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6SL7 tube - need a great pair

post #1 of 16
12/21/10 at 9:50pm
Thread Starter 

Hey,

 

I'm looking to replace the bog-standard 6SL7 Sovteks that come with my Manley Labs 300B amp as they're meant to be pretty average. Ideally I want something with body and dynamics that will complement my new HD800.

 

I don't mind the price as long as they're good.

 

I actually found a pair of Tungsol CTL 6SL7GT at http://tubedepot.com/pa-6sl7gt-3.html

 

Are they good? Also, is tubedepot.com a good place o order from?

 

Cheers.

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post #2 of 16
12/21/10 at 10:31pm
I'm not much of a tuberoller, but I've been running RCA 6SL7s in my amps. Not terribly expensive or hard to find, but I like the way they sound. If you can find a cheap pair, give them a try.
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post #3 of 16
12/22/10 at 12:38pm
Thread Starter 

Interesting, thanks.

 

I think I'm going to get a pair of 300B as well as it probably makes more sense to replace those at the same time.

 

Sophia Electric seem to make good 300B/6SL7 variants.

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post #4 of 16
12/22/10 at 9:06pm
Those Tung-sol CTL 6SL7GTs are certainly very good, but the price tube depot sells them for is a bit high IMO. look for some Tung- Sol 6SU7GTY's. The 6SU7 is a carefully selected 6SL7, and excellent sounding. Mullard ECC35's are also terrific but tend to be very expensive. My favorite cheap 6SL7 is the Sylvania 6SL7WGT. You can usually get those very reasonably and they sound great.
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post #5 of 16
12/22/10 at 10:17pm

Check out the Adzam (philips holland) and the GE's at Upscale audio.  pretty good price too.  I love the Adzams and have a set of the GE quads coming too.  Far better than the Sophia's in my setup (not to mention the crappy stock tubes).

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/products/tubes/6sl7.html

Upscale is also the best dealer (most reliable and consistent) that I've worked with.

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post #6 of 16
12/23/10 at 4:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post

Those Tung-sol CTL 6SL7GTs are certainly very good, but the price tube depot sells them for is a bit high IMO. look for some Tung- Sol 6SU7GTY's. The 6SU7 is a carefully selected 6SL7, and excellent sounding. Mullard ECC35's are also terrific but tend to be very expensive. My favorite cheap 6SL7 is the Sylvania 6SL7WGT. You can usually get those very reasonably and they sound great.


Are these Tung-Sols a better deal?

 

Link.

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post #7 of 16
12/23/10 at 5:22am

I like RCA red base (but make sure it has white writing)

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post #8 of 16
12/23/10 at 6:50am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazza View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post

Those Tung-sol CTL 6SL7GTs are certainly very good, but the price tube depot sells them for is a bit high IMO. look for some Tung- Sol 6SU7GTY's. The 6SU7 is a carefully selected 6SL7, and excellent sounding. Mullard ECC35's are also terrific but tend to be very expensive. My favorite cheap 6SL7 is the Sylvania 6SL7WGT. You can usually get those very reasonably and they sound great.


Are these Tung-Sols a better deal?

 

Link.


Well, $150/pair is better than $200 pair, sure wink_face.gif

 

I just looked around, and the TS BGRP (black glass round plate) 6SL7 had gone up a lot in price, probably due to the escalating price of it's 6SN7 brother.  The TS BGRP 6SU7GTY's I see on EBay are now going for $300-400 per pair!  I bought quite a few of these for $20 each several years ago.

 

Still, they are nice tubes, but you can get these for $60:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/2matched-1955-56-Sylvania-JAN-CHS-6SL7WGT-6SL7-WGT-tube-/360318033465

 

Lightly used but very nice.  I have also bought from that seller with good results.

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post #9 of 16
12/23/10 at 10:25am

Check out my fs zana deux with uprgrades thread in the fs archive.  I have some excellent 6SL7 tubes, including a pair of mullard short brown base ECC35's that I may let go and just sell the amp stock. 

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post #10 of 16
12/23/10 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post


I just looked around, and the TS BGRP (black glass round plate) 6SL7 had gone up a lot in price, probably due to the escalating price of it's 6SN7 brother.  The TS BGRP 6SU7GTY's I see on EBay are now going for $300-400 per pair!  I bought quite a few of these for $20 each several years ago.

 

Wow.  I purchased a nice pair of those for $200 just 2 months ago.  Talk about inflation.

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post #11 of 16
12/24/10 at 12:58pm

If some is still looking for a pair of 6SU7s http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1298404654&/Tungsol-------Matched-pair--6s

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post #12 of 16
12/31/10 at 1:50am
Thread Starter 

Right, so, I managed to score a set of NOS Sylvania 6SL7GT for $50.

 

sylvania6sl7gtphoto.jpg

 

I haven't had a listen yet but the noise I was getting on the right channel has gone so that's a good thing!

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post #13 of 16
10/23/11 at 8:37pm

Posting here since I can't find a more recent 6SL7 thread...

 

Does anyone have any experience with the TJ Full Music 6SL7s?  DIY is selling matched pairs for $110.  Trying to decide between these or some NOS Sylvania 6SL7 VT-229 or Sylvania chrome domes, which are a good margin cheaper.  I suppose the Sophia Electric is an option, too ($100 grade A/$80 grade B) each, but I'm leaning against them based on the sound signature reports of the other Sophia Electric models.

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post #14 of 16
10/24/11 at 5:58am

I have a single Sophia Electric grade A with all of 200 hrs on it, if that.  So if you change your mind on the Sophias, let me know... sold off the amp I was using it with, so don't have any use for it anymore.

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post #15 of 16
10/24/11 at 10:02am

Thanks for the offer, I'll keep it in mind.  I'm leaning a bit against the Sophia Electrics unless they're fantastic, since I'd still need to buy 3 more of them to make a quad.

 

Did you have a chance to compare your Sophia against any NOS tubes?

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