This is not a listing about audio tubes but an invitation for you to hear the sweetest voice on Earth. No other tubes can deliver vocals like the Mullard's, whether they're from Mitcham, Blackburn or Heerlen, and that's a fact. These E88CC tubes are particularly special because they have the very rare dimple disc getter and are being hunted to near extinction by audiophiles and sound professionals.
Sound Qualities
"Like a warm British jacket of the finest tweed, these glorious tubes have an attractive sweet warmth in their midrange and lower regions." This is how experts on audiotubes.com describe the sound signature of Mitcham Mullard tubes. The top end is silky and pleasant and doesn't get rolled off. They retain a fine sense of "air" at the top, and the upper midrange is smooth and liquid. These tubes reproduce human voice, especially female voices, with haunting realism. Full disclosure from your peer audiophile: Mitcham E88CC's are my go-to tubes for listening to Maria Callas and Frank Sinatra and I refuse to use other tubes. Mitcham Mullard's are also known to have an attractive sparkle at the top with rich bass...now we know where that "warm British jacket" comes from!
Professional Tube Testing
Both tubes tested NOS (100%+ nominal mutual conductance) on a Mercury 2000 tube tester with the following result (mutual conductance in uMhos and percentage of nominal):
15,000/15,750 (120%/126%)
Good tubes start at 7000 and new tubes (incl. NOS/NIB) 12,500 - 13,000, and the 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
We treasure this pair also because of the pristine condition of both tubes - nearly 100% of the paint and lettering are well retained. The identical Mitcham date code etched in glass is also perfectly visible:
7L1 R0G4 (7L1 = E88CC, R = Mitcham, 0 = 1970, G = July, 4 = 4th week of the month)
Packaging
This pair of tubes will be packaged in the Original Mullard tube boxes
Shipping Policy
- Ship worldwide! Flat-rate shipping (USPS Ground Advantage) within the US.
- Same business day handling. 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.
- Customers outside the US please pay extra attention:International shipping is through USPS First Class International Mail by default. It's the least expensive option but it may take longer than other carriers and tracking info may not be available in some countries after customs clearance. If you prefer to use a different carrier please contact us first so we can get you the correct shipping rates before you make payment.
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" or "changed my
mind."
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 tax/GST/VAT 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.