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View Full Version : Which 6SN7 ???



Mike
30-07-2009, 21:25
A wee question, if I may, to those who are familiar with this valve.

What's the 'pick of the litter' and how much can I expect to pay? ;)

Cheers...

Spectral Morn
30-07-2009, 21:30
A wee question, if I may, to those who are familiar with this valve.

What's the 'pick of the litter' and how much can I expect to pay? ;)

Cheers...


If you want an open detailed but musical sound with good punch the new Tung-Sol reissue is hard to beat, about £30 a pair(I tried old Tung-Sol and was not very impressed). However some of the stubby military ones are very good too such as RCA GTB.



Regards D S D L

Marco
30-07-2009, 21:40
Yep, Tung-Sol are good, but personally I prefer NOS Brimar CV1988, which is what I use in the Copper amp - I have found nothing better so far:

http://www.tejastubes.com/NOSBrimarCV19886SN7GT.htm

Here are a couple of good sites for NOS 6SN7s:

http://www.tubeseller.com/

http://www.natubes.com/index.php?page=product&do=search

Search on 6SN7, as the link above just takes you to the site's homepage.

The prices are rather 'interesting', though!

Marco.

Mike
30-07-2009, 21:53
Nice sites, Marco...

Bloody awful prices though, the Melody uses four of em!

Spectral Morn
30-07-2009, 22:13
Yep, Tung-Sol are good, but personally I prefer NOS Brimar CV1988, which is what I use in the Copper amp - I have found nothing better so far:

http://www.tejastubes.com/NOSBrimarCV19886SN7GT.htm

Here are a couple of good sites for NOS 6SN7s:

http://www.tubeseller.com/

http://www.natubes.com/index.php?page=product&do=search

Search on 6SN7, as the link above just takes you to the site's homepage.

The prices are rather 'interesting', though!

Marco.

Nice sites, thanks for the links. Having to replace 4 is bad. In my Bat VK75 amp there are 8 6SN7 hence the reason I use the Tung-Sol. My Bat VK10se phono stage uses 2 so I have played around quite a bit with NOS 6SN7 but at the end of the day...I still think the Tung-Sol reissue is a great cheaper tube, in the context of my kit and set up.

Mike suck it and see........about £60 for 4 (last year. Prices might have gone up a bit since then....not sure) plenty on E-bay or you could give Allium audio a ring and ask for Ian Large. He has quite a big collection of Nos and used tubes including 6SN7 I got a lot of what I tried from him. Nice guy to deal with...prices are fair too.

I can't remember all the ones I have tried as they are in a large box buried, but I will dig them out. Raytheon were quite good as I recall, too. Marco's right about Brimar, really nice tubes....but potentially dear.


Regards D S D L

Mike
30-07-2009, 22:29
Hi Neil,

I'm actually just curious ATM, the Melody came with 8 x 6SN7's and 8 x KT88's. There's the original 'Melody' badged valves which will almost certainly be of Chinese origin, and 4 x Sovtec 7SN7GT plus 4 x Chelmer 'Premium' KT88's. I don't know where Chelmer sourced them from though.

How about these cheeky little numbers? - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Sophia-Electric-6SN7-5692-for-300B-845-2A3-tube-amp_W0QQitemZ150359035187QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item230218cd33&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting

Spectral Morn
30-07-2009, 22:41
Hi Neil,

I'm actually just curious ATM, the Melody came with 8 x 6SN7's and 8 x KT88's. There's the original 'Melody' badged valves which will almost certainly be of Chinese origin, and 4 x Sovtec 7SN7GT plus 4 x Chelmer 'Premium' KT88's. I don't know where Chelmer sourced them from though.

How about these cheeky little numbers? - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Sophia-Electric-6SN7-5692-for-300B-845-2A3-tube-amp_W0QQitemZ150359035187QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item230218cd33&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting


Thats a very odd shaped 6SN7.....never seen one like that before. They list it as being a 5692 as well. I have tried a pair of RCA red label 5692 in my Bat VK10se (£60 or £70 can,t remember how much) and they were very good but just a bit to warm. Problem with the 5692 is its not designed for heavy duty use, pre amp, phono stage okay but not as drivers in a power amp. So I am not sure abot these tubes.

If Giant haystacks signs into night he is bound to be able to offer an opinion he knows a lot about 6SN7 tubes. as does Jack williams of Ecofan.

Thats the one I think is very good http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6SN7GTB-6sn7-Tung-Sol-New-Issue_W0QQitemZ350223058384QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_C ollectables_RadioTelevision_Telephony_SM?hash=item 518aebc5d0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14. £12.99 each too.

Regards D S D L

Mike
30-07-2009, 22:44
I just like them coz they're 'pretty'! :lol: :doh: :lol:

Mike
30-07-2009, 22:46
Here's the 'proper' site... http://www.sophiaelectric.com/

Marco
30-07-2009, 22:48
Mikey,

They could well be excellent, but as you know it's very much suck it and see with valves - there are so many variables! :)

I like valves with as little sonic signature as possible (the same as almost anything else in my system), so when I read their sound being described in terms of a 'graphic equaliser' I usually steer clear.

That's why I like the Brimars, as to my ears in my system they sound open and dynamic without seemingly over-emphasising any part of the frequency range, and they also have the magic of NOS, in terms of musical presentation, which I've yet to hear from current stock valves.

How would you describe the balance of your system at the moment, in terms of tonality? Does it lack 'sparkle' or is it a little edgy; conversely, is it quite bass-rich or a little lean?

You can tune out some of the above to a degree with your choice of valves. Generally speaking, new stock valves sound more explicit and 'etched' in their presentation, whereas good NOS valves have give more body and texture.

Your answers to the questions above will determine what I recommend next.

Marco.

Marco
30-07-2009, 22:53
Oh, if yer after 'coke bottles', these are the ultimate babies:

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160339089803

See also here: http://www.tubedepot.com/nos-ecc32.html

They're arguably the best 6SN7 types you can buy!

You'll need to find another two, though ;)

Marco.

Mike
30-07-2009, 22:54
How would you describe the balance of your system at the moment, in terms of tonality? Does it lack 'sparkle' or is it a little edgy; conversely, is it quite bass-rich or a little lean?


I can't really answer that accurately I'm afraid. :(

I'm still pissing about with the speakers too much. Not at all sure they're going to stay either. :scratch:

I'm pretty sure that all the valves are of modern manufacture though....

Mike
30-07-2009, 22:57
Oh, if yer after 'coke bottles', these are the ultimate babies:

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160339089803

They're arguably the best 6SN7s you can buy!

You'll need to find another two, though ;)

Marco.

No... I'd need to find FOUR. That listing has ended! ;)

Marco
30-07-2009, 23:00
Yeah I know, it was just as a reference :)

Google away!

Marco.

Spectral Morn
30-07-2009, 23:02
Oh, if yer after 'coke bottles', these are the ultimate babies:

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160339089803

See here also: http://www.tubedepot.com/nos-ecc32.html

They're arguably the best 6SN7 types you can buy!

You'll need to find another two, though ;)

Marco.

The only problem with those like the 288c I have, is they are a possible replacement, but are not the same as the tubes they might be replacing. The spec is vital in the tube electronics being used, what voltages etc.

Regards D S D L

Marco
30-07-2009, 23:07
Absolutely. As such, it's always best to check the circuit or consult the designer of the amp :)

If they work though, ECC82s are bloody good!

Another top-notch one is the Osram B65:

http://www.tejastubes.com/NOSMarconiOsramB65MetalBase.htm

Check the price, though!! :lol:

I've got two that I keep as spare for the Copper amp ;)

Marco.

Mike
30-07-2009, 23:12
Hmmm...

Thinks I might just keep me eye on this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Western-Electric-101D-101-D-Metal-base-tennis-ball-tube_W0QQitemZ390074877690QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVinta ge_Electronics_R2?hash=item5ad24646fa&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Marco
30-07-2009, 23:15
Wotcha gonna do - use it as a suppository? :lolsign:

Marco.

Mike
30-07-2009, 23:17
Not reeeally...

But me new amp does use one as a voltage stabiliser like! :eyebrows:

Marco
30-07-2009, 23:19
Aha, could be nice then :)

Tube rolling is such fun - it's one of the reasons why ss kit is so boring!!

Marco.

Mike
30-07-2009, 23:29
Did you know... Western Electric claimed those things were good for 75,000 hours!

Marco
30-07-2009, 23:42
Now that's a useful little factoid! :)

Meanwhile, just to make you jealous, here's a picture of my treasured B65s with their original boxes:

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9931/b65valves.png (http://img43.imageshack.us/i/b65valves.png/)

;)

(These ones are actually from another site, but mine are absolutely identical).

Marco.

Mike
22-08-2009, 00:13
Nice.... probably! ;) This is a new tube to me, so I'm right at the bottom of the learning curve.

To which end... I've got a quad of 1950's GE jobbies on the way to me. Lets see what they can bring to the party! :)