6SN7 Tube Addicts - Page 204

In my system the TS BGRP 6sn7 are kind of lifeless. Still better than the "cheap" ones.  But given there price I surely expected more.  My only cheap tube that sounds good is a Lansdale 7n7.  Cost me lest than 20.00 for a pair.  Also Mullard ECC32 sounds average for the price, while their ECC35 sounds better to my ears.  All this is on my current amp.  Can not wait to try them with the Cavalli Liquid Glass.

To me, so far I have not found anything better sounding than a expensive 1940's Sylvania VT-231 military spec'd tube (part of the 'GT' suffix line of the 6SN7 series). Amp > my modded DV336SE. Have yet to try it in my Crack though. 

When I first brought the TS-BGRP's in, I had issues upstream on the digital side. Other tube pairings masked the timing and reflection issues I was having. Perhaps, I should offer that nothing wrong really stood out or leaped out at me. 

 

For whatever reason, the USAF-596/TS-BGRP pairing was the first pairing to sound noticeably wrong.  Swapped in the EML Glass, things improved... a lot. Then paired the EML with the Ray 6SN7W's, things are still fine. Swapped  the Mighty 596 back in with the Rays, no problem. Only when the USAF-596/TS-BGRP's  became dance partners, did the wheels come clean off the bus!

 

After consulting with Steve (Empirical Audio), I took his advice to change the length of my digital cable. Problem solved with the premium pairing. But all other pairings weren't noticeable. I also kept both cables for about three months and once a month I'd take the new cable out just to check on things - the new cable stays. 

 

Further, the previous cable was new, and the same model just shorter in length than the newest one. So, it was this experience on day one, that nearly led me to list them that same night. It took three weeks to resolve things - Xcalibur255 kept me from pulling the trigger. I almost blew 'em out the door for 0.99 cents each!!!

 

Ah....but that first session when things were right.  I was all alone with Astrud Gilberto, Angela Bofill and Phyllis Hyman, listening sweetly as the world turned outside the listening room. 

Edited by Silent One - 12/15/12 at 3:53am

It's true that it is about my personal preferences but one has to ask for help because one doesn't know what tube would be good for one's setup. The one is me and I have read the reference thread of 6SN7 many times and I know how they sound but I have no idea which one would be good for my setup, it's mainly the V-shaped headphones that make the decision hard for me.

Tubes are just like all other gear. We all have different predilections !!! I've never thought the RCA Red-base 5692 was a particularly good sounding tube, for example. I like the grey-glass RCA much, much better. And I think the TS BGRP are absolutely wonderful.

Uh, I don't know I have La Figaro 336C, I think it's almost the same as DarkVoice 336i, anyone could help there who owned any of them ? 
It's not like with current setup I lack midrange but what tube can I buy for V-shaped headphones if not a midrange tube,I really like good tight and deep bass though.
If you are open to share a bit of knowledge with me, could you tell me what is your opinion about Tung-Sol WGT brown base ? 
Why you are not so keen on CBS 5692, are they not worth the price? Could you tell me how they sound because in the reference thread there is a little about it.
The thing is that my power tube (bigger one) is quite good I should say it's Chatham 6AS7G but the front tube is just Raytheon 6SN7GTB, so I'm just looking for an overall improvement, I like the signature that it has now but I believe that I can get more from this setup.
 

How are the Sophia Electric/Fullmusic 6SN7 tubes?

Your current pairing sounds pretty decent to me.  The Raytheons are good tubes, much better than what came with your amp.

 

 

I just received a pair this morning, will let you know when they're sufficiently burned in. 

 

Edit: The fullmusic ones that is

Have the Sophia Electric ones, ordered them together with a Princess 274B mesh plate. First listen I honestly didn't like them at all. After some hiatus, I tried them again recently (with a slightly different combination) and actually thought they were OK, but nothing particularly outstanding.

 

Maybe some other combination of tubes would bring out their best but frankly when it comes to new/current production tubes, I'll take my pair of Psvane CV181s any day: very punchy, great for rock (most exciting rendition of my favourite Porcupine Tree tracks for example) but sometimes a bit much for other genres where I prefer a mellower selection.

Someone once said the Sophia/TJs sound like a mouse ear Tung Sol.  That is actually pretty high praise if it is true.  I've been tempted to try one myself, but I'm afraid of kicking off another round of 6SN7 buying when I finally got over the habit.