EAT Tubes vs. NOS Tubes

[mep]

Are you simply paying a service to EAT for buying NOS 6922 tubes, screening and testing them, and then sticking them inside a crate so you can't tell what type of 6922 you have?

 

[LL21]

Are you simply paying a service to EAT for buying NOS 6922 tubes, screening and testing them, and then sticking them inside a crate so you can't tell what type of 6922 you have?

That and they put the EAT tube dampers on (which you can buy separately). So possibly a fair observation. That said, if the EAT tube performs as well as comparably expensive NOS tubes...where we are essentially paying the seller for sourcing, measuring and selling the NOS tube, as far as I am concerned...its the same and worth it.

I do not put value personally into the fact that it is an older, rarer tube...I am only buying these for their performance.

And the other benefit is that if EAT are consistently good across the board, that is also useful since (personally) I have found variation in NOS tubes and noise even from the same source...and I have been to 3-4 of the recommended sources.

 

[mep]

That and they put the EAT tube dampers on (which you can buy separately). So possibly a fair observation. That said, if the EAT tube performs as well as comparably expensive NOS tubes...where we are essentially paying the seller for sourcing, measuring and selling the NOS tube, as far as I am concerned...its the same and worth it.

I do not put value personally into the fact that it is an older, rarer tube...I am only buying these for their performance.

And the other benefit is that if EAT are consistently good across the board, that is also useful since (personally) I have found variation in NOS tubes and noise even from the same source...and I have been to 3-4 of the recommended sources.

You will find all of the same problems can exist with the EAT tubes as well because they are chasing the same pile of NOS 6922 tubes that everyone else is. I was calling the tube dampers "the crates" in my above post by the way. The problem with all small signal tubes (and it's more of a problem when they are used in high-gain phono sections) is that you never know when they are going to go noisy. They can be *perfect* one day and drive you nuts the next day. I used to get nervous every time I unmuted my tube preamp when turning it on for the first time on any given day.

And having said that, I'm starting to miss tubes. I achieved my goal of having a SS system with a super low noise floor that I didn't have to cross my fingers that it would be quiet when I turned the system on, but I do believe it comes at the expense of some of the life, flesh, and blood that tubes give you and my SS (notice I didn't say yours) just can't quite obtain.

 

[LL21]

You will find all of the same problems can exist with the EAT tubes as well because they are chasing the same pile of NOS 6922 tubes that everyone else is. I was calling the tube dampers "the crates" in my above post by the way. The problem with all small signal tubes (and it's more of a problem when they are used in high-gain phono sections) is that you never know when they are going to go noisy. They can be *perfect* one day and drive you nuts the next day. I used to get nervous every time I unmuted my tube preamp when turning it on for the first time on any given day.

And having said that, I'm starting to miss tubes. I achieved my goal of having a SS system with a super low noise floor that I didn't have to cross my fingers that it would be quiet when I turned the system on, but I do believe it comes at the expense of some of the life, flesh, and blood that tubes give you and my SS (notice I didn't say yours) just can't quite obtain.

Good to know, thanks. I will say I am extremely happy with my system as is today, and I have in my 'mind's ear' what I have been looking for...and just about found it now. So I am not a fan of trying to go SS for the Preamp in order to get total silence. I am thus just looking for a tube that is super quiet that does not change the tonality of the system...fortunately the GAT is not nearly as sensitive to tube rolling as the Zanden, so fingers crossed, we should be okay on that score. we shall see...

 

[thedudeabides]

Are you simply paying a service to EAT for buying NOS 6922 tubes, screening and testing them, and then sticking them inside a crate so you can't tell what type of 6922 you have?

With all due respect, why does all of that matter if you like the sound of this tube and you believe it offers good value for the money?

Color me confused.

 

[zztop7]

I think most of the posts are going to give these tubes >complexes<, therefore none of them will perform properly.

zz.

 

[mep]

With all due respect, why does all of that matter if you like the sound of this tube and you believe it offers good value for the money?

Color me confused.

If you are happy with the price they are charging you, it doesn't matter. Good value?? Again, that goes back to being happy with the price they are charging you. Is EAT charging more or less than what Kevin Deal charges for his premium NOS 6922 tubes that have been selected for the lowest noise? My original point is that if EAT isn't manufacturing the 6922 tubes they are selling, they are just one more company that is offering NOS 6922 tubes for sale at premium prices.

 

[thedudeabides]

Point made.

Good value? Yes, unless you know something about my system that I don't.

Any other comments?

 

[LL21]

If you are happy with the price they are charging you, it doesn't matter. Good value?? Again, that goes back to being happy with the price they are charging you. Is EAT charging more or less than what Kevin Deal charges for his premium NOS 6922 tubes that have been selected for the lowest noise? My original point is that if EAT isn't manufacturing the 6922 tubes they are selling, they are just one more company that is offering NOS 6922 tubes for sale at premium prices.

That is why I am waiting to hear what Myles discovers since I think he has Telefunken 6922 NOS tubes...I would love to hear what he thinks. If he finds the EATs blow away his current experiences with premium NOS tubes (and he has heard a lot), then the price will apparently be worth it...they are more than [some] NOS tubes but not all I suspect. However, if he finds them 'par' and we can get some cheaper from Kevin...well, lets just say I have the Send button ready on an order from Kevin now...

 

[mep]

Point made.

Good value? Yes, unless you know something about my system that I don't.

Any other comments?

Nope. I guess you got it locked down now. I'm still confused whether or not EAT has ever manufactured a 6922/6DJ8 tube or not. Some say yes, others say no. I went to Galen Carol's website and read his marketing blurb and that marketing blurb leads you to believe that they are manufacturing their own tube. However, they are quoting Mil Specs which simply aren't being used anymore but would have been used back in the day when the military was actually buying 6922/6DJ8 tubes. You can see that blurb here: https://www.gcaudio.com/cgi-bin/store/showProduct.cgi?id=502

If I was in the market to buy a 6922, I would give these serious consideration: http://www.upscaleaudio.com/telefunken-e88cc/

I'm just not a fan of buying a tube hidden inside a glued on crate that keeps me from seeing what type of tube I actually bought. It could be a Sovtek 6922 lurking inside that crate for all you know. Again, if the EAT tubes fetched $500 each and they make you happy that could still represent good value to you and that's all that matters.

 

[LL21]

Nope. I guess you got it locked down now. I'm still confused whether or not EAT has ever manufactured a 6922/6DJ8 tube or not. Some say yes, others say no. I went to Galen Carol's website and read his marketing blurb and that marketing blurb leads you to believe that they are manufacturing their own tube. However, they are quoting Mil Specs which simply aren't being used anymore but would have been used back in the day when the military was actually buying 6922/6DJ8 tubes. You can see that blurb here: https://www.gcaudio.com/cgi-bin/store/showProduct.cgi?id=502

If I was in the market to buy a 6922, I would give these serious consideration: http://www.upscaleaudio.com/telefunken-e88cc/

I'm just not a fan of buying a tube hidden inside a glued on crate that keeps me from seeing what type of tube I actually bought. It could be a Sovtek 6922 lurking inside that crate for all you know. Again, if the EAT tubes fetched $500 each and they make you happy that could still represent good value to you and that's all that matters.

Thanks, MEP...those are the Tele's I am thinking of getting this week...hoping Myles weighs in first...but fortunately the GAT has not proven too sensitive to tube rolling...I am really focused on the noise...and getting something super super quiet.

 

[mep]

Thanks, MEP...those are the Tele's I am thinking of getting this week...hoping Myles weighs in first...but fortunately the GAT has not proven too sensitive to tube rolling...I am really focused on the noise...and getting something super super quiet.

Hard to see how you could go wrong with those tubes Lloyd. They are the real deal, no BS NOS Telefunken and the price will surely rise sooner rather than later.

 

[MylesBAstor]

From the horses mouth.

I have a quick question that's come up. Are the EAT ECC88/6922 tubes that you folks sell a brand new tube or a NOS tube to which you add a tube damper?

Thanks,

Dear Astor,

Thank you for your e-mail. Yes, they are brand new.

My best regards. Jozefina

 

[mep]

From the horses mouth.

I have a quick question that's come up. Are the EAT ECC88/6922 tubes that you folks sell a brand new tube or a NOS tube to which you add a tube damper?

Thanks,

Dear Astor,

Thank you for your e-mail. Yes, they are brand new.

My best regards. Jozefina

The horse's mouth didn't really answer the question IMO. He just said they are "new" and didn't say they are manufacturing them.

 

[MylesBAstor]

The horse's mouth didn't really answer the question IMO. He just said they are "new" and didn't say they are manufacturing them.

She.

Well this is Scott's comments on the KT88s/300Bs that are made in the old Tesla factory and assembled in Switzerland.

http://www.euroaudioteam.com/c2/dow...-tubes-all-bottled-up-web-exclusive-d0020.pdf

Sonically the ECC803S is not a Russian or Chinese tube by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[mep]

She.

Well this is Scott's comments on the KT88s/300Bs that are made in the old Tesla factory and assembled in Switzerland.

http://www.euroaudioteam.com/c2/dow...-tubes-all-bottled-up-web-exclusive-d0020.pdf

Sonically the ECC803S is not a Russian or Chinese tube by any stretch of the imagination.

That article is over 10 years old. So the old Tesla factory does all of the *dirty* manufacturing (think EPA nightmare stuff) and then the parts are shipped to Switzerland for final assembly. Again, this is only for power output tubes as we/I haven't seen any proof that EAT is actually manufacturing a 6922 variant. Is the process for manufacturing EAT tubes in the 2003 article still valid today?

 

[MylesBAstor]

Some interesting shots from the EAT factory.

http://www.euroaudioteam.com/c2/downloads/eat-factory-tour-d0029.pdf

 

[mep]

Some interesting shots from the EAT factory.

http://www.euroaudioteam.com/c2/downloads/eat-factory-tour-d0029.pdf

Checked it out. It looks like no two KT-88s will ever have the same shape due to the glass being blown by a human.

 

[LL21]

Hard to see how you could go wrong with those tubes Lloyd. They are the real deal, no BS NOS Telefunken and the price will surely rise sooner rather than later.

Thanks...very tempting indeed. Other than a sanity check on EATs, I think these are a winner for me and I will go for them. Thanks again. There are so many tubes and tube sources out there...I think these Teles from Kevin is the way to go.

 

[thedudeabides]

Checked it out. It looks like no two KT-88s will ever have the same shape due to the glass being blown by a human.

With all due respect, do you have an axe to grind with EAT?

Seems as if you always find / look for something to criticize.

If you don't like the company for whatever reason, don't buy anything from them.

Pretty simple.