Thanks for the feedback Joe. Think I’ll pull the trigger on the Amperex tubes I found.
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These are the Philips factory codes for their European manufacture
Δ Heerlen, Holland
D Hamburg, West Germany
B Blackburn, England (GB)
L Brussels, Belgium
1 2 3 6 9 Eindhoven, Holland
≠ Munich, Germany Siemens & Halske
X Y Sittard, Holland
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I found my graal for the BHK 250 input tubes: russian reflektor 6n23p, year 1974 or 1975. They beat everything else I tried (including siemens cca and philips miniwatt) when it comes to clarity with body.
The downside of the 6n23p is that they are not very reliable.
I found the 6H23π-EB (also known as the 6N23P) much to my liking as well when I used them in a Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS2 preamp. They sounded clear with a rich tonal character spread over a wide sound stage. They were a little later vintage – 1980. I didn’t have any reliability problems but maybe the preamp didn’t drive them very hard. It used 6 tubes.
Going through a stash of old tubes I have and decided to try a pair of Jan Phillips 6922 in the BHK 250. I like what I’m hearing. Great bass, smooth highs, and good PRAT. They don’t quite match the great tonality and texture of the Amperex, or the imaging, but overall a really good tube for the money, and much better than the stock tubes imo.
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Follow up on the Jan Philips 6922, in combination with the Raytheon/Baldwin 12AU7 in the BHK preamp.
This combination is really jelling in my system. I have the great dynamics and bass from Jan Philips 6922, along with the nicely textured and rich sound of the Raytheon Baldwin 12AU7 in the pre. Done tube rolling, for a while at least.
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I also thought I was done with tubes for some time but then I found seller with diamond bottom Telefunken ecc82 and ecc88 from early 60`s…and had to get pairs for BHK pre and amp. Burning them in now and they seem to sound great after three days. I very much like Philips Miniwatt ecc82 and Siemens ecc88 combo too with BHK gear for a fraction of price.
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I’m running the stock tubes in my BHK 300’s now. I have a new set of Gold Lions also. I just picked up 2 pairs of Tungsram NOS and I’m looking forward to giving them a try! I’m also running Tungsram in my BHK preamp. I would like to give the Amperex Bugle Boys a try someday also!
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Tungsram 12au7 in the preamp may be ok, but not the 7DJ8 with proper strapping are very noisey, too much tube rush.
Running the 7DJ8 in the BHK Pre with no noise issues.
The sensitivity of your amp and speakers must be lower than the the BHK 250 and B&W 800 Matrix as every 6 volt tube I have tried including the Tungsram 7DJ8 are very hissy compared to any 12AU7 which are very quiet.
I finally got hold of some NOS Amperex Bugle Boy 6922’s for my BHK 250. A worthwihle investment as the sound is more musical and enjoyable. Blows away the Tungsram select tubes from Upscale!
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I have had the same Amperex Bugle Boys from the 60’s in the BHK 300’s. Love them in every way. Currently trying 60’s Telefunken in the BHK pre. They have a nice liquidy midrange but don’t have the speed or bass extension of the Gold Lions. I thought that this early vintage tube from the likes of Amperex, Telefunken, etc, would be the Holy Grail but that quest is on hold for now.
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How do the Gold Lions compare to the stock BHK pre tubes?
Gold Lions IME make a lot of difference vs stock tubes in my BHK Pre.
I was mainly looking for noise silence tubes when I bought them and I was happy to gain more:
warm
presence
rounded basses
calm and easy
Stock tubes are very natural, open and a little bit edged even if they present a good background silence they recall to me a live studio recording feeling, quite analytical.
Gold Lions are more engaging, especially on the warm side of neutral, like a live club session.
I decided to go for Gold Lions also in M1200s and still using them after a few months, they are my tubes.
Just a question of personal tastes.
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I replaced the stock BHK tubes long ago and like the Gold Lions. Luca’s assessment is spot on and an easy, low cost upgrade.
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Looks like the Gold Lions are available on Amazon, but some reviewers are saying those are not the good ones made in Russia, but cheaper Chinese knock offs. Where is the best place to order these, and are the ones most here are using, made in Russia?
I use vivatubes.com. They have the Russian made Gold Lions, though the pricing is high at the moment.
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First impression of Gold Lions replacing stock tubes in BHK pre… 
. Right from the get go they sound very good, which is a good sign.
A little stiff sounding, but good overall balance, with better detail retrieval, image specificity and layering, and excellent attack.
I’m sure they’ll improve once warmed up, and with further break-in.
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Where did you get GL 12au7 tubes from? I bought a pair a few months ago from Viva tubes for a BHK preamp but the SQ was so bad, unfocused, loss of image, and incoherent. Viva tube was nice enough to refund the cost and they said the gain might have been too high for the preamp. I have used GL tubes in many occasions but never had a problem before. In fact using a pair that I got from upscale audio in M1200. I could order tubes from Upscale but I am sure their tubes are not returnable.