Perfect matched & balanced pair of vintage Amperex USN-CEP 6922 White Print audio tubes w/ O-getter and gold pins - Made in USA in 1963 - Strong NOS - Very Rare
Note: If you need one single Amperex USN-CEP 6922 tube from the 1960s instead of a pair, please feel free to check out our listing of 1965 Amperex USN-CEP 6922 Tube here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/266277274699
Tube Overview
Built and tested according to military specs of the US Navy, Amperex USN-CEP O-getter has been the most reliable 6922/E88CC tube known to the world: its quality is more than premium, although it doesn't carry the aweing PQ label like its more expensive siblings do; its performance is superb and in fact very few tubes in this price range can claim to be stronger; its low noise should only by judged by the most experienced sound experts because we are talking about the very tube built for and certified by US Navy for mission-critical communication devices; its sound signature is phenomenal (I don't use this word very often to describe tube sound) and many audiophiles consider the "Holy Grail" ('75 Reflektor 6N23P) its only possible upgrade path.
Sound Qualities
The clarity and sound detail on USN-CEP 6922's are second to none. They deliver the same resolution and grip you get from the best German E88CC's but feel less "clinical", for the lack of a better word to describe what Telefunken E88CC's "ultimate clarity" means. These tubes have a clean, incisive presentation, but are also euphonic and musical. Like the HG's they put all the differing and competing attributes together in one excellent package. As a result, there's no one area they are weak in. The sound stage is not only wide but also deep so every listening experience feels like at a live concert. The instrument separation is not done as beautifully anywhere else, as one would expect from tubes this quiet.
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
Both tubes tested Strong NOS (110%+ nominal mutual conductance) on a Mercury 2000 tube tester with the following result (mutual conductance both in uMhos and in percentage of nominal/new):
Tube 1: 13,500/13,800 (108%/110%)
Tube 2: 14,000/13,900 (112%/111%)
Good tubes start around 7000 and new tubes (incl. NOS/NIB) 12,500 - 13,000, and Mercury 2000's rated mutual conductance (nominal) for new tubes is 12,500. Test result can also be seen in the pictures. In case you wonder what all these numbers would mean to your sound experience, it's actually quite straightforward: mutual conductance directly translates to a tube's ability to amplify sound so the higher the numbers the stronger.
Appearance & cosmetic condition
Beside the world-class sound characteristics, we treasure this pair because the pristine condition the two tubes are in - nearly 90% of the paint is intact, and the date codes etched on glass are perfectly visible:
7L8 *3E (7L8 = E88CC/6922 production #8, * = Amperex New York factory, 3 = 1963, E = May)
Shipping Policy
- US Shipping: Flat-rate USPS Ground Advantage
- International Shipping: (Please read carefully) USPS First Class International is used for all countries EXCEPT: Armenia, Chile, China, India, Latvia, Mauritius, Serbia, Slovenia, Tuvalu, and Vietnam. If you prefer to use a different carrier or shipping service, please contact us first so we can establish shipping rates before you make payment. If you are a buyer in one of the excluded countries, you must contact us prior to purchase to arrange shipping. Soundlumia-sponsored 3-day guaranteed worldwide delivery program ($35 flat rate for ALL destinations in the world) via DHL Express is highly recommended to serious and committed buyers.
- Same day shipping: Orders placed by 2:00PM US Pacific Time on weekdays are posted on the same day, otherwise the next business day.
- Combined shipping available - request invoice for total before making payment or receive shipping credit after order ships.
Return Policy - Please READ carefully
Returns are acceptable if we made a mistake by delivering you wrong or defective products. Tubes we sell are guaranteed to work because we run professional tests and sound evaluation TWICE: before they are approved for listing AND before we ship them to customers. So the "defective item" case doesn't exist and please do not bother trying - this type of returns will NOT be accepted without proof that tubes are faulty and we will open disputes with eBay. Sound experience is very subjective and we do NOT accept returns because you do not like the tube's sound signature or because you changed your mind about your purchase. Please contact us to work things out before submitting return requests claiming "item is defective" or "item not as described" or "just didn't like it."
Tube rollers abusing the return system will be reported to eBay immediately and negative feedback will be left to your account - that's guaranteed. We have already opened several dispute cases to report abusive buyers and eBay has always ruled in our favor. International buyers who request return or refund claiming your country's import duties or sales taxes/VAT/GST are too high will be reported to eBay immediately for dishonesty and will be permanently blacklisted from purchasing from Soundlumia. We are committed to working closely with eBay to help rid the marketplace of dishonest, unjust, unreasonable, abusive buyers that are detrimental to the vintage tubes market and the audiophile community.