Tube types

@jea48 thank you for the link. There's a lot for me to learn...

@dill thanks for the link. Never heard of them... they sound like a bargain if the performance is that good.

@wlutke thanks; I appreciate posting your experiences. 

@rodman99999 good to know that switching just one of the tubes in my pre to a premium would make a big difference. 

I also(as wlutke) owned an ARC SP-9, some decades back.    I ended up with a Siemens E188CC, in it's main gain circuit.   Hadn't tried a CCa yet, back then.    Every tube, tried in that pre(there were a number), made a distinct difference in the system's presentation.  Of course, some more profound, and better/worse, than others    Again: so many variables!

Every tube, tried in that pre(there were a number), made a distinct difference in the system's presentation.  

Which one impressed you the most?

The E188CC was my favorite. I think I still have a couple, in my stash, as well as a couple Amperex. After listening to a few different CCa’s, the grey shields became my nine-pin miniature of choice. My CDP takes six. Glad I bought a few spares, before the supply dwindled and the prices increased.

+1 on the Matsushita 7DJ8  I use those myself and they sound great and are very strong and rugged. My preamp uses 6 6dj8 types so always looking for a good NOS tube that's a good value this fits the bill perfectly.