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Philips

2x Philips PCC88 7DJ8 D-getter - Miniwatt/Valvo Labels - Heerlen, NL 1959 - NOS

2x Philips PCC88 7DJ8 D-getter - Miniwatt/Valvo Labels - Heerlen, NL 1959 - NOS

Regular price $236.50 USD
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Product Summary

The "textbook Heerlen sound" has been referenced in several Soundlumia listings of Philips/Valvo Holland PCC88/E88CC tubes, and many tube enthusiasts asked what that all means. So this is the answer: the late 1950s and early 1960s tone, the timeless Philips radio tone that many of us grew up listening to, the beginning of over a decade's excellence in sound, the classic tonal template for all the great (and greater) Amperex Holland/Philips. 

Sound qualities

You get the "textbook" Philips/Amperex Holland midrange presentation that is transparent, natural and expansive, with a slight touch of warmth that illuminates your musical world. The top end is super airy, smooth and nicely extended like one would expect from the best Siemens tubes. Vocals are intimate, sweet and forward (but not right in your face) and that always reminds me how the vocals sound on the best Mullard tubes. Bass is deep and well controlled and the accuracy feels very similar to the high end German PCC88's (Siemens, Telefunken.)

Professional Sound Evaluation

The pair worked wonderfully and sounded terrific in our professional studio setup for monitoring. 

 - Input: Cambridge Audio CXC V2 dedicated CD transport + Schiit Audio Bifrost 2 Multibit DAC
 - Amplification: Liquid Platinum Tube Amplifier by Alex Cavalli 
 - Output: Focal Clear MG Pro open-back headphones

Our full tube sound review was written 100% based on the actual listening experience while this pair of tubes were running in the system described above

Professional Tube Testing

This set was tested and certified by RoeTest V11 Professional Tube Testing System with the following result: 

Tube 1: 

Measured transconductance (GM): 11.86/12.49 mA/V  - 95%/100% (100% = 12.5 mA/V)
Measured plate current (IA): 17.54/16.845 mA  - 117%/112% (100% = 15 mA)

Tube 2:

Measured transconductance (GM): 14.38/15.01 mA/V  - 115%/120% (100% = 12.5 mA/V)
Measured plate current (IA): 21.502/21.89 mA  - 143%/146% (100% = 15 mA)

NO shorts, leakage or gas. NO noise or microphonics.

Curve trace is also included in the original RoeTest report.

Appearance & cosmetic condition

We treasure this pair for its near pristine cosmetic condition - over 90% of the paint is well preserved. The date codes of Heerlen factory etched on glass is also perfectly visible on both tubes: 

⊿9A (⊿ = Heerlen, NL, 9 = 1959, A = January)
⊿9F (⊿ = Heerlen, NL, 9 = 1959, F = June)

Packaging

New white tube boxes.
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