Hello, I had 6N6P resistor loaded in my decware Zen clone.
It sounds pretty good, dark background, very smooth.
Then I rewired the filaments and tried E80CC - this was brutal improvement. Hard to describe but simply more musical, I cant forget the sound of this tube.
(both tubes something like 290V B+, unbypassed cathode resistor 430 ohms and plate resistor of 20Kohms).
So I became curious. E80CC are expensive so what about to try the ECC99? How it sounds?
Thank very much for answer.
It sounds pretty good, dark background, very smooth.
Then I rewired the filaments and tried E80CC - this was brutal improvement. Hard to describe but simply more musical, I cant forget the sound of this tube.
(both tubes something like 290V B+, unbypassed cathode resistor 430 ohms and plate resistor of 20Kohms).
So I became curious. E80CC are expensive so what about to try the ECC99? How it sounds?
Thank very much for answer.
Yes, this tube I also tried, but not in the same position in driver but instead in my DAC output stage. It was plate loaded with cathode resistor and cap.
Besides better highs it is very similar to 6N6P in this position. But for me not the same musicality that I achieved with E80CC. Or I had bad operating point?
Okay, Im comparing two different tubes in different position, never tried ECC40 as a driver.
Thanks for answer.
Besides better highs it is very similar to 6N6P in this position. But for me not the same musicality that I achieved with E80CC. Or I had bad operating point?
Okay, Im comparing two different tubes in different position, never tried ECC40 as a driver.
Thanks for answer.
I have tried the ECC99 (gold pins version) in a headphone amp. Decent, but nothing special. About the same as the 6N6P.
The E80CC, on the other hand, is a class above in terms of musicality.
Electrically, the E80CC is also completely different compared to ECC99/6N6P, the circuit must be adapted to it, not only the filaments.
The E80CC, on the other hand, is a class above in terms of musicality.
Electrically, the E80CC is also completely different compared to ECC99/6N6P, the circuit must be adapted to it, not only the filaments.
I used sometimes (depends of operating point) E80CC (higher filament current) as ECC82 "substitution".
Not equivalent tubes, but sometimes E80CC works better in place of ECC82/12AU7.
The Tungsram E80CC as preamp/cathode follower was significantly better as even long plate Tungsram E82CC.
Not equivalent tubes, but sometimes E80CC works better in place of ECC82/12AU7.
The Tungsram E80CC as preamp/cathode follower was significantly better as even long plate Tungsram E82CC.
Last edited:
I've used E80CC,s, ECC99's and 12BH7's in one of my amplifiers and it was kind of a toss up between the E80CC and the 12BH7. The ECC99 was kind of average sounding. I'm currently using the an old stock 12BH7. The new manufacturer 12BH7's just aren't the same.
There are various types of 6N6P. Those by Novosibirsk plant produced after 1970 are trash and cost nothing. Try 6N6P by Foton plant from years 1960...1965. These cost like E80CC and could be even better than E80CC. Various 6N6P have different plate design and plate materials.
I agree! I like very much TungSol black plates and early D-getter RCA 12BH7. They sound much better than any 12AU7 I've tried.
Another tip: 6211 GE five-star are amazing. Some can be microphonic and must be rejected, though.
Absolutely right, Vladimir. I have some early 1960s 6N6P-EV - beautifully manufactured, great quality!
I personally like the sound of the E80CC, but it's a completely different tube. I wouldn't use them for the same application, so a direct comparison with the 6N6P is not very meaningful.