[BenSherman]

Thanks so much for the recommendations. Any recommendations for replacing the 6N13S power tubes?

 

[LobalWarming]

Oh dear... hear we go!

There's the silly expensive Tungsol 5998 that many state as the best of the 6AS7 style. I'm not one of them. It's decent enough, but waaaaay over-priced. The 6AS7/6080 were designed as AC motor regulators for rugged use. Then discovered in the 90s as output tubes for OTL amps. Back when even 5998s were pretty cheap.

Anyhow... let's start at the top:

Pair of 5998s: https://www.ebay.com/itm/233996686179 - only mildly nosebleed-inducing cost.

Bendix 6080WB Graphite Plates - one of the best, possiblly - and again waaay overpriced: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185687903154

7236 - similar sonics to 5998 - a little leaner, but so much cheaper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/374363855811

Could look for a pair of Chatham 6AS7s - one of my favs of the breed.

Or... a pair of 6BX7s - not a regulator tube - but used for TVs in the 50s... so at least there's the media connection.

Used in singles, they have a little higher output impedance than the 6AS7 family. But to my jaded ears, far more linear and enjoyable - a so much cheaper. In your case using a pair solves that issue - pretty much.

Here's an example of Sylvania 6BX7 pair: https://www.ebay.com/itm/374204269144

The Tungsol and RCA 6080s can be pretty good too. Check the big 6AS7 thread for more.

Also consider 6BL7, has slightly higher gain. The 6BX7/6BL7 only require 1.5A of heater current - 6AS7/6N13S use 2.5A for the heaters. 6BX7 runs cooler. My fav summer output tube.

 

[BenSherman]

Oh dear... hear we go!

There's the silly expensive Tungsol 5998 that many state as the best of the 6AS7 style. I'm not one of them. It's decent enough, but waaaaay over-priced. The 6AS7/6080 were designed as AC motor regulators for rugged use. Then discovered in the 90s as output tubes for OTL amps. Back when even 5998s were pretty cheap.

Anyhow... let's start at the top:

Pair of 5998s: https://www.ebay.com/itm/233996686179 - only mildly nosebleed-inducing cost.

Bendix 6080WB Graphite Plates - one of the best, possiblly - and again waaay overpriced: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185687903154

7236 - similar sonics to 5998 - a little leaner, but so much cheaper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/374363855811

Could look for a pair of Chatham 6AS7s - one of my favs of the breed.

Or... a pair of 6BX7s - not a regulator tube - but used for TVs in the 50s... so at least there's the media connection.

Used in singles, they have a little higher output impedance than the 6AS7 family. But to my jaded ears, far more linear and enjoyable - a so much cheaper. In your case using a pair solves that issue - pretty much.

Here's an example of Sylvania 6BX7 pair: https://www.ebay.com/itm/374204269144

The Tungsol and RCA 6080s can be pretty good too. Check the big 6AS7 thread for more.

Also consider 6BL7, has slightly higher gain. The 6BX7/6BL7 only require 1.5A of heater current - 6AS7/6N13S use 2.5A for the heaters. 6BX7 runs cooler. My fav summer output tube.

Thank you so much - this is incredibly insightful.

I'm in the UK - so have a limited selection. However, based on your info, I've found these:

Power Tubes

General Electric 6AS7GA

Telefunken 6080W

THOMPSON 6080WA

6080WB RAYTHEON JAN

6080 CV2984 Mullard

RCA 6080

GE NATIONAL BLACK BASE 5998A

RCA 6BX7GT (2 available but not being sold as matched pair)


Driver Tubes

Sylvania 6SN7GTB Chrome Top Tall Glass NOS

Do you have experience of the above options? Reckon any of these could be a hidden gem that I should snap up immediately??

 

[LobalWarming]

Power Tubes

General Electric 6AS7GA

Not my 1st choice, not that it's bad, but run away!

Telefunken 6080W

Great tube - if it wasn't a bad fake. Can post links to a real Tele 6080, but then you'd see the price, and your tears would cause a short in all the OTLs in England. Almost.

THOMPSON 6080WA

Can be decent... when reliable. Later production like these have a sketchy reputation for stability... Do you feel lucky? See the last few pages of the 6AS7 thread.

6080WB RAYTHEON JAN

Don't see test results, so how used (up) are they? Good price for a good pair - if there's lots of life left. But we don't know.

6080 CV2984 Mullard

Pricey, but excellent - not neutral, but better - Mullard.

RCA 6080

I like these more than I should admit on Head-Fi. Underrated and underpriced - my fav combo.

GE NATIONAL BLACK BASE 5998A

Some, not @bcowen, of course, consider this a surprisingly decent tube - despite the GE lineage.

RCA 6BX7GT (2 available but not being sold as matched pair)

One of my fav 6BX7s - but this listing seems over-priced.

Again, we must ask, @bcowen, to avert his gaze... but I took a $10 each gamble on late production Phillips ECG 6080s - very decent - prefer them to quite a few other 6080s that cost much more.

Driver Tubes

Sylvania 6SN7GTB Chrome Top Tall Glass NOS

I prefer the earlier production GT, however, these are still better to my ears than almost any new production tube.

 

[bcowen]

Not my 1st choice, not that it's bad, but run away!

Great tube - if it wasn't a bad fake. Can post links to a real Tele 6080, but then you'd see the price, and your tears would cause a short in all the OTLs in England. Almost.

Can be decent... when reliable. Later production like these have a sketchy reputation for stability... Do you feel lucky? See the last few pages of the 6AS7 thread.

Don't see test results, so how used (up) are they? Good price for a good pair - if there's lots of life left. But we don't know.

Pricey, but excellent - not neutral, but better - Mullard.

I like these more than I should admit on Head-Fi. Underrated and underpriced - my fav combo.

Some, not @bcowen, of course, consider this a surprisingly decent tube - despite the GE lineage.

One of my fav 6BX7s - but this listing seems over-priced.

Again, we must ask, @bcowen, to avert his gaze... but I took a $10 each gamble on late production Phillips ECG 6080s - very decent - prefer them to quite a few other 6080s that cost much more.

I prefer the earlier production GT, however, these are still better to my ears than almost any new production tube.

My eyes are burning and my ears are exhibiting sympathetic pain.

Seriously, I'm in close agreement with everything you noted above. The GE 6AS7G is a non-contender to my ears. The GE 5998, OTOH, isn't a bad tube at all. Doesn't score highly with me (but also doesn't offend me), and there are others who find it to be an excellent tube for the money. Nothing to complain about with the RCA 6080 -- good all 'rounder, doesn't do anything wrong. I like the RCA 6AS7GA a little better, but that could just be sample variation as the internals look nearly identical. And I've actually never heard a Philips ECG 6080. My hatred stems from their novals and 6SN7's. If you ever want to make a nice tube amp sound like a $17 Class D amp from China, get some ECG 5814's.

 

[LobalWarming]

...If you ever want to make a nice tube amp sound like a $17 Class D amp from China, get some ECG 5814's.

Thanks for the sonic degradation tip. If that want ever happens, I'll be sure to try them.

Did try one Philips ECG 6SN7. That was enough trying. It now rests, hopefully uncomfortably, in my drawer of shame.

 

[JTbbb]

The GE 5998, OTOH, isn't a bad tube at all. Doesn't score highly with me (but also doesn't offend me),

Hi bcowen, have I missed something here, or have not noted it in its full context. Maybe have knowing me!

But a chrome top dimple plates 5998 is only made by Tungsol? Any other markings are a rebrand? Just like this cheeky little number trying to be something grander than a Tungsol 5998 .

 

[gibosi]

But a chrome top dimple plates 5998 is only made by Tungsol? Any other markings are a rebrand? Just like this cheeky little number trying to be something grander than a Tungsol 5998 .

Yes, as you surmise, it is a TungSol 5998. And sometimes, if one is lucky, these can be bought for considerably less money than one carrying the TungSol brand.

 

[UntilThen]

The GE 5998, OTOH, isn't a bad tube at all. Doesn't score highly with me (but also doesn't offend me)

Let's get the naming right. It's GE 5998A and it doesn't compare with TS 5998. It's a Danny Devito compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger. There's no similarities at all. I use the GE 5998A at the driving range.

 

[UntilThen]

and What just happened? Croatia beat Brazil on penalties. The Samba is gone.............. I'm going back to smashing more GE 5998A.

 

[JTbbb]

Let's get the naming right. It's GE 5998A and it doesn't compare with TS 5998. It's a Danny Devito compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger. There's no similarities at all. I use the GE 5998A at the driving range.

Yes of course, I should of known Mr bcowen knows his onions. Just missing his A game

 

[bcowen]

Yes of course, I should of known Mr bcowen knows his onions. Just missing his A game

Perhaps my wording was not up to snuff. The GE 5998A just doesn’t suck as much as most other GE tubes. Better?

 

[UntilThen]

This is a GE 5998A.



This is my GE 6AS7GA. You can see they are the same. I'm surprised I still have the tubes. Bought from Parts Connexion ages ago.

 

[Ripper2860]

Perhaps my wording was not up to snuff. The GE 5998A just doesn’t suck as much as most other GE tubes. Better?

So it sits somewhere between NC BBQ and Marilyn Manson on the 'Suck Scale'?

 

[UntilThen]

Perhaps my wording was not up to snuff. The GE 5998A just doesn’t suck as much as most other GE tubes. Better?

It's not better than my GE rectifier. This is Thomas Edison own copy.