Bigbottle Audio BB3 valve rolling

[CageyH]

It seems that the PCC88 are actually Tesla manufacture. Still a good result for what I paid for them.
They look identical to my Tesla, and don’t have the “date plates” associated with Tungsram valves.

[CageyH]

Today the postie delivered something a bit special.
A CIFTE 12AX7S triple mica, chrome plate valve.
The BB3 now has a full compliment of CIFTE valves, and is sounding mighty fine.

I really should stop valve shopping now.

[Jimbo]

Kinda addictive valve rolling?

[CageyH]

I always wanted to try a chrome plate triple mica, and now I have.

[CageyH]

I always wanted to try a chrome plate triple mica, and now I have.

Actually, this is my second one. The first one died, and went cloudy.

[CageyH]

And today a “new” ECC83 arrived.
A Philips “I65” Herleen manufactured tube, from January 1962 if I have the Delta2A4 code correct.

A bargain for the €14 it cost me.

And now with the Philips Herleen PCC88 in the BB3, it sounds great. A nice combination of valves.

[CageyH]

It has been 11 months since I changed the valves in my BB3. I think that is a new record for me.
I have also not looked at buying any more valves since the Philips ECC83 above. Also a record for me.

The Philips we’re doing a great job, but I changed back to the CIFTE combo today, as I was inside the case on dust removal duties.
Temptation got the better of me.

[CageyH]

First day of a week long holiday.
Just chilling out after changing a brake caliper on one of the pony club vans.

With the advent of AI, I thought I would feed it a list of what valves I have and try the recommendations.
The fist on the list - Cifte triple mica 12AX7s silver plate + S&H PCC88 "grave diggers". Far too bright for me, so did not stay long. I need to let them warm up a bit.
2nd on the list, Cifte above with Tesla "32" PCC88. Sounds great.
Extended listen planned for this afternoon.

It is dull outside, and I am on my own in the house, so what else am I supposed to do?

[User211]

Tesla yellow print gold pin 32 factory code PCC88s - very, very hard to better. As are most of their small signal valves.

They also made some freaking awesome larger triodes like AD1(n) and RD27AS. Both of which I use in my DAC.

[CageyH]

I agree the Tesla are hard to better, but it is all about the synergy and balance in this particular use case.

After having fed Gemini a list of my valves, the system breakdown it suggested a mix I had not tried until now.
Yellow print Tungsram ECC83 foil + Siemens PCC88. Apparently this is the ultimate synergy setup, with maximum drive & holographic balance.
Time will tell....
The Tungsgram is a bit special.
Initial impressions are good, but I will probably end up with the RT 12AX7S and Miniwatt PCC88 from Heerlen. There is just something about the combination that just works well together.

The reason I am revisiting this is due to the output capacitor change a while ago.