MC2301 - What tubes are you rolling?

[W9TR]

Dan,
I'll have to try the ECC801S. Sounds like a great driver tube. These little guys work hard, each one driving four KT-88's

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Dan,
I'll have to try the ECC801S. Sounds like a great driver tube. These little guys work hard, each one driving four KT-88's

Let me know Tom --

Dan - were those the Siemens I lent you along with the GEC A2900's to try out (I know you sent the GEC's back but fuzzy on the Siemens details).

Personally I still like all three -- the GL GP's, the Siemens and the A2900's and you can't go too terribly wrong with any.

Best Sir,

Bob

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by vintage_tube

Dan - were those the Siemens I lent you along with the GEC A2900's to try out (I know you sent the GEC's back but fuzzy on the Siemens details).

Personally I still like all three -- the GL GP's, the Siemens and the A2900's and you can't go too terribly wrong with any.

Best Sir,

Bob

Bob.......Back in July 2014 you loaned me four each of the Siemens ECC801S, Telefunken ECC801S, and GEC A2900 (original NOS Genalex 12AT7) to compare with the Gold Lion 12AT7's I was using. I returned all of them to you after I wrote a review of the experience of rolling them in my MC2301 amplifiers. TubeMonger sent me an email one day with the Siemens ECC801S on sale. I ordered four. That was two years ago. I once again put them up against the Gold Lion 12AT7's and this time preferred their sound so the Siemens ECC801S tubes have been there ever since, with the exception of some experimenting with Mullard and Tung-sol tubes.

Follow this link for the review of tube rolling the Siemens ECC801S, Telefunken ECC801S, and the GEC A2900 NOS Genalex 12AT7 tubes in my McIntosh MC2301 amplifiers.

MC2301 amplifiers - Tube rolling 12AT7's


.

[audioguru]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Bob.......Back in July 2014 you loaned me four each of the Siemens ECC801S, Telefunken ECC801S, and GEC A2900 (original NOS Genalex 12AT7) to compare with the Gold Lion 12AT7's I was using. I returned all of them to you after I wrote a review of the experience of rolling them in my MC2301 amplifiers. TubeMonger sent me an email one day with the Siemens ECC801S on sale. I ordered four. That was two years ago. I once again put them up against the Gold Lion 12AT7's and this time preferred their sound so the Siemens ECC801S tubes have been there ever since, with the exception of some experimenting with Mullard and Tung-sol tubes.

Follow this link for the review of tube rolling the Siemens ECC801S, Telefunken ECC801S, and the GEC A2900 NOS Genalex 12AT7 tubes in my McIntosh MC2301 amplifiers.

MC2301 amplifiers - Tube rolling 12AT7's


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Dan - Now that I have read your informative review (thanks for sharing this and for all the hard "work" you put into it), I am very curious to roll a pair of the Telefunken ECC801S!! But I should add that I am so far hugely satisfied with the sound coming from my stock mac tubes. So perhaps I should wait a little bit and put more hours on what I currently have and enjoy, before I start getting into the business of rolling...

Does anyone know what a fair market price today would be for the Telefunken ECC801S?

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by audioguru

Does anyone know what a fair market price today would be for the Telefunken ECC801S?

From a reliable seller -- unused tube, easily & with no effort, you're looking at north of $350 each ($1400+ per quad needed).

Best Sir,

Bob

[audioguru]

Originally Posted by vintage_tube

From a reliable seller -- unused tube, easily & with no effort, you're looking at north of $350 each ($1400+ per quad needed).

Best Sir,

Bob

Bob - Thanks for the info

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by audioguru

So perhaps I should wait a little bit and put more hours on what I currently have and enjoy, before I start getting into the business of rolling...

You certainly can do that -- in my case I knew already what the Gold Lions were capable of after having them in my dual MC275's which I sold to move up to the mighty MC2301's.

So when the MC2301's showed up, after unboxing, out came the stock KT88's and in went the Gold Lions with cousin 12v'ers. I figured some day I'd sell the MC2301's as didn't know then what I know now & realized distinct pleasure with them these past 9 years. That is, they are KFL (keepers for life).

So, anyways, should they ever leave the premises, I can tell whomever; the amps are coming with a full compliment of unused factory provided tubes which have never seen a millivolt.

Best to you Sir,

Bob

[audioguru]

Bob - I like that term a lot...KFL. I definitely agree with you that it applies to the 2301. Do you have any ideas on which company (s) make the "OEM" tubes for Mcintosh?

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by audioguru

Bob - I like that term a lot...KFL. I definitely agree with you that it applies to the 2301. Do you have any ideas on which company (s) make the "OEM" tubes for McIntosh?

I sort of lost track to be honest -- initially they had Svetlana (3 round holes), then went with JJ's, and I believe they have stuck with SED's since then (3 square holes).

All I know is the Gold Lions are preferred by practically every MC2301 owner --especially when it comes to the KT88's. The 12AT7's -- there is a mix of suggestions -- some like the GL Gold Pins, others Siemens or RCA's or Telefunken, but if Telefunken go with Dynaco or Fisher stenciled---less expensive than Telefunken stenciled by a large margin -- it's the same tube, and or GEC's and others.

Best Sir,

Bob

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by audioguru

Do you have any ideas on which company (s) make the "OEM" tubes for Mcintosh?

Andrew.......It is my understanding that all OEM tubes in McIntosh's current lineup are manufactured by JJ Tubes and labeled McIntosh.