November 4, 2012
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Amperex (USA) 6922 PQ
The subject tubes under review are the Amperex 6922 PQ with the large O-ring getter. They were all manufactured in the Amperex Hicksville, NY plant during the years 1961 and 1963 to 1965. The 6922’s were purchased via auction from various sellers. Although they may still be found today from vendors such as Tube World and Upscale Audio, they are rather expensive and average about $170 each.
Amperex (USA) 6922 PQ Line-Up Amperex (USA) 6922 PQ Front View
Amperex (USA) 6922 PQ Rear View Amperex (USA) 6922 PQ Large O-ring
Amperex (USA) 6922 PQ Date Code
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The associated tube complement in my c-j Premier 140 amplifier was the Russian-made Voskhod 6H30π-DR pulling duty as phase splitters and SED 6550C power tubes. This configuration was highly complimentary and brought out the best in the Amperex 6922’s.
The previous small signal tubes were Lorenz PCC88, quite possibly my favorite all-around small signal tube in the Premier 16LS2 preamplifier and the Lorenz are second only to the Amperex pinch waist 6922 as my favorite input tube in the Premier 140.
Listening Impressions:
- The Narada album playlist I have on the Olive O3HD, via the Oppo BDP-95, revealed the classic Amperex smoothness of sound while maintaining superb clarity and inner detail with crisp transients.
- Bass response, aided and abetted by the recently re-introduced XLO Signature 5.1 speaker cables, is strong and macro-dynamics are reference level for my system.
- Percussion on HBO’s Rome series on blu-ray rivaled the Amperex pinch waist 6922 PQ and quite honestly, in a blind test (shudder), I would be hard-pressed to tell the two apart.
- The guitar work during HBO’s Boardwalk Empire intro via cable has first class clarity, spirit and emotion.
- Mid-treble is always comfortable and relaxing with excellent extension but never any edginess.
- The Four Seasons CD featuring Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert on the Archiv label, played on the Music Hall CD-25, is beautifully musical and the solo and massed violins are glorious.
- The cymbal work on Reference Recordings From the Age of Swing CD is feathery.
- Details are reference level, allowing me to hear how the XLO Signature 1.1 interconnects on the BDP-95 are a little smoother sounding versus the Nordost Red Dawn Rev II interconnects on the Music Hall CD-25.
- The counterpoint on Columbia Masterworks The Japanese Album CD track entitled “Chidori No Kyoku” is clearly revealed.
- Images are larger than those cast by the Lorenz PCC88 with a strong central image presence. The sound stage, at times, extends well beyond the speaker boundaries and projects into the listening room a squared-off (as opposed to triangular) reproduction of the venue.
Purple prose aside, the Amperex (USA) 6922 PQ are top flight tubes in this class. Although they are very expensive, if you can swing it financially, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
