The Reference 6SN7 Thread - Page 5 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Hirsch · 06-27-2005, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by markmaxx

Question: So from your quote finding the right tube is going to be hard..But is there also any info as far as price i.e. whats a fair price on xyz tubes so we tube newbies don't get taken to the cleaners.

Tube prices are rather volatile. Further, the right price can depend on a number of factors. Has the tube been fully tested? Is it new or used? Will the dealer stand behind the tube if it fails?

I've got a pair of tube testers that I use to check all tubes that I get. I would be very careful buying from eBay without these. There are some good sellers on eBay, who will provide test results on tubes that they are selling. However, buying from known good sellers is more expensive (once people figure out they are good, they get repeat business).

For 6SN7's, tubeseller.com usually has decent pricing that is reflective of what market price normally is.

I can't really provide a price in dollars for any given tube. For example, TSRP's normally have been going around $200/pr on eBay, but that seems to be rising lately, and $275 would be reasonable. However, I just saw a quad go for just over $200, so who knows? The quad was used (value down), one tube had missing locator pin (value drops), and I don't remember if there were test results posted (if not, another value dropper), so the final price may have been right...or not. If those tubes were near the end of their useful life, then even that price was too high. If the tubes tested near NOS, they were a steal.

Rob N · 06-27-2005, 05:22 PM

Also having an original box (in good condition) can push up the price.
The most expensive 6SN7 type I've seen is the Swedish Standard,a rare tube which goes for $650+ a pair

I've seen apair of 6SN7W with metalbase in original military boxes go for over $400.

markmaxx · 06-27-2005, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by Rob N

Also having an original box (in good condition) can push up the price.
The most expensive 6SN7 type I've seen is the Swedish Standard,a rare tube which goes for $650+ a pair I've seen apair of 6SN7W with metalbase in original military boxes go for over $400.

Wow:.... I had no idea, that tubes were so expensive. Thanks guys

Len · 06-28-2005, 12:06 AM

Mark, decent NOS 6SN7s can be had for as little as $20 a pair, with many "premium" pairs occupying the $100-150 range. There are some extremely rare tubes like the Swedish Standard that will fetch top dollar, but you really needn't these tubes for great performance (fact is, I don't really like the Swede 33S30).

adhoc · 06-28-2005, 01:08 AM

looking at construction alone, imo the 'premium' 33S30 suspiciously resembles a 5692-type tube.

Len · 06-28-2005, 01:55 AM

The 3SS30 is indeed a 5692, specially built for the Swedish military.

markmaxx · 06-28-2005, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Len

Mark, decent NOS 6SN7s can be had for as little as $20 a pair, with many "premium" pairs occupying the $100-150 range. There are some extremely rare tubes like the Swedish Standard that will fetch top dollar, but you really needn't these tubes for great performance (fact is, I don't really like the Swede 33S30).

I went to Hirsch's link www.tubeseller.com and there are some Premium 6SN7s in the $115.00 to $375.00 range in deed.

I have not even got my amp yet and I am already worried about new tubes

Sorry for the thread hijack. I can see I have lots to learn. But at least because of you guys, I also have lots to read!

adhoc · 06-28-2005, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by markmaxx

I went to Hirsch's link www.tubeseller.com and there are some Premium 6SN7s in the $115.00 to $375.00 range in deed.

I have not even got my amp yet and I am already worried about new tubes Sorry for the thread hijack. I can see I have lots to learn. But at least because of you guys, I also have lots to read!

actually, with tubeseller.com, you are paying extra for peace of mind.

you could much better prices on, say, eBay - however the caveat is that with eBay comes risk - counterfeiting, unacceptable microphonics, pictures not matching product receievd, faked test results, DOA tubes, lousy packaging et al...

then again, on eBay there is the (granted, unlikely) possibility of finding That Really Great Deal That No One Else Notices.

adhoc · 07-17-2005, 04:36 PM

170705 - some pretty comphrehensive updates have been added for the tube descriptions.

ServinginEcuador · 08-29-2005, 05:15 AM

Your 6SN7 archivist name is quite appropriate! This is a substantial piece of work whose value is immense. Thanks for taking the time to compose such a tome.

A quick comment on this work:

First, unless these individuals used a duo or trio of the same exact tubes it's difficult-impossible to tell if it's a byproduct of interaction in how different tubes sound, or whether it is truly once tube's characteristics coming through. If someone used a SinglePower amp you add a variable of using two different tubes whose strengths can fill in for the weakness of the other tube(s), and ones whose weaknesses combine for a pretty bad sound.

Thoughts on a particular tube's sound characteristic are not nearly as worthwhile when the amp is not listed in with the comments. The context of sound is much more helpful when one knows at least the amp in which the tube's sounds were discovered. If someone has a dry sounding system to start with, and later describes a sound as neutral, we've got the context that helps us figure out what the tube is doing to the sound, and how it makes up for certain flaws in one's system.

Here's an example: I just removed a pair of GE JAN, 1966 vintage tubes that look exactly like the Sylvania bad boys, minus the copper rods. In my SDS-T these tubes are fast, but lean in the bass with a tipped-up sound. The highs were more extended than any other tube I've heard in my system, and with the right driver tube to fill in the bass and drop the highs a little this will be an amazingly good combo. The Ken-Rad and TS RP did nothing to alleviate the lack of bass and pronounce highs, but I won't give up yet as it is a very lively tube that has potential.

Right now I've got a pair of the Syl bad boys with a TS RP in the driver's seat. A superb combo, but sounds a little rolled-off in the highs. This could be due to the change over to from the GE, so I won't yet give a definitive statement on the sound of this combo, but I will say it is very, very good so far. After a couple of days of burning in this trio, and time to let me ears readjust to a lessened high-end, I'll have more to say.

Using two TS RPs in the output stage did something rather unexpected: it nearly killed the high-end of my system. Dark, dark, dark is how I would describe the use of those tubes as outputs. Not my cup o' tea at all!

Using the Ken-Rad with the Syl JAN CHS tubes as outputs was my first trio in this amp, and it was fabulous. I won't give much comment as I later found that one of the tubes was a Bad Boy, and the other was not. May have done some weird things to the sound, making for a less than ideal listening environment.

It wasn't until I found this thread that I realized that I had about (8) of the Bad Boy tubes!! Now that I've installed a pair into my system I'm all

and lovin' the sound.