Amperex 6922 overkill?

Before spending that INFLATED PRICE for amperexes get decent pair or whatever to see if you like the sound FIRST.
These people Are really making a killing on the "NOS" tubes Dont be stupid.

I have an AN 1.1 DAC and recommend that you first try the Ei Elite 6DJ8 ... it is a very similar tube to the Amperex house sound and will work fine in the AN. Where they don't work well is in high-stress preamps like Audio Research, eats those old Amperexes alive.

I have a large stash of old white label 6922s (even 1959 D-getters), Bugle Boys, Orange Globes, etc. and can tell you that, in this application, the Ei will serve you very well.

Next try a relatively inexpensive source for Amperex Orange Globe 6DJ8s like Brent Jesse.

$400 for any tube is overkill. I agree with illenema2. Plus I would be concerned about how 'new' in terms of tube use the nos were. IMO this is where 'audio' merges into 'wine' and that's fine, but it's not the same hobby anymore at that point. Good luck!