Fred,

[Thatch_Ear]

Since you have had time to listen at home for a while now, I would like an opinion on how the GE 6DJ8s sound. I can't remember what the others were that you had in the Ella, but a comparison would be great.
Don't write nice things just to be nice as I really want to know all the good and bad about them. If you haven't used them after the 1st hearing, that is a statement in itself.
RuSsMan, if you read this, you too. You got the best for your Golden Tubes pre and know you have Bugle Boys, plus other new tubes from 3rd world countries.
We need some comments from some users, ears are depending on you guys.

[fredt300b]

I had left the GE's in the Ella and hadn't thought about it since the meeting, but after reading your post I listened to all three tube pairs (NOS GE 6DJ8, NOS Jan Philips 6922, and new Electro Harmonix 6922). Bottom line: I couldn't hear any difference at all.

P.S. This is not the first time I have failed to hear a difference where others did. Take a look at http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/events/messages/53.html Page down to the Houston Audio Club Nov 1 Meeting post. It's pretty clear this guy thought he heard a difference. I was there and I couldn't hear s*** for difference between all those cables, even between the $80 and $500 ones. Others at the meeting said they heard a difference, but often the difference they described was not the same. Go figure.:dunno:

[Thatch_Ear]

Those GEs were not NOS, I pulled them out of a Tek scope that was a junker. They are labelled 6DJ8s but if you put a light behind them you can see a plate dividing the 2 sections which puts them into the mil/industrial class od 6922s.
As far as your hearing goes you might not hear everything that is there or pick apart all the correct things in the sound, but I know you well enough to know that you hear everything that is not correct.
I am trying to get a feel for the sound quality of these GEs. Everyone is wild about the Syl JANs and the Amperex Bugle Boys, but the Bugle Boys supposedly are short lived and not extremely reliable (I am sure someone has some that have been used daily for 25 years!). I know the GEs are rugged or they wouldn't meet specs to go into Tek scopes. Just didn't know if they sounded any good.
Thanks for the report Fred.

[fredt300b]

Originally posted by Thatch_Ear
As far as your hearing goes you might not hear everything that is there or pick apart all the correct things in the sound, but I know you well enough to know that you hear everything that is not correct.


I agree. My "audio memory" seems to be no better than my other memory - seems like I have more and more senior moments every day. By the time I have turned off the amp, let the B+ subside a bit, replaced the tubes, and let it warm up again for a minute or so, it's unlikely that I will hear any differences unless the replacement tubes are problematic.