Orangecrush :
Quote:Due to the darker, lusher side of the Brimar's, I am not afraid to try more exotic 6922,7308's. I due need super quiet tubes as my Zu's are so sensitive. The Philip's Holland tubes are confusing to me. I see so many of various price ranges. What exactly would you recommend?
Also, at this point I want something a bit more exotic then the Pope/Bugle boys. Especially if I going to live with them for the next many years!
Impossible to guess what to recommend without specific sound preferences based upon what you think of the sound of other tubes in your particular configuration and where you would like it to go. For example, if the 6N1P is good sound for you other than distortion....or do you want more texture, openness, or smoother highs, or deeper or less bass....
Also, I know you have worked hard to get your sound where you like it, and not everything "great" is going to fall into synergy with that. The 60s American Amperex white label PQ 7308 is a really good tube, as are the 60s 6922.
I just listened to my 63-4 7308 PQs and Green Globe 6922 not sure the date but I think later 60s. The sound is very similar, warmish, smooth, and soft on top, though clear. The PQ does do it all a bit more, a bit deeper bass, clearer space/black, actually sounds louder and a little faster/more dynamic...The Green Globe is closer turned up a bit, but the PQ/7308 in direct comparison sounds like a better grade or make tube. Neither would I consider "exotic" in this particular tube set where the MKIV and CSP3 are on the warm side, I think due mostly to the Mullard/Mazda GZ32s in both amps, and a quite domineering tube, a warm and powerful Telefunken E88CC in front the CSP3, with some warmish early 60s Sylvania 6922 gold pins for power. Context!
The Phillips Heerlin SQs are variable too. I am not sure of actual dates of the later one again, but my 63 pair is less good to me than my later 60's pair and the two are surprisingly different sounding, though construction looks exactly the same (as is the case with the Amer. 7308 and 6922 I have).... Like the American tubes, the Phillips both give the sense of a very nicely made and good sounding tube. To me the later one reflects the sound qualities of the earlier, but is more open/neutral than the earlier which is, and always has been, too warm for me. The earlier one is the more sought after tube, also a touch warmer than the American 7308.
I would not mistake still being relatively available with sonic quality for PCC88s or Bugle Boys. The 7DJ8 are even now still just gaining popularity and Bugle Boys were made by the gazillions. The old stalwarts have reasons for being popular and expensive, but they may or may not be the ticket for that particular sound you like! I would not use either of the the above super tubes in this current setting, preferring the later copy of the Phillips SQ, some near NOS testing "pulls" I got for like 70 for the pair delivered from eastern Europe. They are like a clearer, more neutral version of the Amer. 7308 with more top extension.
For kicks I put in some Haltron labelled PCC88s. They have stamped getter risers...maybe Siemens???. In this setting, for midrange clarity without pain, I would take it over the big names above but the bass is a little more mushy with this particular set. Some Phillips PCC88s open things up another notch, but still smooth in this tube set, and the bass deep and tight.
It is all context. There is no doubt the American 7308s are very nice tubes. I use them most in the front of the CSP3 with more open tubes in the power position. It all depends on too many variables of room, cables, power, source, vibration etc. And if you look here at the guys most into Amer Amperex 7308s, like Mark and Lon, I think you will find a thread of aversion to upper end articulation and often associated preference for warmth, reflecting the warm smoothness of the tube, but also why I don't tend to use it as a Torii input. I seem to like mixing and matching these days...open inputs and more warmth elsewhere giving that precious live feel without pain.
I hope you get lucky and find that magic input! I much prefer having choices than trying for one perfect tube. Actually, for me I don't think the perfect tube set can exist since I have enough tubes of all types to change the context and I really love being able to do this...to change to different flavors of beautiful, shifting my musical experience.
Like now, the Phillips PCC88 that could be a little too clear in some settings is smooth and a bit warm in this one! Replace the Mullard GZ32 with an RCA 5R4GY in the CSP3 and things open up, and tighten up...slower, but nice and still quite smooth and warm, though many would call this rectifier sterile. Back in the Torii with the later Phillips E88CC, very nice also...that old school solidity of a really good 6922 type I never loved in the MKIII, but really do in the MKIV. Now some 60s Mullard ECC88 with a large hallow getter....these were good testing pulls...gorgeous..louder, fast, articulate, deep/round but natural sounding bass, quite spacious, more upper mids in the balance.
Who knows!