Bigbottle Audio BB3 valve rolling

[CageyH]

That is why I went for a cheaper valve first. Something completely different.
There is a difference between the valves, but it is not massive, certainly not €150 big.

[CageyH]

Listening on fairly neutral headphones last night confirmed three is a difference in the sound is the ECC83 when running Siemens PCC88 in the V1 and V3 positions. Things like my Mazda triple Micra sopilver plate sounded leaner than the Brimar CV4004, and also appeared to have a little more air around the instruments.

The differences may be more obvious with a different PCC88, so I will try them later.

I am still not convinced that I need a €150 valve though. It has been stated on the inter web on a few sites that the Mazda is very similar sounding to the TFK ECC803S. How true this is, I have no way of knowing.

[Jimbo]

I found the Brimar has a full fat midrange and great with vocals but this was comparing 12BH7a tube. The ECC83 has the same characteristics though. I think Brimar were had a sound in between Mullards and TFK/Tesla.

Not tried a Mazda but I have read reports they sound great.

[CageyH]

Mazda sell for silly money now, as do most valves, it seems.

[Jimbo]

Mazda sell for silly money now, as do most valves, it seems.

I don't know why they have all gone up in price but it maybe the younger headphone brigade who are using a lot of small headphone tube amps?

[CageyH]

I am giving up on looking for better valves.
I think I am deaf.

I now have a Matsushita 7DJ8 in V1, a triple mica 6N2P in V2 and a Philips PCC189 in V3 and it is subtly different.

What have I learnt from this little exercise? The BB3 sounds good with almost any valve combination I throw at it, with subtle changes in the sound.

The recent tests have been using my XX2, into the BB3, feeding the Topping Pre 90, into the Solo UL headphone amp and Sennheisser HD540 reference headphones.

[CageyH]

I don't know why they have all gone up in price but it maybe the younger headphone brigade who are using a lot of small headphone tube amps?

I think people are cashing in on the demand.

[CageyH]

I have now gone back to some decent valves, Siemens PCC88 and the Brimar CV4004, and the difference with the PCC88, 6N2P and PCC189 is obvious, but I have switched back to MI/MM. I don’t think a €150 valve is going to give me much more though.
It is time to bolt the lid back on, and enjoy the music.

[Jimbo]

I ought to try some Siemens.

[CageyH]

Today a Silver Plate Mazda 12AX7A got delivered, as my old Mazda 12AX7S “went cloudy”.
This one has the following codes - VI-2, 6210, AXA, so French made.

I am just waiting for 4 spare RSD (Tunsgram manufacture, I believe) PCC88 to arrive, as I got the 4 cheap.
That should do me for a while….