Telefunken vacuum tube E88CC-TK; NOS versus brand new.

The primary reason for my confidence in stating that, if not for the lower noise floor of the CCa Siemens, the E88CC and E188CC's all sound virtually identical, is the fact that the BAT CDP has allowed me to hear every nuance, of every tube auditioned.   That always held true by changing just one pair, out of the three pairs it takes.     The personality of the BAT was changed dramatically (not a statement I make lightly, or- often), from the Sovteks that were stock, with any NOS tubes I tried.    The closest I ever came, to the presentation of the Siemens CCa, was an early Sixties, Amperex Navy, 7308, pair.    But; they warmed thing up, a bit more than I like.   Bottom line, regarding NOS Siemens; if you want the transparency, texture, freq extension (in both directions) and ambience info recovery of the early CCa (what buyers have valued about them and Teles, for decades): the 88's and 188's will deliver, for a lot less $$.    If you need super low noise (for pre or phono), have them tested.

All of this information is ever so helpful; I am strongly anticipating a change in my present financial condition; that will allow me to try more tubes with your recommendations.

According to the old stories, HP used to hire co-op students to test their E88CC's etc. and reject 98% of them. A percent or two got to bear the HP logo. Those tubes populated the instruments that sent men to the moon.

They sound better than the rest, as you would expect. Used to cost the earth, now no-one remembers what they really were. Major bargain.

Best of all were those made and selected for HP by TFK. I bought a sleeve of E88CC's, three of which still bear the TFK and HP seals. Never heard a tube close to them, and that includes pinched Amperex, TekTronix, etc.