[HTSkywalker]

You just made a friend in @bcowen with that statement ^^^^

Joining the GE cult under the famous GE Big Kahuna @bcowen

 

[HTSkywalker]

LOL! It's my patriotic duty. The Russians are simply not allowed to have better sounding tubes than us, even if they made them.

Make sure to export the GEs to them as part of the exchange program lol

 

[hottyson]

To my knowledge, there is no such tube as a "Fonon," other than a Russian seller or two that list them as such (either due to language differences or typos). There are quite audible differences within the Fotons themselves though, with the 1950's production years sounding better (to my ears) than the early '60's, and the early '60's sound better than late 60's or beyond. The year should be listed to the bottom right of the Foton diamond...if it's still legible.

Below a 1953 with ribbed plates (anodes) with the year in the yellow circle:

Perhaps someone can help me to identify what this good sounding tube that the seller calls a Fonon 6N8S actually is.
Printed faintly on the glass is
6H8C
8609
In these photos the Tube with the pink sticker is the usual 6N8S Foton. The other is the tube that that seller calls a Fonon 6N8S.

 

[hottyson]

I was able to capture the faint lettering with a flashlight.

 

[HTSkywalker]

I was able to capture the faint lettering with a flashlight.

That's pretty forensic work you are doing there

 

[bcowen]

I was able to capture the faint lettering with a flashlight.

Most likely that is a Novosibirsk factory tube. I'm not terribly familiar with the codes on those, but the '8609' may mean 1986. That one looks pretty much identical to the ones in this listing that show the Novosibirsk symbol:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6pcs-6N8S-Fonon-6H8C-6SN7GT-USSR-Double-Triode-Tubes-New/274679960582?_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item3ff4339406:g:M2UAAOSw4a9gJUts&amdata=enc:AQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkY3FSd4Ad8xn3oRtkVexxrB4JZroObSDQj7Azs9KYDMPM7ppK1Kcdvc5RI0%2FufNlZLnSoYfLFG1VOCjGVByEAG2TTBKfMv4ROzxzLaUQqBjmtindMM%2BaHaDfPUeEr%2BKkzPvmvY5nGfFMag7Vl%2BId5qi2rrg8wbSKy678YFL7yE8zWYhgI8Ff2C%2BZrkR8ILQosDOi9WpOOpbkJOcBczA%2Fyd4MGXkisomXJXlbFSXqoDWWK%2F7vSgWeJVITnmDhsuofBq9rwdqYxCGDZQyVpFJ%2F2tGNg8VuU%2Fuoa%2Bn%2BV8VT7UiAapJWKC2vIFCStD0bWuPqBGQODr8YZJZWqNEbn1T7DC6ReDFmuR6OdoQTTrDwcsYeNuKQTnQgxCMZzeZtmBjqOuteohoVe6Xn3Rsf7KxfrwoQXGGfeeXuLntv5QUAXCDaCEuKARkuuykyIKRczF6t%2FVhXy87nF4KnB3IT5Ou5CEhGPnkOY0l5FfK89xhA4G0hQiVCml3MjVLQE5sVAL12Z0ADgM%2BAF51%2FHzjEJwrVx1SNu%2FzyTJgSI4kq%2BgpcAjtsdszMw%2BsbeTQJ8LrShDMQziFHA7IbwHGaVLqRqXktFQC%2F0Zo69b915hi6QKTo01sY1cVLBjqW7BPQmFo%2FwKEIunEDTkjqi6iOWgtb8B9W3VfPaTz1l1RT2Lgw28vsig5TeYzEaE2jo1ggnC1q%2BuSbAdRmfH0Tm59PvRTidupjHdk0Ivu0dUS8%2Bw7r%2BnExfrjx1MQS6oaGj9i0HtWceYRmeBRmk465ncC534T4sQEcH%2FQ%3D%3D|cksum:2746799605823b493305a4d34f8e9820a78653083626|ampidL_CLK|clp:2334524

And here's a short list of the most popular Russian factory symbols:

http://www.jacmusic.com/nos/RUSSIAN-BRANDS/brands.htm

 

[hottyson]

Most likely that is a Novosibirsk factory tube. I'm not terribly familiar with the codes on those, but the '8609' may mean 1986. That one looks pretty much identical to the ones in this listing that show the Novosibirsk symbol:

And here's a short list of the most popular Russian factory symbols:

http://www.jacmusic.com/nos/RUSSIAN-BRANDS/brands.htm

Wow! You found it! The symbol is not visible on the tubes I bought from that seller. Good eye! I looked at those pics when I bought them but I did not even see the pentagram symbol on those eBay pics until zooming in after you posted. Thank you so much!!!

Compared to the Foton 6H8C, this 1986 Novosibirsk 6H8C has a tiny bit more wet sound to it and a more pronounced upper mid/lower treble that is not as rough. This is the driver tube I enjoy the most and I am going to stick with it.

 

[Galapac]

Maybe that is why the seller calls the Novosibirsk tubes Fonons, not Fotons....

 

[Galapac]

I noticed @Paladin79 hasn't posted for a few days in the thread.
After awhile you build a camaraderie with fellow Head-Fi members and enjoy the daily back and forth.
Hope all is well buddy and that you are just taking some time off from the digital domain and enjoying life and the wife's new She Shed.
Sometimes we all need a break...I call it equilibrium like the pictured coin...a balance of the digital and analog.

 

[HTSkywalker]

I noticed @Paladin79 hasn't posted for a few days in the thread.
After awhile you build a camaraderie with fellow Head-Fi members and enjoy the daily back and forth.
Hope all is well buddy and that you are just taking some time off from the digital domain and enjoying life and the wife's new She Shed.
Sometimes we all need a break...I call it equilibrium like the pictured coin...a balance of the digital and analog.

No worries, he is alive and kicking on the 6SN7 thread

 

[Galapac]

No worries, he is alive and kicking on the 6SN7 thread

There is a 6SN7 thread? I know there is a 6AS7 thread but didn't know there was one for 6SN7...you have a link?

 

[HTSkywalker]

There is a 6SN7 thread? I know there is a 6AS7 thread but didn't know there was one for 6SN7...you have a link?

There you go
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...m_medium=email&utm_source=thread_forum_macros

 

[Galapac]

There you go
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...m_medium=email&utm_source=thread_forum_macros

Thank you sir!

 

[HTSkywalker]

Thank you sir!

Most welcome

 

[qingcai]

anybody tried this caps?