telefunken Ecc801s

[edisonwu]

After trying as many t7 tubes as I can from various brands, years and structures, telefunken Ecc801s is almost the worst t7 tube I have heard from old stock family.

I have been long time no buying any telefunken Ecc801s, but just still keeping only one from the 50's in white/blue box, for the memory. It sounds a bit more refined and attractive, but that's it. This is not gonna change what I think about the Ecc801s...

I would suggest any of you here to get away from this tube, save your money for the best, there are lot more better tubes out there, cheaper, only some of them are more expensive. You will get exactly what you pay for. For the sound, telefunken Ecc801s is not worth that much money.

What would you say, guys?

 

[P+D-MI]

Out of all the 12at7 tubes that I tried in my EMP the Telefunken ecc 801s was the best by far. None of the others were even close in the transparency department. Also, tighter bass and much cleaner and smoother treble than the others. I should also add that mine where made in 1975.

 

[ken36]

I sold mine on eBay for a good price as I remember it.

 

[kramer5150]

Hmm... I've been using an old NOS sylvania 12AT7 in the middle position on my earmax... Its an odd-ball looking tube with gold pins. Seems to have the most smooth sound and yet still detailed. Its smooth and warm... yet it doesn't smother the headphoners with too much of its sonic character. So, an RS1 is still an RS1 and an HD580 is still an HD580. I have a sylvania 12au7 I liked it at first, but its a little too smooth... Smears the image around too much and lacks the central "focus" of that 12AT7.

I'll probaly try an elextro harmonix and a sovtek too, just to round things out.

For kicks I plugged in a sovtek 12AX7 and it was a little grainy sounding and the gain was too much for my liking. No wonder so many high gain guitar preamps use these things.

I also have some amperex A-frame 6922s on order that I'd like to try out in the other 2 positions.

For now, that sylvania 12AT7 is my fave... at least in the center position. I'll have to try an telefunken though... if I can get one cheap enough.

 

[The Smokester]

Let's bad mouth telefunkens...Drive the price down.

 

[edisonwu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by P+D-MI Out of all the 12at7 tubes that I tried in my EMP the Telefunken ecc 801s was the best by far. None of the others were even close in the transparency department. Also, tighter bass and much cleaner and smoother treble than the others. I should also add that mine where made in 1975.

There are many kinds of 12at7 tubes from 1950-1959 made by mullard, GEC, philips, amperex, Valvo, Brimer. These all kick the ecc801s ass, and throw it far far away...I once intended to sell my Earmax pro a year ago. I used Telefunken ecc801s mostly and believed it was the best of the best, as I was told to be by many people here. I found It sounds not very impressed though. After I try more tubes accidentally, I finally discovered that the problem is NOT the amp, it is the driving tube in the middle. The Earmax pro can go much further than that. And now I don't even think about selling this amp, never, as it now has everything that what a HIFI amp should have, and it represents the top of the sound style of Earmax series.

I talk to many tube men all over the world. Most of them agree me. The other think ecc801s is good, but not as good as like landing on the ceiling. They said my ears told me the truth and I am right.

 

[edisonwu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Smokester Let's bad mouth telefunkens...Drive the price down.

No. telefunken is very very good tube maker, excellent sounding and superB quality. I was just only saying that the Ecc801s is not the best or as the best as people think about it, but the fact is there are more 12at7 tubes are better and much better.

 

[edisonwu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken36 I sold mine on eBay for a good price as I remember it.

Me too, I have sold 4 Ecc801s on the web.

 

[KB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edisonwu No. telefunken is very very good tube maker, excellent sounding and superB quality. I was just only saying that the Ecc801s is not the best or as the best as people think about it, but the fact is there are more 12at7 tubes are better and much better.

Can you give some examples then? I am thinking for the EMP.

Thx

Kb

 

[ken36]

I remember last year when Nik started the Earmax Pro and EMP AE debate ,when he proclaimed the Electro-Harmonix 12AT7 & 6922 gold pin the absolute king of the tubes for this amp. I wound up, in the end, agreeing with Nik. Plus, I loved the price new.

 

[edisonwu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken36 I remember last year when Nik started the Earmax Pro and EMP AE debate ,when he proclaimed the Electro-Harmonix 12AT7 & 6922 gold pin the absolute king of the tubes for this amp. I wound up, in the end, agreeing with Nik. Plus, I loved the price new.

All three Electro-Harmonix's is good combo for EMP and AE, expecially for the price. I bought mine from the same dealer as Nik's. This combo does have the edge compared with telefunken Ecc801s & CCa, but just in a few aspects with the headphones I have tested. As the point I raise above, the problem, may be not a problem but just not the best, with the combo of telefunken's is the Ecc801s, or probably say when CCa comes with Ecc801s. The combo gives me an unreal and thin midrange, a too bright high, an overall too soft&weak sound, an empty body with no flesh and blood, few bass, and soundstage sounds not quite right too. TFK CCa is absolutely one of the best 6922 tubes in this planet. But TFK Ecc801s is NOT, expecially when it works with TFK again. Ecc801s is famous for its long life spending, excellent tube structure design, low micro and noise level from the day they are born, but that should be it. There are a lot more better 12at7 tube. These are just more rare and hard too find one in a good testing. Ecc801s should be very easy to reach the phono grade, others are not. I once intended to sell the EMP but still keep the AE since it is an anniv. edition. After I try more and more 12at7 tubes and 6922, I have changed my mind, very deeply. The EMP is one of the best sounding in its domain with right tubes. I feel good when I listen vocals, pop, jazz, hit-hop, and some other music types. EMP is a little bit weak driving HD600 when presenting classical. It just not does as good as it does to others. But not a problem for me as I hardly listen classical at all. I prefer MPX3 or supra (I haven't listened to this one, it should better than MPX3) which have more power to feed sens headphones for classical.

 

[edisonwu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB Can you give some examples then? I am thinking for the EMP. Thx Kb

For example, I would try mullard 12at7 square getter with 2*TFK E88CC or amperex 12at7 curved D getter with 2*philips E88CC SQ curved D getter or metal D getter , if I had plenty of budget. It is surely worth to invest as it does change a lot. I could level down the budget by taking mullard 12at7 1960's with 2*amperex 6922 or 6DJ8 round getter with bugle boy logo, or amperex 12at7 round getter with bugle boy logo with mullard E88CC gold pins. If the budget was intense, I could still buy sovtek 12AX7, EH 12at7 gold pins version, sylvania 12AT7, philips 12at7 Jan, with 2*EH 6922. It still sounds good, just not very though. If my budget was no limited, I could try whatever I what, TFK CCa, amperex e88cc e188CC D-getter, pinch waist, TFK E188CC, siemens CCA 1950, early 1960, and more,,,

 

[herroyuihk]

I think that price can tell something
TFK ECC801s is not so expensive,
but philips, and mullard D getter are sometimes have slightly high prices or amazing prices.
Certainly, prices depend local shopes of the tube.

 

[edisonwu]

I had some telefunken Ecc801s in differnt structures, basicaly there are. and with different boxes, 4 types I believe I had, and the last one is cryo treated. They all sound quit different. The earlier the more balancing, the later a little bit hasshy, a bit thin. Anyways all tubes have warmed up and been deeply tested in my FUNKE W20. They should be the the best quality among all the telefunken Ecc801s.

 

[Johnnysound]

As drivers (or phase inverters) in my Jolida 3502c amp, the pair of TFK ECC801s are simply terrific tubes. Great extension, precision, detail and the deepest bass. No doubt a true reference among 12AT7s/ECC81s,( and I have many) but this one is special. I think the asking prices today are too high, it is worth to wait and try to find a good offer. If you are interested in 12AT7/ECC81 types, this is the one to look for...