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Best 6DJ8 tubes?

I have a Carver C-19 pre and SDA/490t cd, both use 6DJ8 tubes. Both units were recently serviced and had Sovtek tubes installed. The tubes in the cd player only have about 10 hrs on them, but the sound isn't nearly as warm as it was before replacing the stock tubes. I was wondering if anyone could recommend the best brand I could use, if 6922's would improve the sound, and the standard burn in time for the new tubes.
skipf
elevick
2,636 posts
 
Anything will sound better than what you've got. For budget ones, try Gold Dragons.
eee3
214 posts
 
New tubes take between 75-100hrs. to fully break-in. and even after that the sovteks are still not going to sound that good. If money is not an issue, nos tubes will sound the best. Particularly amperex 6dj8's made in holland in the early to mid 1960's and of course the siemens-halski are suppose to be the best of the best. Unfortunately, the prices are very high(anywhere from $200-$300 pr.)sometimes you can find for $150 pr.
As was mentioned before the electro harmonix's are not bad for current production tubes also, the 6h23 russian tubes are not bad for the money either($27.95 a piece) but for my money the matsushita 6dj8's are the best of the lot after the amperex, siemen's mullard's and they can be had for $30 a piece from the the Tubemonger.
vett93
205 posts
 
I like my Telefunken 6DJ8s. They replaced Siemens/RCA 7308 gold pins.
rello
311 posts
 
Has anyone used and has an opinion of the EAT new production tubes?
larryken
537 posts
 
disagree with post about tube break in.....IMO there's nothing to break in....tubes only start deteriorating the moment you use them until they eventually fail. For NOS 6DJ8 I liked orange label Holland Amperex.....full bodied sound with good detail. Cheaper alternative is cryo EH 6922, but thats not a 6DJ8 but is replacement like the 7308.
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