Why not use an ECC88 ? There is new production available
If you want Mullard and NOS and don't want to pay more than £10, and don't mind the fact that it is specced for an interminable 10,000hours and has nasty gold pins, then I wonder why ECC2000 never gets a mention. The Decal socket is a nuisance I suppose, but there are some other interesting tubes that use that socket.
Billingtons in the UK has them. £8.50 in bulk. Otherwise I agree with Peter, they do not seem to be as prevalent as I thought, not quite 'as rare as rocking horse manure'.
There were some interesting tubes developed at the very end of hollow state.
There were some interesting tubes developed at the very end of hollow state.
I bought a few from Billingtons I think it was. I want to build something with a PCL200 one day. Pentode part compared to a D3a on this site that examines the curves and distortion MV Audio Labs
Another option for NOS equivalents is to look for PCC88, and work with the slight heater voltage difference. They are appreciating in value but still can be had reasonably.
A triode connected penthode that comes close to an ecc88 is the EF 183 (12,5 ma\v and mug2g1=40)
I don't have datasheet available now, but I remember that soviet 6J38P is quite close to ECC88 if transconductance and mu is concerned.
ECC2000 looks great for one off DIY builds.
Maybe the E55L, that will by more expensive.
EC2010 is interesting to look at.
Maybe the E55L, that will by more expensive.
EC2010 is interesting to look at.
I didn't propose the EF 184 because its mu g2g1 is 60 which too different from the ECC 88 mu (33). The EF 183 mug2g1 (40) is much closer and apart from that its gm (12,5 ma/v) is identical to that of the 88. I purposely didn't suggest any other triodes because that's not what the op asked for.