valve advice sought (E88CC)

[ropeboy88]

Hi,
I know this isnt about a WD amp but I hope its OK to post here).

I have recently aquired an Audio Research LS7 pre and am pretty chuffed with the overall sound that I am getting. However (isnt there always a however!) it is fairly typically valvey. i.e. highs are a little rolled off and lows are a little soft and light. (Mids are top notch by the way). It currently has two new generation Phillips E88CCs and two Russian (Sovtek?) E88CCs installed. Does anyone have any experience of tube rolling with AR kit or what characteristics different E88CCs may have? I would like to get a resasonable angle on this as quads of good ones are pretty pricey.

Obviously I would like to keep the mids, extend / define the bass and get a more open top end. I am using it with an Astin Trew AT3500 CD and ATC SCM50 actives.

Thanks for any input

[Gerry]

I have a LS7 too. I'm now trying some Electro Harmonix 6922 gold pins which are an improvement over the Stovtek (Chemler Valve) which were in it. I'd give these ago as they are £10-£15 each.

There is a lot about tube rolling and 6922s on the web however most of these are in regards to the vintage Bugle Boys, Siemens, Telsa etc. You have to be careful b/c there are so many NOS offered which are nothing of the sort.

The 6922 is quite microphonic and really needs dampers to get the best out of it. I have been looking at other alternatives but not taken it any further yet. There are of course the Mullard E88CC and ECC88 which are good, but again cost.

It is a great pre-amp and works really well with the W(A)D Phono2/3.