[DenverW]

Besides the two obvious ones (the three hole plates and the date codes) the things I look for are the bottom getter and the rectangular micas with the three 'teeth' on the top mica. There are some other characteristics but this pretty much narrows it down. I haven't heard every 6sn7 tubes so I'm sure there are some that best this, but its still one of my favorites. It may not have the huge low end of the ken rad, but I found it overall a bit more musical and balanced. If you got one under $70 then it was quite a steal!

As far as some of the power tubes (Bendix 6080 for example), they've been getting rarer and rarer. There hasn't been a Bendix for sale on hifishark in over 2 weeks.

 

[JKDJedi]

Besides the two obvious ones (the three hole plates and the date codes) the things I look for are the bottom getter and the rectangular micas with the three 'teeth' on the top mica. There are some other characteristics but this pretty much narrows it down. I haven't heard every 6sn7 tubes so I'm sure there are some that best this, but its still one of my favorites. It may not have the huge low end of the ken rad, but I found it overall a bit more musical and balanced. If you got one under $70 then it was quite a steal!

As far as some of the power tubes (Bendix 6080 for example), they've been getting rarer and rarer. There hasn't been a Bendix for sale on hifishark in over 2 weeks.

Bendix and GEC, keep looking but nada. And yes, $69! I saw it and rubbed my eyes good before buying, thinking the grey plates in the sellers photos might have put off potential buyers, in person they are not as grey as the photos made them out to be. And yes, highly musical.

 

[sfleming]

I’ve been liking this Sylvania doing driver duty in my Dennis Had amp.

 

[Ranger Ron]

I’ve been liking this Sylvania doing driver duty in my Dennis Had amp.

the good ol' "bad boy" as they say. I would love to try a Dennis Had amp.

 

[Ranger Ron]

the good ol' "bad boy" as they say. I would love to try a Dennis Had amp.

I’ve been liking this Sylvania doing driver duty in my Dennis Had amp.

Have you ever tried a late 40's 2 hole top getter 'chrome domed' sylvania 6sn7GT?

 

[JKDJedi]

Have you ever tried a late 40's 2 hole top getter 'chrome domed' sylvania 6sn7GT?

Two hole....had to reread that.. have three hole 6SN7GT short bottles, the one fully chromed out 6SN7GT is hard to tell.

 

[Ripper2860]

I believe those are 50's Chrome Domes. Very nice and well regarded tubes!!!

 

[sfleming]

I'm really new to the 6SN7 game, I sort of lucked into getting that Sylvania I have.
The private party included it when I purchased the amp. I saw date code 226 and I thought, really well that's a little bonus?
I do plan on getting some other 6SN7s like the chrome domes you mentioned, just to get some others for comparison and backup purposes.

 

[JKDJedi]

I believe those are 50's Chrome Domes. Very nice and well regarded tubes!!!

Did they make these to 58'? I'm uncertain about the far right one, it's date codes are 1958 (or 1948?) according to a literature (I'll try to post that PDF ) the top getter short bottle 6SN7GT was manufactured to 1953. Might have to grab that book @Paladin79 recommended "Tube Lore" to help solve this for me. I'm sure it's probably a 58 , I've seen a brown base 49' Chrome dome pop up around here. According to this listing the Chrome Dome was manufactured from 1944 to 1953, mistaken?

PDF File ---> https://www.dropbox.com/s/2to8potozm6y3s2/Octal_Tubes_March_2018.pdf?dl=0

 

[Ranger Ron]

Did they make these to 58'? I'm uncertain about the far right one, it's date codes are 1958 (or 1948?) according to a literature (I'll try to post that PDF ) the top getter short bottle 6SN7GT was manufactured to 1953. Might have to grab that book @Paladin79 recommended "Tube Lore" to help solve this for me. I'm sure it's probably a 58 , I've seen a brown base 49' Chrome dome pop up around here. According to this listing the Chrome Dome was manufactured from 1944 to 1953, mistaken?

PDF File ---> https://www.dropbox.com/s/2to8potozm6y3s2/Octal_Tubes_March_2018.pdf?dl=0

I believe the best sounding ones are 40's to the very early 50's. The bottom mica and the number of holes in plate are what matter in identifying them, compared to the early gta types that look very similar. They are very similar in construction to the short bottle 6sn7w minus the umbrella spokes and supporting rod.

 

[Paladin79]

the good ol' "bad boy" as they say. I would love to try a Dennis Had amp.

I run a Dennis Had power amp at times, @bcowen knows them pretty well and gifted me some caps so I could upgrade a bit.That is an SLA 70 Mark II on the bottom. I also have a borrowed Cary phono pre-amp that I hook up on occasion. Currently I am using a Schiit Freya + with the as well as a pre-amp out from one of my own designs.

Bill also gave me an entire set of tubes including some GE's for the Cary lol, there are some Tung Sols in there instead of those now but he meant well, sort of. One day I need to send the guy something as a thank you. Maybe five shares of GE stock.

 

[Ranger Ron]

Did they make these to 58'? I'm uncertain about the far right one, it's date codes are 1958 (or 1948?) according to a literature (I'll try to post that PDF ) the top getter short bottle 6SN7GT was manufactured to 1953. Might have to grab that book @Paladin79 recommended "Tube Lore" to help solve this for me. I'm sure it's probably a 58 , I've seen a brown base 49' Chrome dome pop up around here. According to this listing the Chrome Dome was manufactured from 1944 to 1953, mistaken?

PDF File ---> https://www.dropbox.com/s/2to8potozm6y3s2/Octal_Tubes_March_2018.pdf?dl=0

Yup. 1948. Looks beautiful.

 

[JKDJedi]

Yup. 1948. Looks beautiful.

Thanks, and thank you @Ripper2860

I believe those are 50's Chrome Domes. Very nice and well regarded tubes!!!

Thanks @Ripper2860 I can't find these anymore, would love to have a 1950 Chrome Dome.

 

[Ripper2860]

I believe the best sounding ones are 40's to the very early 50's. The bottom mica and the number of holes in plate are what matter in identifying them, compared to the early gta types that look very similar. They are very similar in construction to the short bottle 6sn7w minus the umbrella spokes and supporting rod.

Agreed. I think '53 is approx. where the Chrome Dome magic ends. Most I've found available are early 50's GT. The later GT/As ('54+, IIRC) don't seem to carry on the tradition of the GTs. The trio shows one with a 3 (1953) date code.

Thanks, and thank you @Ripper2860

Thanks @Ripper2860 I can't find these anymore, would love to have a 1950 Chrome Dome.

'50-'52 are the sweet-spot. Look for Magnavox and Motorola branded Chrome Domes with the 312 MFG code (Sylvania).

 

[Ranger Ron]

Agreed. I think '53 is approx. where the Chrome Dome magic ends. Most I've found available are early 50's GT. The later GT/As ('54+, IIRC) don't seem to carry on the tradition of the GTs. The trio shows one with a 3 (1953) date code.



'50-'52 are the sweet-spot. Look for Magnavox and Motorola branded Chrome Domes with the 312 MFG code (Sylvania).

Absolutely. The gta to me sound lean in comparison. Great width but no real magic. I will definitely keep an eye for those rebranded ones. Emerson is another I've found.