[Blotto80]

I picked up a secondhand Vali 2 last week to go with a new pair of HD800S's that I got for a song after selling off all my desktop gear and swearing I was only going to buy IEMs going forward (That lasted all of 6 months, Lol). I've never had a tube amp before and was bit shocked at how bright the Vali 2 was with the stock tube (USA 6DJ8) I grabbed a couple of tubes off a guy locally while I wait for my JJ E88CC gold to arrive.

Westinghouse 6DJ8 - West German. I like this one, it retains the soundstage of the stock while smoothing things out a bit at the top end. The bass is very present with this guy.

Rogers 6DJ8/ECC88 - Holland. This one is more along what I expected from a tube amp. The staging shrinks a bit and the bass is less pronounced than the Westinghouse (bass is similar to stock) but the highs take on what I can only describe as a lush "tubey" sound that is very pleasing.

I flip-flop back and forth between them and I do enjoy both of them, I've got the Westinghouse in right now and "Inertia Creeps" by Massive Attack is thumping but with the Rogers in, the same song is more liquid and musical.

 

[Paladin79]

I am getting ready to try some Westinghouse in the Vali tonight but mine will be 6sn7's. I found a couple NOS that I have heard good things about. I got a matched pair but I like to listen to them individually in a couple amps before consigning the pair to a Freya.

 

[bcowen]

I picked up a secondhand Vali 2 last week to go with a new pair of HD800S's that I got for a song after selling off all my desktop gear and swearing I was only going to buy IEMs going forward (That lasted all of 6 months, Lol). I've never had a tube amp before and was bit shocked at how bright the Vali 2 was with the stock tube (USA 6DJ8) I grabbed a couple of tubes off a guy locally while I wait for my JJ E88CC gold to arrive.

Westinghouse 6DJ8 - West German. I like this one, it retains the soundstage of the stock while smoothing things out a bit at the top end. The bass is very present with this guy.

Rogers 6DJ8/ECC88 - Holland. This one is more along what I expected from a tube amp. The staging shrinks a bit and the bass is less pronounced than the Westinghouse (bass is similar to stock) but the highs take on what I can only describe as a lush "tubey" sound that is very pleasing.

I flip-flop back and forth between them and I do enjoy both of them, I've got the Westinghouse in right now and "Inertia Creeps" by Massive Attack is thumping but with the Rogers in, the same song is more liquid and musical.

A West German Westinghouse, huh? Can you post a pic? That may be a Telefunken in disguise...

 

[Blotto80]

A West German Westinghouse, huh? Can you post a pic? That may be a Telefunken in disguise...

Ugghh. I don't know why that didn't post my pics. Lets try again.

 

[bcowen]

I am getting ready to try some Westinghouse in the Vali tonight but mine will be 6sn7's. I found a couple NOS that I have heard good things about. I got a matched pair but I like to listen to them individually in a couple amps before consigning the pair to a Freya.

The D-getter version is well liked by many over in the Lyr 3 tube rollers thread....

 

[Paladin79]

The D-getter version is well liked by many over in the Lyr 3 tube rollers thread....

I never really had a reason to get a Lyr 3 but have tried most all other Schiit equipment. I should be involved in some double blind tube HP amp testing soon and I will hear one in the mix. The majority of gear will be Class A and that is where my preferences lie.

The Westinghouse tubes are very nice right out of the box and I already have a set nestled inside the Freya along with a set of CBS Hytrons. Those feeding a headphone amp with the Melz 1578 are about as good as I have had headphone gear sounding for my tastes at least. I like the bass and mids of the Westinghouse and they are well matched so I needed to do very little adjusting. It is nice to use the vali for first impressions though, it is a handy little amp.

Oh Ripper pointed these out to me and they are the top D getter, a nice tube to score at $16 each.

My next quest will most likely be for the Western Electric 231A, another version of the 6080, 5998, 6AS7G.

 

[bcowen]

Ugghh. I don't know why that didn't post my pics. Lets try again.

Thanks for the pics! From what I can see there is no diamond molded into the glass at the bottom between the pins, so not a Telefunken. Doesn't mean it can't be a great tube though.

 

[bcowen]

I never really had a reason to get a Lyr 3 but have tried most all other Schiit equipment. I should be involved in some double blind tube HP amp testing soon and I will hear one in the mix. The majority of gear will be Class A and that is where my preferences lie.

The Westinghouse tubes are very nice right out of the box and I already have a set nestled inside the Freya along with a set of CBS Hytrons. Those feeding a headphone amp with the Melz 1578 are about as good as I have had headphone gear sounding for my tastes at least. I like the bass and mids of the Westinghouse and they are well matched so I needed to do very little adjusting. It is nice to use the vali for first impressions though, it is a handy little amp.

Oh Ripper pointed these out to me and they are the top D getter, a nice tube to score at $16 each.

My next quest will most likely be for the Western Electric 231A, another version of the 6080, 5998, 6AS7G.

What amp are you going to use the 231A in?

 

[Paladin79]

What amp are you going to use the 231A in?

A Bottlehead Crack.

 

[bcowen]

The starter stash of 7A4's just arrived. Unfortunately the adapter just arrived in NY, and will spend the requisite week on vacation there before proceeding south. Maybe next weekend I'll be able to give them a whirl.

Round black plate, but same squared off bottle top as Frankentube. What to call it....we already have Frankenminion. Only one triode instead of 2, but HalfenFrank just doesn't flow. Since it's closely related, how about Frankintube?

See what I did there? LOL!!!

 

[Paladin79]

The starter stash of 7A4's just arrived. Unfortunately the adapter just arrived in NY, and will spend the requisite week on vacation there before proceeding south. Maybe next weekend I'll be able to give them a whirl.

Round black plate, but same squared off bottle top as Frankentube. What to call it....we already have Frankenminion. Only one triode instead of 2, but HalfenFrank just doesn't flow. Since it's closely related, how about Frankintube?

See what I did there? LOL!!!

LOL Ah the troubles that come with vacuum tubes! What to name them?

Those are very good sounding tubes as you will no doubt discover once your adapter arrives. There appears to be quite a few of these out there and the price is not outrageous. I now have a dedicated area in my home shop for tubes. They are safely protected in surrounding foam rubber six to a box. I wanted to be able to test and re-flow tube pins in the same area and then safely protect them when done. I keep the original boxes but I change tubes out so often that this made more sense to me.

 

[bcowen]

Those are very good sounding tubes as you will no doubt discover once your adapter arrives.

I have full confidence in your recommendations, Tom. But I have a few more coming just in case your "very good" turns out to be totally awesome. LOL!

 

[Ripper2860]

Hoarder!!!

 

[bcowen]

Hoarder!!!

Had to get some before you took notice and cleaned out the world supply.

 

[Old Deaf Donkey]

has anyone tried the multi-converter adapter from our friend xulingmrs:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-gold-p...L7-Multi-tube-converter-adapter-/191683185290
looks very tempting