[Puma Cat]

  Never tube rolled before. My full experience has been sticking the Valhalla 2 tubes in that came with it.
 
With that said, are there any tubes for the Val2, that can keep the energy of the music like the stock tubes, but roll off the treble a little bit? Looking for some ease in the sibilance with my HD700. Thanks!

Amperex 6922s or Mullards. 

 

[lekoross]

I agree with the Amperex or Mullards (from the Blackburn, England plant), but I'd stay with the Amperex from Herleen, Holland (delta symbol [right triangle] on etched date codes) over the U.S. Amperex tubes, and I'd personally take the e188cc's (Europe's 7308) over the e88cc's (Europe's 6922). The sound is the same yet they have a longer heater life and the triodes are better matched. 

 

[Velorium]

Any recommendation for tubes to give me a wider soundstage?

 

[lekoross]

  Any recommendation for tubes to give me a wider soundstage?

 
Although there are other tubes I may enjoy more overall, the widest soundstage I've heard is the Siemens CCa grey shields, 1959-1965. No other tube I've heard has this 3D holographic dimensionality (or detail). Granted, they're not cheap!

 

[worminater]

I think one of my tubes might be going; I get a slight buzz on certain frequencies on the right channel, changes ear when i reverse cables and follows on different source (Albeit much more pronounced on my Modi compared to line-out from my cell phone, but that might just be clarity?)
 
Any recommendations on aftermarket tubes to buy/where to get them? 
 
I'm not usually one to nickel-dime things after the fact (10 sets of tubes to roll) but this seems like the time to investigate rather than just buying a new set from Schiit.

 

[Velorium]

****.. Thanks & noted lol. I don't suppose you're aware of a midway point, say $60-120 a pair?

 

[Puma Cat]

   
Although there are other tubes I may enjoy more overall, the widest soundstage I've heard is the Siemens CCa grey shields, 1959-1965. No other tube I've heard has this 3D holographic dimensionality (or detail). Granted, they're not cheap!

Laurence,
Are those the same Siemens you showed me when we met up last month? 
 
Cheers,
Stephen

 

[lekoross]

 

   
Although there are other tubes I may enjoy more overall, the widest soundstage I've heard is the Siemens CCa grey shields, 1959-1965. No other tube I've heard has this 3D holographic dimensionality (or detail). Granted, they're not cheap!

Laurence,
Are those the same Siemens you showed me when we met up last month? 
 
Cheers,
Stephen

 
No, these were recently acquired from Brent Jessee - 1965 Siemens CCa. They have the widest soundstage of any tube I've heard. Doesn't mean they're the 'best', of course. The German tubes seem to excel in detail and soundstage, the Hollands in warmth and liquidity. The Russian 6n23p SWGP Silver Shield Reflektors, however, seem to pull them both together in one tube - wide soundstage, excellent detail, smoothness, and warmth (more detail and soundstage than the Hollands and more warmth than the Siemens CCa's - even though they may have slightly less detail/soundstage than the Siemens and slightly less warmth than the Hollands). It all depends on what I'm listening to. I love the German tubes (Siemens/Telefunken) for Classical and the Amperex Hollands or Mullard Blackburns for Jazz. The Reflektors are great in either genre, having "the best of both worlds." 

 

[lekoross]

  Any recommendation for tubes to give me a wider soundstage?

 
I would say the best guide out now for top tube comparisons is the one just done by fellow head-fier rb2013. Here is the link: 
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/761078/6922-tube-review-17-top-6922-6n23p-e88cc-cca-7308-e188cc-tubes

 

[lekoross]

**BEWARE**     **DANGER**      **PROCEED WITH CAUTION**
 
 
I have discovered what may indeed be an individual or ring of counterfeit tube sellers on eBay based in Berlin, Germany that goes by various aliases. Here are three:
 
 
miaratona, limon01, tatazu74
 
 
This seller seems to have an unlimited stock of high end, pristine tubes. Here is what I have found:
 
 
 
1. The seller rotates around these aliases for his sales.
 
2. He sells high-end tubes: Telefunken CCa's & e188cc's, Siemens CCa's grey plates, and Valvo Yellow Label CCa's, among others.
 
3. The tubes are always pristine.
 
4. The tubes are always in new boxes but appropriate for the time period of the tube
 
5. Each post has the same wording and is apparently checked by the same tester (Neuberger RPM375).
 
6. Date codes or other pictures besides the front of the tubes are never shown.
 
7. The bidding for these high-end tubes always starts at $1.08.
 
 
 
Here are a few links to some present ones being sold under Limon01:
 
 
 http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-great-tested-CCa-Telefunken-E88CC-6922-/201321602067?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item2edfb3dc13
 
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-great-tested-CCa-Siemens-Halske-grey-Plate-E88CC-6922-/201321605774?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item2edfb3ea8e
 
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-good-tested-CCa-Valvo-yellow-labeled-E88CC-6922-/201321606578?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item2edfb3edb2
 
 
A simple search through the sold items of these three aliases will reveal what I am explaining here. 
 
I purchased a few items from this seller under the name "Miariatona" and had a very interesting experience, eventually getting the eBay resolution center involved. If you are interested in hearing about it I would be happy to share my experience, one which further leads me to believe that these are counterfeit tubes. 
 
Just passing this along to my tube brothers for your own sakes. Proceed with caution.....

 

[nordattack]

The stock tubes that are sold with the Valhalla 2 are NOS tubes.
What exactly is different about the NOS tubes that you found?

 

[WifiWizard]

I wanted to make sure I am looking at the correct tube.  I have found a Matched Pair of ECC85's but they are also calling them 6AQ8.  I just want to be sure i am looking at the correct tubes.
 
Thanks, John

 

[feilb]

ECC85s work great. Behind the Amperex USN CEP 7308 I have, the siemens ECC85 is my favorite.

 

[marek17]

Valhalla2 will support these tubes (tube rolling> 6N1P)
6922 OK
ECC88 OK
6DJ7 OK
E6B7 OK
ECC85 OK
---------
ECC83S 9pin-NOVAL Double triode ,
12AX7 9pin-NOVAL Doble triode,
7025 9pin-NOVAL Doble triode,
12AY7
ECC83 ?
5751 ?
7308 ?
E188CC ?
ECC803 ?
12BH7A ?
ECH81 ?
EM84 ?
PCL86 ?
EF94 ?
EM80 ?
ECC82 ?
6N3P ?
EL34 ?
EL84 ?
eZ80 ?
EC92 ?
ECC81 ?
EF80 ?

???

 

[feilb]

E188CC are fine (7308 are the same thing). None of the rest in your list are pin compatible, though some could potentially be used with tube adapters in some cases. 
 
The thing will also work w/ 7v heater tubes like PCC88/7dj8.
 
Also never heard of e6b7.