Genalex Gold Lion E88CC / 6922 Gold Pins Preamp Vacuum Tube - Single

I bought this for my Vali 2 made by Schiit, USA, which came with a single NOS 6BZ7. I am shocked to say that the sound seems fuller, wider and deeper. It could be the fact I spent almost $50 buying this so it better do something, right?!? Seriously, the sound certainly seems more pleasing. I've listened to the new tube for 20 - 30 hours. I would rather have purchased the more expensive headphone amp at $350, but it contains 4 tubes. That's quite an investment if you want to play around rolling tubes, as they say. Update: With a headphone upgrade recently and some more back and forth due to travel (I didnt want to bring the $40 tube so I brought the $10 one) I can add two specifics to my review. Highs are much cleaner than the stock Vali 2 tube, and bass is clearer more powerful. Miles Davis' trumpet on Love For Sale (a track on Cannonball Adderly's Something Else record) plays several series of stacatto notes that were harsh on the stock tube, but on the Gold Lion sound much smoother. And the stand up bass comes through much more. Violin's on King Crimson's Starless (a track on the album Red) don't screech -- though maybe they're supposed to? j/k Highly recommended as an upgrade if you have this amp with the stock tube.

I recently purchased a Schiit Vali 2 hybrid headphone amp and bought this as my first tube to roll with it. The Vali 2 is currently shipping from Schiit with Canadian 6BZ7 tubes which are fairly neutral and "solid state" sounding. This is done on purpose so the buyer can fine tune the sound to preference with a tube of choice. After switching to this Gold Lion E88CC, I immediately noticed the increased bass/low end presence. The sound became smoother, deeper, and easier on the ears overall compared to the 6BZ7 tube. The 6BZ7 had a couple days to burn in and the Gold Lion E88CC sounded better to my ears straight out of the box. I'm definitely curious to see how the sound develops after a proper burn in period. Update 8/11/17: This Gold Lion E88CC is still going strong after 5 months left in the Vali 2 amp and powered up 100% of the time. No issues whatsoever. Currently using this setup with a Schiit Modi Multibit DAC and Sennheiser HD650, HD598, Fostex TH-X00 EB headphones. The sound remains smooth, but clean and detailed with plenty of oomph in the low end. I definitely recommend giving this tube a try!

Excellent price and speedy shipping. sounds great in my rode k2!

I thought I was getting decent quality tubes. I was mistaken. Two of the tubes were for l we ft and right phono section. They became quite noisy and unusable after only two months. The third likewise became quite noisy quickly. I know it's the tubes because replacing them solved the problem. Buyer beware.

Got this for my Schiit Vali 2+ and first grabbed the ElectroHarmonix 6922 tube from here on Amazon. This was a nice improvement from the stock tube and for a solid price (around $25 shipped). A week or so later I went ahead and splurged for the Gold Lion and I must say it sounds amazing and worth skipping the EH tube and spending the money on this. The gold lion really opens up the soundstage and presentation and adds a nice warmth to the music that the EH and stock tube didn't get close to offering. Plan to order a matching pair of these when I eventually get the Valhalla, these tubes are amazing! Also YES THEY GLOW BRIGHTER THAN THE STOCK AND EH LOL

I've just started rolling tubes in my Aune T1 headphone DAC/amp and this tube is my favorite so far. It really opened up the soundstage compared to the stock 6922EH tube. I've also noticed more pronounced, but tight, bass and more sparkle in things like cymbals. Jazz and acoustic music really shine with this tube Overall, I would say this makes all of my music more fun to listen to, regardless of genre. When I switch back to the stock 6922EH tube everything feels closed in by comparison. Best of all, this tube really isn't that expensive. With the more desirable NOS tubes going for triple the price, this new production Genalex Gold Lion tube is a good deal.

Genalex Gold Lion 6922 Gold pin Aune T1 (+ Bravo S1). HD 650, HE400, HD518, AK420, SHP900 Sounds better with Bravo amp for added edge and torque, compared to T1's amp. Empirically, the sound is very "good". Pretty high resolution, that approaches the feeling of organic, but in an average or less stage. Widtch is about average, but it feels a little compressed, height-wise. It feels like watching 1080p but in a 720 sized screen. To me there's something annoying and unsatisfying about it. Its very smooth; its too smooth. It sounds too "good". It sounds too "nice", in away that makes it somehow very boring. I feel a lack of sense of space and depth. The sonic separation is good and there, but everything feels flat like a flat, condensed, limited glossy magazine page. I often feel like I'm trying to press through a tight and thick layer of saran wrap, but never breaking through, or I'm breathing, but not getting enough oxygen. I also don't find it particularly musical. Again, everything is technically good, but has an overall flatness to it. The well achieving A+ student who just does everything well, but has no other redeeming or interesting characteristics whatsoever. Despite performing "better" than everyone else, everyone still seems to like him, and he has no particular flaws to point out. But that is the flaw - that he's just too "good" that there is nothing interesting about it. And somehow, it makes you hate him a little. I"m not disappointed in the tube perse; I can't be, because it performs "good". But I'm disappointed that I don't enjoy listening to it, certainly not as much as others seem to. I wonder how much people out there like this tube, just because a lots of other people say they like it. I actually prefer the much cheaper JJ6922 over Gold Lion: -slightly taller stage, -slight edginess that provides slightly more tactile sensation of the sound -texture is more appreciable (feeling the detail, vs. looking at a glossy magazine picture of something detailed) -more 3D depth; the separation is not just sonic, but feels more physically separated. -somehow more musical sounding

What a huge difference over stock and some other entry level tubes... Bass is fuller, Mids are rich but not overly warm, Highs are crisp and not sharp, bit better separation! Very musical tube! Would buy again!

Awesome seller, great sounding tube, will be back for more items.

fitted to my Schiit lyr headphone amp. Sounds great straight out of the box. As it burns in the sound will only get better. Great seller as well

schiit vali2 + modi + HD6xx went from stock tube to electro-harmonix and was blown away. went from EH to Gold Lion, and i am even more blown away. I wish I sprung for this from the get-go. do not hesitate if you are on the fence. this will put a smile on your face. more than worth it.

Good.