will
|
Hey Lon,
That is what I have always thought of as an A-frame getter, the A shape holding the getter. I have PCC88s, ECC88s, and PCC189s like this (and have seen E88CCs with A-frames).
These Lorenz do look Phillips made. You can see the Heerlen Holland symbol on your right pair, 2nd line of the date codes... a triangle with the right side and bottom forming a right angle, indicating Heerlen. For Mullard Blackburn they use a B beginning the 2nd line, and R for the Mullard Mitcham plant. Confusing things a little for me, Mullard (and others) did hook up with Philips pretty early, Philips tech and tubes getting mixed between companies and countries. But I think the date codes identify the specific plant and dates.
Looks like lots of the available PCC189s are these. I have some labelled Mullard that say made in Holland and have the Heerlen code. Also, I have some 60's PCC88 (labelled Philips) and 60's ECC88 (labelled Amperex), both Holland made, and looking like the same shape and construction. The sound is very similar between the three, and likely I don't have enough time on the PCC189s, but now the PCC88 and ECC88 are a little bigger/spacious/richer, with a little more developed space, fine detail and textures, especially the Amperex ECC88.
I agree though, the A-frame PCC189s sound really good...solid, nicely balanced, revealing, spacious, and pretty smooth. The distinctive quality I get from these is subtle, but solid describes it. Mine sound just a little rigid, but I suspect burnin. Even just playing them enough to warm through I have no doubt I could happily use them. But I have been doing so many mods on my amps and DAC over the last months, for consistency I have stuck mostly with my usual tubes as reference, so have not taken enough time to fully burn in some of the newer tubes.
For a long time now, these "usual" inputs are hallow getter IEC/Mullard labelled ECC88s...or CBS labelled 6DJ8 that are Siemens made ECC88s, having the same construction and fundamental character. Both are supposed to be late fifties/early 60s.
The IEC/Mullards say made in Great Britain, but like the CBS, they have the Siemens (Germany) date code symbol (like an = sign with a vertical slash down through the center). These are very nicely balanced tubes that are also very solid, but with amazing space.... revealing... rich in textures and harmonic information. The ambient information rising from empty space is exceptional. Off-label tubes, they can be found pretty inexpensive also, though not the bargain PCC189 and ECC189 currently are. I think I paid about 60 for a pair.
Based on your experience, and after trying a couple, I have been picking up some more 189s also as I find interesting pairs at good prices. Philips Miniwatt ECC189 with hallow getters and F on the date code (I think French/Radiotechnique) are closer to the Siemens ECC88, a bit "bigger" and more spacious than the PCC189 A-frames. Hallow getter Adzam labelled ECC189, with the Heerlen symbol, go a little further, a little clearer/bigger/more spacious variation on the theme. Right now they are much like the Siemens-made ECC88s, but not quite as complex (at least at this stage of burnin).
Then there are the RFT PCC189s with hallow getters. Again lacking full burnin, they are slightly subdued, but very nice tubes once warmed through. Opening up a bit more, they will be really good, nicely balanced, but likely more about texture and fine detail than the solidity of the A-frames. They are really good on timing too...slowing the sense of pace.
Similar in fine detail, but increasing it, Siemens PCC189 (with a copper wire getter riser to a hallow getter) are quite complete sounding, revealing amazing depth of information. Similar to earlier Siemens PCC88s (some labelled Telefunken, like Upscale's) with the same getter setup...fine detail excels. These tubes show that interesting timing thing also...sounding like they relax the pace, something I associate with excellent space between note delivery...quiet. My system/room is very refined in terms of allowing complete detail without much edge, and I like these tubes quite a lot. But of all the above tubes, these Siemens PCC189s are the most about detail in the balance. There is still some warmth, and bass is there, but like their sibling Siemens PCC88s, the detail of these tubes could be too much depending on system/room. Or they could open the lid on a duller system/room. Listening now to Tomasz Stanko "Dark Eyes" album, where high piano notes and high trumpet notes can tend to piercing, these notes sound very revealing and a little intense (as intended), but pretty smooth. Like I said though, I have been working for years to reveal excellent space and detail without pain.
So this is hair splitting with nice tubes, and based on my system and tastes, but I thank you Lon for trying these tubes and telling us about them. I chose carefully for good matches and scores, and for construction matching, but all of them fit well with my family preferences for the more textural and spacious ECC88 or PCC88s (over 6922/E88CCs more defined and "correct" sound tendency). Just some quick rolling around impressions, but I like them all and feel like I could easily fine-tune to any of them and be happy.
A factor in this for me, and I think for you Lon, has been progressive efforts for system/room balancing over a long time, with good parts/material/design balancing toward synergy that allows more music to sound great. This does not have to be dulling down the system, but can be just getting to the right balances in all areas so that the system is not particularly biased for specific music, instead being accepting of a relatively broad range of recordings.
Finally, after trying to balance and refine the system/room over and over again, I am finding things can come together in ways that bring out the best of about any tube, and without sacrifice to detail and space. The contrary in fact. My system is more revealing than ever of space and fine detail....well really, more revealing and natural sounding across the spectrum. I just am amazed at how it can keep getting better.
|