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6H8C, 6P14P & 6P14P-EV. Please share your opinion

grindfix

grindfix

Full time hobby
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As I mentioned in several threads, I had those coming from Russia. It took sooo long that I didn't think they will get here but they did. I never asked for so many as I never intended to become a tube dealer. I requested 6 different types and this is all the guy could find as NOS. About 300 tubes total. Most 6P14P and EV are from Saratov's Reflector. Others are probably too as all other markings match but they don't have a famed logo.
6H8C tubes have a different logo. I've seen that before but do not remember the plant origin.
All of the tubes seem to be made after the fall of USSR if I understand codes correctly.
I ran several samples through my Hickok 533 and they test within test data for transconductance and pass short and reduced filament live tests. 6H8Cs have transconductance matching sections but I only tested a few.

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I'm sure some and maybe many here have experience using those tubes. Please share your thoughts on them.
 
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Have used the 6P14P-EV in a number of amps and found them to be quite good sounding and long lasting. Some use these in place of 7189 tubes, whereas the 6P14P sub for EL84.
 
just watch the match on those 6p14p tubes. I've had both those and the -EV, purchased in small lots from former USSR nations and they tend to run at very different currents. If you've got a big box of them it shouldn't be a big deal to come up with pairs and quads but if you buy a set of 6 that may not be the case. The ones I had were all 1980s vintage, 82-88 or so I think.

These are also one of the rare cases I've noticed what seems to be tube break-in. Initially they were all fairly "dark" sounding but it got better with run time.
 
Agree with gadget. I've got a bunch of the 82-88 -EV's, which I use in my consoles that take EL-84 type. Very good tubes and if run conservatively, should outlast you and finally give your grandkids fits :D:D
 
larryderouin said:
Agree with gadget. I've got a bunch of the 82-88 -EV's, which I use in my consoles that take EL-84 type. Very good tubes and if run conservatively, should outlast you and finally give your grandkids fits :D:D
Click to expand...

I've beat the heck out of the -EV and -EB (Class "A" topology in guitar amps, like the Vox AC). They last. As good as old timers like RCA and GE. So glad that they came out, when they did. They were one of the best, of the new tubes made towards the end of the last century. Those and Tungsram EL84. :)
 
Everyone swears by em, but in what I've read, you need a large sample size to work from in order to make nicely matched pairs or quads. Buying 300x at a time will probably yield some nice matching quads.
Does the price come down by the case?
Where do you find cases for sale?
I'm always ready to receive a quantity price break...
 
trainbuftony said:
Where do you find cases for sale?
Click to expand...
3 years ago my wife went to Russia for 30 years HS reunion. She was bragging about my hobby and was showing pictures of my gear. One of her classmates lives in Saratov, who knows a guy, who knows someone, who can....... I don't know the whole story. I sent a shortlist of US and Euro equivalent tube numbers not even thinking that this will mean anything. Apparently, the guy was serious and wanted to help. This dragged on for over two years and neither, I, nor my wife were even thinking about the price. We really didn't think those tubes will get here. My wife said: "If he sends them, let's just pay and help him out. He is a good guy and raising two girls by himself and struggling financially."

So, the guy invests into buying over 400 tubes, rents a tube tester, and goes through all of them. There are no test results on tubes but he rejected ones that tested poorly. Probably just an emission tester. Then, he had a hard time shipping them out of the country. Finally, he somehow got them to another classmate, who now lives in Germany. Shipping from Germany was simple. Not sure how it was declared but I wasn't charged any duties. All together it ended up pretty pricey. Let me say, I would never pay this much for these tubes if I initiated this deal by myself. Price and quantity would be discussed prior to any actions.
But my better half wanted to help...

I think, if there was a simpler way to ship them, factory box quantity is obtainable.
 
Sounds like a far more interesting way to obtain what you need than simply paging Jim Mcshane.

I often jump through flaming hoops to get something others would just pay for.
Good for you, it's those experiences that renew my faith in humanity.
Open to suggestions on how to renew my cash supply after such adventures...
 
trainbuftony said:
Sounds like a far more interesting way to obtain what you need than simply paging Jim Mcshane.

I often jump through flaming hoops to get something others would just pay for.
Good for you, it's those experiences that renew my faith in humanity.
Open to suggestions on how to renew my cash supply after such adventures...
Click to expand...
I do a lot of favors to people. Many of my customers have been with me for nearly 30 years. This one I will remember for a while.
 
Dr. Ears said:
I found the 6H8C to be too hot, meaning they have too much gain for a 6SN7.
Click to expand...
I plan to run a few in my newly built amp that uses 3 of 6SN7s. I can compare the output on the scope to the new McShane's tubes. This was the plan to run current sections matching anyways.
 
I'm remaining optimistic on your behalf.
Perhaps your foreign connection knows what he's doing and sent tubes that fall right in the center of the old bell shaped curve...
 
gadget73 said:
just watch the match on those 6p14p tubes. I've had both those and the -EV, purchased in small lots from former USSR nations and they tend to run at very different currents. If you've got a big box of them it shouldn't be a big deal to come up with pairs and quads but if you buy a set of 6 that may not be the case. The ones I had were all 1980s vintage, 82-88 or so I think.

These are also one of the rare cases I've noticed what seems to be tube break-in. Initially they were all fairly "dark" sounding but it got better with run time.
Click to expand...
Were you using them in 6bq5 or 7189 applications?
 
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