Valvo CCa/E88CC - wow!

[AlexM]

For some time I have been looking for a high-quality 6922 for my CJ-ET3 preamp. I have had all sorts of problems finding a tube that is quiet enough, non-microphonic with reasonable long-term reliability. I've tried GL 6922s, various selected EH 6922s, Russian 6N23P-EBs without any success. Despite my better judgement I found myself looking on ebay for any candidates, and I was lucky enough to get a tests-as-new Valvo E88CC for a nice price on the 'bay from a seller in Germany. It's a Philips / Herleen-made CCa tube, with a 7LG delta 0A1 factory code. I believe this is a pretty rare item.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8844/17875282766_ffc613e2b8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tezuNs)valvo CCa -1 (https://flic.kr/p/tezuNs) by alexmastersuk (https://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

I was gutted that when I first put it in my preamp, the left channel had a periodic soft crackle/pop and a little tube rush, which would have had it heading towards the bin, but I left it running for a day, and those noises have completely disappeared. I can only assume that it needed to be run at temperature for the getter to clean up any residual gas - is this common for old valves that have been on the shelf for a very long time?

This is a stellar-sounding 6922/E88CC type valve. It has an amazing 3D mid range, a huge soundstage with real clarity, detail and presence. The bass is firm, tuneful and impactful and it is completely free from any extraneous noises. It makes my previous Tesla e88CC sound quite pedestrian, and that is a nice valve too. My previous EH 6922s, well.. can't see myself using them again.

Regards,
Alex

[CageyH]

I have often wondered about these, but I am currently using Tungsram E88CC which aren't too shabby,

[Barry]

I'm suspicious that they are designating these E88CC/ECC88/6922 valves as "CCa". That designation is unique to the Siemens & Halske "E88CC" valves that have been hand selected for the German PTT.

Looks like Valvo are trying to cash in on the well established reputation of the Siemens CCa valves, which normally go for > £100 apiece.

[AlexM]

I have often wondered about these, but I am currently using Tungsram E88CC which aren't too shabby,

The Hungarian Tungsram E88CC is on my list to try also. It has a very good reputation for tight QC and neutral sound.

Frankly I'm surprised at the extent of the improvement this valve has brought. It is the only one in the signal path in my amp, so there may be less 'blending' of characteristics, but ive got to say this valve is great if you can find a good one for sensible money (i paid less than a GL 6922, so quite pleased about that ☺)

My anp is VERY fussy so it will be broadly compatible... most dont make the grade for me.

Regards,Alex

[User211]

I'm suspicious that they are designating these E88CC/ECC88/6922 valves as "CCa". That designation is unique to the Siemens & Halske "E88CC" valves that have been hand selected for the German PTT.

Looks like Valvo are trying to cash in on the well established reputation of the Siemens CCa valves, which normally go for > £100 apiece.

It might be a Siemens. They used to source from other manufacturers e.g. VALVO, Mullard, Telefunken, Siemens or Philips would do it and shove their own brand names on them.

I had some Siemens CCa and spent a lot of time comparing them to the cross-sword Tesla E88CC. To my mind , ears and system the Teslas won. Still using them. But the cross-swords were expensive and reckoned to be the best Tesla E88CC made.

[BTH K10A]

I'm suspicious that they are designating these E88CC/ECC88/6922 valves as "CCa". That designation is unique to the Siemens & Halske "E88CC" valves that have been hand selected for the German PTT.

Looks like Valvo are trying to cash in on the well established reputation of the Siemens CCa valves, which normally go for > £100 apiece.

It's a common misconception that only Siemens produced valves designated CCa. The German post office procured valves from Telefunken, Lorenz and Valvo as well as Siemens. All ECC88 type valves supplied to the post office were marked CCa to indicate they met the post office specs.

The Siemens A frame valves from the 60's & 70's are certainly the most common leading to another misconception that to be a CCa the valve must have an A frame. Not so as the earlier 1950's Siemens CCa's (which are supposedly the best of the bunch) did not have an A frame

The Valvo CCa above certainly looks to be the real deal to me.

[AlexM]

Hi Barry,

I did a quick bit of google 'research', and it appears that Philips did indeed produce very small quantities of CCas in their Heerlen plant, branded as Valvos Heerlen and supplied to the german bundespost. They are apparently exceptionally rare (maybe to rare to be real?)

The part code 7lg delta 301 identifies them as a 6922 màde in Heerlen in 1960 (if I am decoding correctly), which would be correct.

Some info on CCa types at http://www.tubeworld.com/6922.htm

Regards,
Alex

[AlexM]

I also have a Tesla Rosnov E88CC made in 1977, and it is a fantastic valve. Very balanced sound, natural sounding mids with very good detail and extended bass. They are also very quiet and dont suffer from Microphony at all. I bought mine from Peter Cruh at Edicron, who selected a sample with very closely matched sections, and provided excellent service throughout.

Edicron still have stock, and prices for them are very reasonable at round £25 and they represent great value. I think i will get a pair of gold frame grid Teslas as spares before they are they are hunted to extinction and prices get stupid. As i said, I'd also like to try the Tungsram. I think they are all very good devices, but there is quite a lot of variation in how they sound.

The Valvo CCa is just fantastic though.. it just has no weaknesses at all. Great bass, holographic imaging, airy mids, all the detail you could want and a smooth treble. Its a shame they are so rare and very expensive. Well worth seeking out IMHO..

Regards,
Alex

[struth]

Valvo were always very good valves back in the 60's. I actually have some of their ecf80's on their way to me as my tungsram order fell through.

[Barry]

It's a common misconception that only Siemens produced valves designated CCa. The German post office procured valves from Telefunken, Lorenz and Valvo as well as Siemens. All ECC88 type valves supplied to the post office were marked CCa to indicate they met the post office specs.

The Siemens A frame valves from the 60's & 70's are certainly the most common leading to another misconception that to be a CCa the valve must have an A frame. Not so as the earlier 1950's Siemens CCa's (which are supposedly the best of the bunch) did not have an A frame

The Valvo CCa above certainly looks to be the real deal to me.


Hi Barry,

I did a quick bit of google 'research', and it appears that Philips did indeed produce very small quantities of CCas in their Heerlen plant, branded as Valvos Heerlen and supplied to the german bundespost. They are apparently exceptionally rare (maybe to rare to be real?)

The part code 7lg delta 301 identifies them as a 6922 màde in Heerlen in 1960 (if I am decoding correctly), which would be correct.

Some info on CCa types at http://www.tubeworld.com/6922.htm

Thanks Guys,

It seems I was a bit too quick to dismiss these CCa valves as being genuine: there are a lot of forgeries out there. My only experience has been with a pair of genuine Siemens & Halske CCa valves I bought a couple of years ago for £50 (a bargain at the time), for use in an MC head amp I was building at the time. In the end I preferred to use a pair of NOS Mullard E88CC valves in their place. :sofa:

[AlexM]

Hi Barry, that's fine - no sofa required :). Reputations count for little, and it is how well something works in your application that counts.

The Mullard SQ ECC88s seem to be in good supply, and start at under £20. I might have to give them a try. My amp runs it's 6922s at high gain, so noise and microphony are exacerbated greatly... are your Mullards a quiet tube?.

Regards,
Alex

[CageyH]

£20?

Any chance of a link?

[AlexM]

Kevin,

Here are some that I found earlier:

http://www.mullardmagic.co.uk/ecc88-6dj8-e88cc-cv2492-cca-6922-7308-gold-pinned-twin-triodes-various-manufacturers

Regards,
Alex

[CageyH]

Superb, thanks Alex.

[Barry]

Hi Barry, that's fine - no sofa required :). Reputations count for little, and it is how well something works in your application that counts.

The Mullard SQ ECC88s seem to be in good supply, and start at under £20. I might have to give them a try. My amp runs it's 6922s at high gain, so noise and microphony are exacerbated greatly... are your Mullards a quiet tube?.

Regards,
Alex

It is important to distinguish between the Mullard ECC88 and the Mullard E88CC. They are not quite the same: the ECC88 is the standard general purpose double triode, the E88CC is the same design but built to a higher standard and underwent more testing with a tighter tolerance on parameters; and hence a higher quality control rejection rate.

I used the E88CCs in a MC head amp and was satisfied with the noise level. The heaters were DC powered (I used batteries for both the heaters and the 30V "HT" rail), the valves mounted in anti-microphonic valve bases and the whole enclosed in a metal case. If I can find it I'll post some pictures.

At the end of the day however, I was content to use solid-state designs (one of which was a DIY effort) and found them to be more convenient in my set up.

Regards

[AlexM]

Barry is quite right. Tesla reverse that appelation for some reason, and I forgot the correct convention. Mullard also use an 'SQ' designation for long life tubes that also usually have gold pins. I dont think there is non-SQ version with gold pins although i stand to be corrected..