Where can I buy Mullard E88CC?

[gurra1980]

Hello!

I have been using a x-can v3 for quite a while with my HD650, and for some weeks ago I bought a pair of dt990 which I love but unfortunately they are a bit sibilant in the treble out of my x-can. So I got the advice to buy Mullard E88CC for my x-can, they should smoothen up the sound. Is this right? and where can I buy them? I live in Sweden so somewhere in Europe would be cheaper shipping I guess.

Edit: BTW I have noticed that when I'm knocking on the x-can I can hear a "rattle" in my headphones, is this the tubes? Sometimes I think I can hear something like this rattle in the music especially with pianos playing, anyone have any idea about this?

Thanks.

[leqin]

If you feel okay about buying through eBay then I can recommend Langrex Supplies LTD - I've had tubes off them in the past and they have always been pretty near damned perfect. Currently - because I'm thinking of adding a set of Mullards to my collection to go in my V3 - but they have exacty what your looking for at not to shabby price

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260113686116

just don't go buying them all before I get there

hope that helps

[PinkFloyd]

BTW I have noticed that when I'm knocking on the x-can I can hear a "rattle" in my headphones, is this the tubes? Sometimes I think I can hear something like this rattle in the music especially with pianos playing, anyone have any idea about this?

Microphonic valves. Some of them display this characteristic and as long as you don't whack your amplifier with your hand then all should be fine. I know it's annoying and you can't help but tap the amp so best thing to do is whip them out and replace them with a pair that are not microphonic.

As Leqin says, Langrex is a good source as are edicron www.edicron.com/

Good like finding them.

Mike.

[gurra1980]

admin said:

BTW I have noticed that when I'm knocking on the x-can I can hear a "rattle" in my headphones, is this the tubes? Sometimes I think I can hear something like this rattle in the music especially with pianos playing, anyone have any idea about this?

Microphonic valves. Some of them display this characteristic and as long as you don't whack your amplifier with your hand then all should be fine. I know it's annoying and you can't help but tap the amp so best thing to do is whip them out and replace them with a pair that are not microphonic.

As Leqin says, Langrex is a good source as are edicron www.edicron.com/

Good like finding them.

Mike.

I may buy a pair of those tubes that you suggested in the mail, just have to think some things over.

And to the microphonics it's not that I tap my amp all the time I just noticed this when I put in my headphone jack and then tested to tap. But the thing that bothers me is that I can hear a sound like, tizzl or scratch when listening to pianos, doesn't matter what recording it is, just that the pianos plays loud and powerful and high tones. I didn't notice this with my 650, I do with my beyer, they are more detailed in the treble, but if I concentrate I can hear it with my senns also.

Could it be the tubes causing this?

[PinkFloyd]

Could it be the tubes causing this?

Yes. Sounds like they are almost shot. As soon as you start hearing whooshing, scratchy noises then a sure sign they are on their way out. If the problem only happens on one channel then swap the valves over and see if it migrates to the other channel.... if so the valve is the culprit. The symptom you describe is almost certainly a problem with the valves and no reason to worry as replacement valves are relatively cheap and a breeze to install (see here: www.rock-grotto.co.uk/x-can-v2-tube-rolling.htm ) an absolute piece of cake and nothing to worry about.

I'll be getting in a fresh batch of 6H23P shortly and they will run at about £10 for a matched pair. You can pick the stock JAN philips 6922 at around a tenner a pop (for the pair) so all is well, don't despair, your V2 will be sounding as sweet as a nut in no time at very little expense.

Just out of interest, how old is she? Don't believe the hype they put about that a valve either works or is dead there is an in-between and I would replace my valves every two years irrespective of what it says on the tin. Listen to two v2's side by side, one with apparantly "good" (but been onboard for 6 years valves) and the other with fresh valves..... no comparison, the new valves always have a fresh sounding "zing" to them.

Some people are fast to claim XYZ valve sounds better than ABC valve but it's usually a case of the newer valve performing better than the old one..... of course some brands sound better than others but you replace your tired old stock Jan philips 6922 with a fresh pair and you'll notice one hell of an improvement

The Mullard E88CC is a superb valve as is the amperex bugle boy or the siemens.......... question is, are they megabucks better or are you just paying for the name / kudos? Once your ears have been around the block a few times and you don't worry what others think you may well find that there's not a "lot" in it when it comes down to it......... that £10 pair of valves may sound just the same (or better) as that pair costing £200 .... it's all down to your own ears and I would urge you to experiment at the low end of the $$$ scale..... there are some great bargains to be had out there at the moment.

If you can get hold of a 1500mA wallwart (1000mA will do) to replace the stock 500mA wallwart then please do try the uber cheap Russian military grade 6N1P-EB.... fantastic sounding and extremely cheap plus they are built like brick shithouses and have exceptionally long life specs.

Right, I've done enough typing for one night, I've pulled a muscle in my back and need to go and lay down on a flat surface.... f**kin' awful getting old but even worse when you do your back in whilst gently weeding a fckin' vegetable plot Gotta admit there's no way I could cope with a menage a trois these days, I have a hard enough job keeping the weeds under control.... a manage a trois would see the end of me ;D

[gurra1980]

admin said:

Could it be the tubes causing this?

Yes. Sounds like they are almost shot. As soon as you start hearing whooshing, scratchy noises then a sure sign they are on their way out. If the problem only happens on one channel then swap the valves over and see if it migrates to the other channel.... if so the valve is the culprit. The symptom you describe is almost certainly a problem with the valves and no reason to worry as replacement valves are relatively cheap and a breeze to install (see here: www.rock-grotto.co.uk/x-can-v2-tube-rolling.htm ) an absolute piece of cake and nothing to worry about.

I'll be getting in a fresh batch of 6H23P shortly and they will run at about £10 for a matched pair. You can pick the stock JAN philips 6922 at around a tenner a pop (for the pair) so all is well, don't despair, your V2 will be sounding as sweet as a nut in no time at very little expense.

Just out of interest, how old is she? Don't believe the hype they put about that a valve either works or is dead there is an in-between and I would replace my valves every two years irrespective of what it says on the tin. Listen to two v2's side by side, one with apparantly "good" (but been onboard for 6 years valves) and the other with fresh valves..... no comparison, the new valves always have a fresh sounding "zing" to them.

Some people are fast to claim XYZ valve sounds better than ABC valve but it's usually a case of the newer valve performing better than the old one..... of course some brands sound better than others but you replace your tired old stock Jan philips 6922 with a fresh pair and you'll notice one hell of an improvement

The Mullard E88CC is a superb valve as is the amperex bugle boy or the siemens.......... question is, are they megabucks better or are you just paying for the name / kudos? Once your ears have been around the block a few times and you don't worry what others think you may well find that there's not a "lot" in it when it comes down to it......... that £10 pair of valves may sound just the same (or better) as that pair costing £200 .... it's all down to your own ears and I would urge you to experiment at the low end of the $$$ scale..... there are some great bargains to be had out there at the moment.

If you can get hold of a 1500mA wallwart (1000mA will do) to replace the stock 500mA wallwart then please do try the uber cheap Russian military grade 6N1P-EB.... fantastic sounding and extremely cheap plus they are built like brick shithouses and have exceptionally long life specs.

Right, I've done enough typing for one night, I've pulled a muscle in my back and need to go and lay down on a flat surface.... f**kin' awful getting old but even worse when you do your back in whilst gently weeding a fckin' vegetable plot Gotta admit there's no way I could cope with a menage a trois these days, I have a hard enough job keeping the weeds under control.... a manage a trois would see the end of me ;D

Hello Mike! Hope your back is better thanks for the good answers.

She is a v3 and has actually just been used for barely 3 months, manufactured in July last year, so I have warranty left, but if it is the valves that is causing the problem then I don't think I will send it to MF for repair. Is it possible to open it and switch valves without MF can see that it has been opened? or is it something inside that they use to make sure no one has been inside?

You now I planed to roll tubes even if she hadn't had any problems.

I think I will return my Beyer to Thoman they don't seem to be my cup of tea, and I don't have any plans for buying new cans for the moment, so do you think that 6H23P will be a good match for my HD650? not to rolled of or super sweet, I actually use modded ksc-75 with my x-can v3 and it is a really good match.

I just have to think things over and see what I should buy, maybe I buy all that you have to offer pinkies and modds and so on, but probably i just starts with new tubes. Also have to wait and see so that the return of the beyer works out.

[PinkFloyd]

Hello Mike! Hope your back is better thanks for the good answers.

Hopefully the answers are correct and it will just be a case of swapping the valves over..... I'm 99% confident that's what it is.

She is a v3 and has actually just been used for barely 3 months, manufactured in July last year, so I have warranty left, but if it is the valves that is causing the problem then I don't think I will send it to MF for repair.

It's pretty well known that the odd set of noisy valves find their way into the occasional v3 but I know from experience that MF service / repair all the equipment (purchased in the UK) at their HQ in Wembley, London and I also know that they take the time to match up a damned good set of valves paying a lot more attention than they do when producing them at the Asian facility. May be worth your while getting it done under warranty as their after sales service is pretty top notch.

Is it possible to open it and switch valves without MF can see that it has been opened? or is it something inside that they use to make sure no one has been inside?

There are no secret trap doors employed so don't worry, just 9 screws (4 on the front and five on the back) to be undone.... slide the board out from the front and change the valves (make sure you remove the back panel and when refitting ensure the ground tag is fixed back into position) EVACTLY the same procedure as this www.rock-grotto.co.uk/x-can-v2-tube-rolling.htm except the v3 has 9 screws as opposed to 5 on the v2. It could well be the valves aren't seated properly and it may just be a case of pushing them into the sockets..... whatever, it's not an undercover operation requiring the skill of a safe cracker and no booby traps likely to go off invalidating your warranty

I think I will return my Beyer to Thoman they don't seem to be my cup of tea, and I don't have any plans for buying new cans for the moment, so do you think that 6H23P will be a good match for my HD650? not to rolled of or super sweet, I actually use modded ksc-75 with my x-can v3 and it is a really good match.

I, personally, love the sound of the 6H23P and they are a perfect match (to my ears) with the HD-600 so I have no reason to doubt they will be anything other than good with the HD-650. There are many here who prefer the 6N1P-EB but they do require a beefier power supply unit as their heater draw is double that of 6922 / e88cc / 6Dj8 / 6H23P.

I just have to think things over and see what I should buy, maybe I buy all that you have to offer pinkies and modds and so on, but probably i just starts with new tubes. Also have to wait and see so that the return of the beyer works out.

At the end of the day all you should be buying are new CD's and enjoying the music, once you sort the scratching sound out then live with the amp for a while.... you may actually enjoy it! If not then there are things you can do to tweak the sound but no point crossing that bridge until you come to it....... one step at a time

[gurra1980]

Yeah I guess that I try those 6H23P and hope that the microphonics disappears and should be fun to see if I can hear a difference between valves, I'll contact you by email soon.
And yes I guess the money from the beyer will go to cds

[gurra1980]

Hello!

I opened up my x-can v3 today to find that there was two Ei ECC88 inside. This made me think that maybe this was the reason that I wasn't blown away by the sound as much as I was by the older x-can v3 that I borrowed home before I bought this. Do any of you have any experience with those Ei ECC88, and what the difference is between them and Jan philips 6922. Do you have any of those to sell Mike?

Don't get me wrong I really like my x-can, but I remember when listening to the other I was even more enthusiastic about the sound.

[cege]

gurra1980,

You have PM

regards
cege/another Swede