AudioNervosa

Systemic Development => Amplification and Preamplification => Tubes => Topic started by: jimbones on May 26, 2015, 06:08:07 PM

Title: 6SN7's
Post by: jimbones on May 26, 2015, 06:08:07 PM
SO this is somewhat of a continuation of a thread regarding my new Modwright LS100 preamp/phono. I was not happy with the sound quality as ti has cheap chinese tubes in it. i have almost 300 hours of break in time on it now. I just replaced the rectifier tube with a Mullard and there was a slight improvement. But then i replace the 6SN7's with RCA Grey Glass military tubes (Circa 1944-1949). WOW that was it. This tube has glorious midrange, detailed highs and decent bass. It really has it all. I would highly recommend this tube. This specific tube was chosen to "warm up" the sound of my pre.
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: Werd on May 27, 2015, 06:57:19 AM
Why did it make everything sound like it was in Chinese? ...oiyo toyo oiyo oiyo toyo  oiyooooooo

 :rofl:
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: jimbones on May 27, 2015, 08:35:19 AM
The improvement was so significant that I could notice the improvement while standing BEHIND the speakers. Granted I have hybrid open baffles  :rofl:

The improvement wasn't there until I let the tubes run in for about 15 hours. 
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: Werd on May 27, 2015, 05:02:48 PM
You should go to Home Depot and spend $10 bucks and make one of those werd room audio fans  :lol:. I am not kidding they work good with open baffles like my hybrid Nola's.
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: rollo on November 20, 2016, 08:52:09 AM
  It has been awhile but any suggestions on 6SN7. Does anyone really know the sonic characteristics on the different brands ?


charles
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: topround on November 20, 2016, 04:45:20 PM
jb trio

joe is the authority on these tubes
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: richidoo on November 20, 2016, 05:04:35 PM
Black Treasure CV-181 garners consistent praise. Best one I've heard, but that was probably 6 years ago. Don Sachs recommends them for his Aikido-based preamp. ~$120ea   IME Treasure tubes are worth the money/best. Made in a commie chinese state factory.

Also the new Tung-Sol reissue (New Sensor) worth trying, cheaper than treasure.

Psvane/Grant has a couple expensive versions too. Privately owned chinese factory funded by Grant Audio - your fav  :-P 
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: topround on November 20, 2016, 06:16:13 PM
joe has the black treasures too, not bad, not up to vintage, but not bad for chinese, very liveable with
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: Triode Pete on November 21, 2016, 05:13:40 AM
This is a repeated topic... see http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=1819.0 (http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=1819.0)

A very good resource is here... http://www.audiotubes.com/6sn7.htm (http://www.audiotubes.com/6sn7.htm)

Enjoy,
Pete
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: rollo on November 21, 2016, 08:04:22 AM
  Thanks Pete and Topround.


chrles
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: jimbones on November 21, 2016, 08:38:39 AM
Well recently I have had tube go microphonic on me. So I ordered a set of RCA Grey Glass and a single CBS Hytron to replace  my bad tube. BTW, THE CBS is really good and doesn't get  much attention, therefore cheaper  :lol:
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: goldlizsts on April 13, 2018, 07:46:14 AM
I stumbled on to this old thread.  Years ago, I got hold of someone's recommended 6SN7 tubes, and I got sort of a pair of each, must have been about a dozen, RCA, TungSol, Sylvania, CBS Hytrons.... regulars as well as the military VT231's.  Someone here highly recommended the RCA.  I suspect it's the RCA VT231's also... is that the right name?  Anyhow, I agree it's a good tube.  Somehow, somehow....  oh, I built a preamp from the demised AES company.  Then, a CA friend added a rectifier for me..... With all the 6SN7s I've used, I just love the Shuguang 6SN7s.  I personally love it for its tonality.  For example, the RCAs are good/great, but the Shuguang's mids are just lovely, lovely.  I liked it so much that one time in China, I bought a dozen pairs, at about $10 a pair.  I was actually in the town where the maker is/was, but I never visited the company, sighhhh!????  The Shuguangs have fantastic mids, where the money is, tho in my system it's a bit not as dynamic as the RCAs.....  But... I love to live with the wonderal tonality of it.

I saw some familiar names posting here, so I thought I'd pitch in.  I'm not so much into audio anymore even..... but, here and there I'll play my system, with all its flaws.   :duh
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: Nick B on April 13, 2018, 09:42:16 AM
I stumbled on to this old thread.  Years ago, I got hold of someone's recommended 6SN7 tubes, and I got sort of a pair of each, must have been about a dozen, RCA, TungSol, Sylvania, CBS Hytrons.... regulars as well as the military VT231's.  Someone here highly recommended the RCA.  I suspect it's the RCA VT231's also... is that the right name?  Anyhow, I agree it's a good tube.  Somehow, somehow....  oh, I built a preamp from the demised AES company.  Then, a CA friend added a rectifier for me..... With all the 6SN7s I've used, I just love the Shuguang 6SN7s.  I personally love it for its tonality.  For example, the RCAs are good/great, but the Shuguang's mids are just lovely, lovely.  I liked it so much that one time in China, I bought a dozen pairs, at about $10 a pair.  I was actually in the town where the maker is/was, but I never visited the company, sighhhh!????  The Shuguangs have fantastic mids, where the money is, tho in my system it's a bit not as dynamic as the RCAs.....  But... I love to live with the wonderal tonality of it.

I saw some familiar names posting here, so I thought I'd pitch in.  I'm not so much into audio anymore even..... but, here and there I'll play my system, with all its flaws.   :duh

Nice to have you here, even if it’s just for the occasional visit  :thumb:
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: richidoo on April 13, 2018, 10:03:20 AM
Hey shek. I had same experience with Shuguang 12AU7. I tried many famous vintage tubes and expensive high end new tubes, but I liked the clarity and natural tone of the $7/pair Shuguang the best.  Most people rolled their eyes at me, so I'm glad I'm not the only one who appreciates the value there. Shuguang Black Treasure CV181 is the best 6SN7 I've heard so far, and the Treasure 300B is the best 300B I've heard so far, but my experience is limited. I don't like them coming from government owned factory, so I prefer buying Gold Lion, but I would still buy them if they were the best value.
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: rollo on April 15, 2018, 08:03:27 AM
  Jim the puzzling thing is why did you need to change tubes to get the preamp to sound right ?  We needed to warm it up ? Could it be another component in the chain ?
   I'm thinking front end. Modwright puts out a VG sounding preamp. to begin with. I do not think they would sell many if it was bright sounding. Now there is nothing wrong with coloring a component to fit in however does not make sense.
   So is it the preamp OR is it the preamp is exposing what comes before it ? Question of the day. Do you get the undesired sound from both Digital and Vinyl ? Or just Digital ?


charles
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: jimbones on April 15, 2018, 08:35:22 AM
The Modwright comes supplied with some new production Chinese tubes. Not bad for new stuff but the NOS tubes are better. The CBS Hytron ended up failing too. So I bought a 1960's RCA 6SN7 GTB and paid extra to have them hand selected for super low noise. Andy at VTS did a good job. He said he created a whole new category of tube for this specific selection which is 4 blue dots.
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: rollo on April 16, 2018, 07:46:41 AM
Andy is my go to Guy for any tube. You get the real deal from Andy.


charles
Title: Re: 6SN7's
Post by: jhrlrd on July 25, 2018, 10:57:06 PM
I too like the RCA 6SN7, but preferably the short bottle.
I found the tall bottle, quite consistently, to be microphonic.
Also, better still, the sylvainia VT231