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Luis, I have been playing around the last few days with PCC88s, and though it usually takes several days for me to really hear some changes fully, I really like them so far.
Mine is a CSP3 with jupiter caps. As Mark said, I had been using a USA Amperex 7308 in the input and Phillips SQ E188CC in the 2nd positions, with a Westinghouse labelled 5R4GY (probably a 40s RCA). This set came from attempts to get the CSP3, linear, extended, slightly warm, and with the a high level of complex detail. “Detail” is an odd thing we all interpret it in our own ways. My explorations are showing me there is more to it than I thought. It is definitely a part of what we associate with clarity and brightness, but it has many layers and levels if the gear can pull it, and this is what I have been looking into. In doing so, I found I could have high levels of detail without hardness, I believe due to an actual increase that is more layered. With more layers of detail, more particles so to speak, micro detail and inner detail....if it is all there, and in balance, the perception of detail can be softer and more textured...like more bits creates greater resolution. I can't recall why I got onto 6922s in front before, but the 7DJ8 can be very good for micro detail also.
As with everything, if our system/rooms are revealing as Decware can be, everything effects everything else. As an example, for a short while I had been listening to Reflektor 6P3S-E power tubes, and they are warmer, wetter, richer, and have a different way of balancing the highs and mids than the more linear Genalex KT66 I am used to. So when I started testing PCC88s in the CSP, they were harder to read. Putting back the Genalex, everything is more familiar and less colored, so easier for me since the system and my mind are tuned to the Genalex.
Generally, the PCC88/7DJ8 sort of combines traits of 6DJ8/ECC88 and 6922/E88CCs...open texture of 6DJ8s, and speed, articulation and linearity similar to the 6922, but also, there is the PCC88 open spaciousness, generally across the spectrum, and great texture, that give it a “live” feel that is its own trait.
Compared to 6922s, most are a little less extended on bottom, but don't feel lacking to me, the bass generally pretty fast and solid. Most are notably clear and open, with a relatively strong sense of micro detail complexity. The openness contributes to detail complexity and “liveness,” the very empty space between notes helping everything to emerge with clarity, micro detail and the associated texture and feathered edges,. This also is good for ambient information near and far.
The 6922 type, is probably the most dynamic, extended and neutral in frequency balance, but the more defined edges can be hard and/or cool when it does not work, and they can feel a little “too good,” lacking off-beat character that can accent musicality. Alternately, 7DJ8's slightly reduced bass extension, open spaciousness, and micro detail articulation, depending on everything else in the system/room, they could come off as too clear.
Like all tube types, these are generalities and different makes and vintages can vary quite a lot within the type tendencies.
And it all depends what we start with. The PCC88 traits may be just right to wake up a system. Or if what we have is satisfying as-is, they could throw off the balance. But with some other tubes to play with, and/or amp adjustments, a change that may be a little too much at first, can turn into great beauty with some tuning.
So who knows.
For context, without changes other than putting back in the Genalex KT66, I put my favorite black plate 6N1P in front of the CSP (I have never heard the 3 micas). The 6N1P sounds quite good to me, though less refined after the 7308. Similar warmth, the 6N1P has a softer, less defined (but still nice) bass; more textured and pleasantly forward/clear mids (more mid-mids focus enhancing close ambience); though nicely detailed feeling, it has less complex/micro detail and is less extended on both ends; and they are less solid overall. The 7308 is more linear, accurate and complete, which can be good or bad depending on objectives and what we are putting it with. I had put the 7308 in for its accuracy, including micro detail, extension, dynamics, definition....but with a pleasant warmth and smooth musicality that seems to be inherent to this tube. That said, with this tube set, I enjoy the 6N1P, musical, fresh and forgiving, though I personally prefer the 7308's more complete sound.
Then I put a Miniwatt PCC88 with a large O getter. It was not as loud as the 6N1P, so I upped the main volume a little to compensate, but this made it sound a little thick, especially in the mid-bass. So I tried increasing the power tube (2nd) silver volume pots. I had been running them on 8 and the front ones on 9. Now they are both on 9 and for some reason, the sound got better, evening up the presentation of the PCC88, more powerful notes from clearer space and no notable low end thickness. Maybe it has something to do with the 7 volts of the PCC88, or maybe the CSP balance, but it brought it out very nicely. Warm, but open and fresh.
Compared to the 7308, it has a little less bass extension, but with the PCC88's fast, revealing character, it feels solid and extended in a different way....and with its characteristic open spaciousness and quite good micro detail and texture, the edges are softened but nice and clear, notes coming from more space. They sound very good. Compared to the 6N1P, these are more linear with the a similar mid openness, but the openness spreads down and up with the PCC88. Nice. I see this tube now and then at reasonable prices on ebay.
Then I tried a warmer National PCC88. With the 2nd knobs on 8, these had an odd imbalance. Very clear mids, but mids up, less complex, making them a little rigid. And the lower-mids to the low bass was warmer, softer and less defined than the Phillips, a bit muddled by comparison. I have never fallen for this tube for these reasons. But with the second pots on 9...again a really good change with this particular tube set. Though with less complex detail and the slightly soft/dark/less defined low mids (compared to the Miniwatt) it sounds really good to me. Closer to the 6N1P warmth and frequency balance, but it has more micro detail balancing the mids, upper mids and highs better than the 6N1P...and smoothly. With more open spaciousness, everything feels more alive and present, from bass to highs, open with more balanced ambience than the 6N1P. I am of course talking in serious listening mode, little things being magnified, but this tube sounds very good, if a little warm for my personal tastes.....this is available from Upscale Audio.
Then I put in a Zaerix labelled PCC88, it looks Russian made. This tube in my experience is sort of on its own as a PCC88. It is extended and extraordinarily spacious, with nice smooth balance. It seemed a bit pushed with the 2nd knobs on 9, so I dropped them back to the original 8 giving more natural tone and dynamics. It's more extended bottom, and sort of big inner spaciousness are really nice; texture is smoother than many PCC88s but present with a sense of complete detail; edges feather well though and this tube is comparatively fast and solid. It covers all ambient information exceptionally. Also a little warm, but still nicely spacious, first impressions are very good. It is still available on ebay.
There are many other nice PCC88s available and I have many more I like, but I need to move on. With three for three PCC88s sounding very good to me once adjusted, it seems a good tube for the input, at least with these tubes, and in this setting. The enhanced open spaciousness of the tube type, the “live player” quality, is quite seductive for me. If these traits sound like what you would like, I would by all means try one in the CSP input. Thanks for the reminder.
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