perfect in every way, with killer bass, and a sweet midrange. The tube has a huge 3d like sound, and is very well balanced, and musical. Up next is the Brimar 6067 T series long plate. There are so many amazing 12ua7 variants, and this really is a fun tube to roll. I have done my homework, and have only rolled the good ones, but man there sure are quite a lot of choices.

 

[Ripper2860]

Well, of course they are ...

 

[TK16]

After a tube rolling weekend, I have settled on the CBS-Hytron 5814a, as the current winner. This tube is pretty much perfect in every way, with killer bass, and a sweet midrange. The tube has a huge 3d like sound, and is very well balanced, and musical. Up next is the Brimar 6067 T series long plate. There are so many amazing 12ua7 variants, and this really is a fun tube to roll. I have done my homework, and have only rolled the good ones, but man there sure are quite a lot of choices.

Stop flip flopping your position with every tube rolling session. Sorry for calling you out like that, but I am bored!

 

[Wes S]

Stop flip flopping your position with every tube rolling session. Sorry for calling you out like that, but I am bored!

They really do keep getting "better" . . .

 

[nwavesailor]

They really do keep getting "better" . . .

There are a LOT of great tubes out there. Wes S has a few of these that are so close that, on any given day, tube A or tube B is 'The Best' and subject to change.
We may need to worry when he start gushing about some killer GE's he's in love with!!!

 

[Wes S]

Current 12au7 rankings -

1. CBS/Hytron 5814a
2. Brimar CV4034 and 7316 long plate foil getter
3. Sylvania Gold Brand 5814a triple mica grey plate
4. Mullard ECC82 Blackburn Square Getter
5. Brimar 12au7 square getter long grey plate
6. Brimar CV4003

I would be happy with any of these tubes, and they all hold there own. I love the 12au7!

 

[Wes S]

There are a LOT of great tubes out there. Wes S has a few of these that are so close that, on any given day, tube A or tube B is 'The Best' and subject to change.
We may need to worry when he start gushing about some killer GE's he's in love with!!!

This is true, except I will never own a GE tube. My top 3 tubes would work well in any situation, and are just different flavors of awesome.

 

[TK16]

This is true, except I will never own a GE tube. My top 3 tubes would work well in any situation, and are just different flavors of awesome.

GEC A2900 is a fantastic tube. General Electric Company or GE for short.

 

[bcowen]

GEC A2900 is a fantastic tube. General Electric Company or GE for short.

ROFL! Guido and Sal are both retired Genalex employees, and they're gonna come looking for you (baseball bats in hand) for even putting GEC and GE in the same sentence. They're both over 90, but I'm guessing that taking a bat to someone's knees is similar to riding a bicycle...once you learn, you're good.

 

[TK16]

ROFL! Guido and Sal are both retired Genalex employees, and they're gonna come looking for you (baseball bats in hand) for even putting GEC and GE in the same sentence. They're both over 90, but I'm guessing that taking a bat to someone's knees is similar to riding a bicycle...once you learn, you're good.

I don't take any threat likely. I know some retired hitman who are also in their 90's as well so they can blend right in. The victims need to not be able to move for several hours while they do their work. They don't work as fast as they used to.

 

[Ripper2860]

Better a 90 year old hit man than a ...

Divorced, overly aggressive, 47 year old, man-hating 'fluffer' with a score to settle. Not that I know anything about that first-hand, mind you.

 

[TK16]

Better than getting thrown out of McDonalds by a pimply faced 16 year old sales associate for ordering Burger King products. No sense of humor.

 

[bcowen]

To be serious for a moment (but *only* a moment), anybody got an idea who made this tube? It came in an RCA box and there was some very faint red printing (like RCA used) that's all but gone now. Pretty sure RCA didn't make this. It has the 4 quadrant ridges on top that would lead me believe it's of Philips lineage, but I don't have anything that matched up to it exactly.

 

[Ripper2860]

Looks like a GE to me.