Telefunken NOS 6922 tubes are they worth the Money?

[Bushikai]

Hello, I'm planning to change the 6992 on my sonic frontiers SFL-1 preamp and I came across the Telefunken NOS made in Germany in the 60's with is pretty expensive if you compare it to the new ones, about $300!! Is it worth the difference? By the way my goal is to get more mid and highs from the preamp.

Thank you very much in advance.

Henry,

 

[fbhifi]

The Tele CCAs are pretty incredible.

 

[Lampie519]

Any CCA is good if it is NOS (Siemens etc,). Actually the standard russian 6922 are also good. I have no bad experience with any russion tube, they only need to be matched and need more heater current (so no series connection of the heaters).

 

[marty]

The bigger question you need to answer is whether you think a tube change will get the results you seek. Getting "more mids and highs" is typically not something a tube change will accomplish. Yes there are subtle differences in frequency balance among different tubes, but I 'm skeptical they can bring the changes in magnitude you seek. Before you spend a lot of money on tubes, it might be fun to try some inexpensive variants first. There are a lot of excellent lower cost 6922s out there.

 

[oldvinyl]

The bigger question you need to answer is whether you think a tube change will get the results you seek. Getting "more mids and highs" is typically not something a tube change will accomplish. Yes there are subtle differences in frequency balance among different tubes, but I 'm skeptical they can bring the changes in magnitude you seek. Before you spend a lot of money on tubes, it might be fun to try some inexpensive variants first. There are a lot of excellent lower cost 6922s out there.

I would agree. The Tele 6922 is very linear; it does not accentuate any part of the spectrum. It is grain free and conveys the signal it is given. Super transparent - if there is air, resonance, and recording venue cues in the source then it will be in the output. It will sound "cleaner" on high frequencies and allow warmth/presence in the mid-range (given the recording).

 

[XV-1]

Yes. I would not use my cj GAT without them.

 

[knghifi]

I've own many SF over the years and SFL-1 was my 1st tube component. I find SF sound lean side of neutral so prefer Mazda, Amperex and Philip Holland that adds some weight.

If looking for Tele alternative, checkout 60's Siemens e88cc ... similar sound and maybe Siemen less dry? My favorites in a VAC SigMKIIa SE and actually prefer to 60's Siemen CCA. Siemen is available from reputable dealers usually for under $300 MP.

For new production, checkout EH 6922. Don't bother with gold pins, inexpensive and good match for SF. This is stock 6922 for many companies.

 

[Lampie519]

As we all know, the 6922 or E88CC was not designed for audio yet it has been used in pro equipment (Siemens V77b preamps etc.). I have tested a lot of those tubes for different amps but they need to be matched for audio and many are noisy in the audio range (good for RF amps though). So be sure you get warranty when you buy some NOS.

 

[christoph]

There are a lot of excellent lower cost 6922s out there.

Can you give some examples?

 

[Lampie519]

6N23P = E88CC = 6DJ8 = 6922 tube. Double triodes ? Hi-End vacuum tubes, sockets, capacitors, nixie. Retail and wholesale to worldwide. (rutubes.com)

 

[Lampie519]

RARE Matched Pair NOS/NIB Siemens E88CC/6922/6DJ8/ECC88 tubes Germany (pmytokree.com)

 

[spiritofmusic]

FWIW, after a long period of frustration I ended up going with a quad of 60s Mullards/70s Mazdas 6DJ8s from Brent Jesse in the US. Finally got a reliable set of these tubes from him, after so much bad luck w other sources, and so musical to boot.
I had trawled thru stock new Tesla and Electro Harmonix, grey and bland, 80s NOS Voskhod Rockets and Reflektor Silver Shields, unreliable and a little bleached tonally, 70s NOS Siemens, a tad tipped up/lacking warmth...and now my Mullards/Mazdas which are keepers, so colourful, fleshed out and naturally fast.

 

[knghifi]

I buy majority of my NOS tubes from Brent Jesse and some from Upscale Audio. 6922/e88cc Overview

 

[marty]

Can you give some examples?

6DJ8 Tubes From Brent Jessee Recording

 

[Lampie519]

MINT NOS Mid 1970s Original Tesla E88CC 6922 Gold Pin Tubes with Gray Risers re-labeld by Woodstock. Made by Tesla Rožnov n.p. Závod Vrchlabí in former Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic). Packaged in generic white boxes from bulk box. Lower test scores. (tubemonger.com)

 

[christoph]

6DJ8 Tubes From Brent Jessee Recording

I meant explicit models/brands/vintages
Not the source per se

 

[cjfrbw]

Telefunken idolatry as pricey veblens status objects makes me automatically cross them off the list. Yeah, I have a couple of pairs of the vaunted ones that I got in the day before the worship started. 'Nice' tubes, not miraculous. I'm rather fond of Amperex orange label 6922 or 6dj8, but don't know what their current fashion or cost status is. I have bugle boy types, and they seemed as 'clean' as Tele's.

 

[thedudeabides]

My input. I have one in my CJ ET5. Love it. To my ear, sounded better than the EAT product, which is a good sounding tube. I have a 70's version and paid $125 several years ago. Suffice to say, tubes and their sonic signatures are very subjective. Contact Brent Jesse and stay away from the "other guy".

 

[Lampie519]

Philips JAN 6922 / E88CC / ECC88, Balanced - Tubes - Tubes & Amp Parts - tonefactory.nl

 

[Lampie519]

NOS Originalröhren kaufen | Tube Amp Doctor