[paul79]

Favorite tubes I've tried....

Signal tubes:
Mullard 10M 12AX7
GE 5751 (black plates)
CBS 7318 (12AU7)
6H30 Sovtek or old stock DR's. They sound the same to me, and I even slightly prefer the Sovtek's in my preamp.

Rectifiers:
GZ34 Mullard

Output tubes:
Penta Labs KT88 (same as the preferred series KT88 at Tube Store)
Tung Sol 6550 Black Plate
Canada Fuller KT88's

[Ericus Rex]

Of the new production power tubes my favorites are the Genelex KT66 and KT88 and the Tung Sol KT120.  All three sound quite good in my equipment.  The GL KT66 beats out every other 6L6 type I've tried and I have quite a few new production as well as some JAN Philips.  I haven't tried the revered Penta KT88 but I have tried Shugy's and some other Russian 88s and 6550s.  The GL beat them all in my equipment.  I'd love to try some NOS 88s/6550s but I haven't won the lottery yet.  No competition yet for the KT120 but that tube sounds killer in my Rogue ST-100.  I wish I could recommend a great new production EL34 but I haven't found it yet...and I've tried a bunch!  The GL KT66 beat them all in my Quicksilver GLA. 

Many, many good choices for NOS 9pins.  I just got some Raytheon 12AX7 blackplates and some GE 5751 blackplates to mess around with.  Should be fun!

[paul79]

You should give the Penta Labs KT88's a try... I like them more than any of the new production KT88's in my rig.

[jimdgoulding]

I certainly would like to encourage you bottle heads to give opinions and, hey, for you more experienced chaps, reviews of pre amp tubes.  I'm currently using some Matshuchita (er, dunno bout that spelling) 6922's in my ARC LS7 line stage and am having a hard them finding new ones.  I wouldn't be opposed to trying another brand if someone thinks there is good reason why I should.  What's yer context and experience?  Thanks.   

[Ericus Rex]

Jim,

If you want to stick with the Matsushitas, then look for something like 'Raytheon - Made in Japan' or 'Baldwin - Made in Japan' etc.  Chances are they are rebranded Matsushitas.  Here are some branded "National" on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matsushita-6922-E88cc-Tube-Valve-NOS-/300955469572?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item4612580704

...listing says local pickup only but he does say in the body he will post.  Price seems good so long as they're properly tested.



I don't have any equipment that uses the 6922/6DJ8 but I do have a tube buddy who always raved about the Tungsram tubes.  He did say you have to pick carefully as they can be noisy but he always loved the sound of them.  TC tubes has some low noise phono grade in stock:

http://tctubes.com/Tungsram-E88CC-6922-phono-grade.aspx


I'd also take a look at the Sylvania gold pin 6922s TC tubes has.  I'd imagine they'd be comparable to the Matsushitas...possibly even a little cleaner sounding:

http://tctubes.com/Sylvania-JAN-6922-6DJ8-ECC88-gold-pins.aspx

[S Clark]

I certainly would like to encourage you bottle heads to give opinions and, hey, for you more experienced chaps, reviews of pre amp tubes.  I'm currently using some Matshuchita (er, dunno bout that spelling) 6922's in my ARC LS7 line stage and am having a hard them finding new ones.  I wouldn't be opposed to trying another brand if someone thinks there is good reason why I should.  What's yer context and experience?  Thanks.   

6922 is what came in my Dodd preamp.  The stock tubes were JJ's, and were detailed, but lacked the soundstage depth that a pair of more expensive Orange Globe Amperex offered.  But honestly they were pretty darned good, and cheap.  At this site they are about $12 each, extra for hand selected and measured.
http://www.tubedepot.com/jj-e88cc.html

I also see where another AC member used Amperex and EH in that preamp.  http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=110637.0