Replacement ECF80

[Bonky]

Excellent advice guys; many, many thanks

BW

Richard

[Bonky]

Hi, well one ECF80 went into a supernova.

I have ordered two of the ECF80-RCA SIEMENS (RCA ).

My question is: did I need to buy two? Would one have sufficed or is that just plain silly as they aren't 'matched pairs'?

Thanks,

Richard.

[bob orbell]

Don't worry Richard, I doubt there is such a thing as matched ECF80's. Bob

[Bonky]

Thanks Bob; so I have a reserve!

bw

Richard

[Yellow]

Hi,

Also take a look at Langrex based in West Sussex.
https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/7...ed-valve-tube/

Neil.

[Richard]

They have a triode and a pentode section and there's no reason they cannot be matched into pairs, or checked against their characteristic values, in the same way Ecc83 etc commonly are

I have many types of NOS which are checked with result slips in the boxes and would choose a matching pair close to data spec when fitting. If you email Derek at Watford first I'm sure he'd match a pair.

[Dave999]

I use
Russian 6F1P

about £2 each

sound as good as my ageing mullards which were brand new, but upsettingly black when the tissue and cardboard were unwrapped


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164099096...wAAOSwVrtgTEig


don't be conned into taking 6f12p instead different pinout on similar valve

i search hat i need on this site https://tubes-store.com/advanced_sea...keywords=ECC88

based on euro or US name

check out the russian equivalents


check the specification sheets to make sure tubes-store isn't telling any lies

then make a purchase on ebay Vocshod rocket with -EN on the end seem to be high end military spec
the Eastern European suppliers and Russian suppliers often sling in a few extra i.e buying 2 results in 3 arriving buying 6 you sometimes get 8

the idea was i'd use the 2 that sounded best... but the first 2 have stayed in on every occasion

swapped in a Ecc88 6n1p on my pre ii and for the first time in 20 years both channels come up, when switched on, in equal time. thats 1 well matched side for side ECC88 (equivelent) well on the heater front at least... consistency in 1 area no guarantee of consistency in another but i live in hope


i'm quite enamoured with 70s/80s Russian valves and the guys i have used seem to be upstanding citizens who sell what they say, or they are exceedingly good at making tatty water damaged badly bleached curled cardboard with machine stamped labels.... nothing to indicate old valve new box reprinting/etching or anything like that.

i.e i could have had 25-50 Russian 6f1p for the cost of 2 mullard ECF80s new in box, and in the position they are used on my 6550 they sound better



Dave