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For 6AS7G tube rollers here .....
Oct 8, 2019 at 5:29 AM Post #4,534 of 9,574
JKDJedi said:
Would you guys agree with this list? I found it interesting. He reviewed a dozen tubes and listed them from The BEst down to 16th ALL TIME GREATS.

I.a) GEC Curved Brown Base 6AS7G A1834 CV2523
I.b) Western Electric 421A
I.c) GEC Straight Brown Base 6AS7G A1834 CV2523

II.a.i) Tung Sol 5998
II.a.ii) Tung Sol 421A
II.a.iii) Cetron/Tung Sol 7236
II.b.i) Bendix 6080WB with slotted graphite cross columns
II.b.ii) Bendix 6080WB with solid graphite cross columns
II.b.iii) Bendix 6080WB with solid graphite columns
II.c) Bendix 6080WB
II.d) Mullard (Telefunken/Valvo/GEC) 6080WA CV2984
II.e) Sylvania 7236

III.a) Sylvania Gold Brand 6080
III.b) Tung Sol Chatham 6AS7G
III.c) RCA 6AS7G
III.d) Tung Sol 6080 or 6080WA

Tubes not included in this review:
6H13/ECC230 (Various labels: Philips/Amperex/Svetlana/Winged-C)
5998A
6AS7GA
Sylvania 6AS7G
Any other 6080WA/WB/WC variant not listed

http://the-key.enix.org/~krystal/review-tube-bottlehead.html
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Having tried all the top tier ones in a modified Crack (the amplifier used to evaluate the tubes) the review has done a very good job of describing the different characteristics its a tough thing to do and put on paper.

I have the GEC 6as7g curved and straight base tubes and would chose the curved base as a favourite every time. The tube was originally produced by Marconi with the round base there are also some differences in getter construction on the earlier tubes which may account for slightly different sonics this may not have been noticed when comparing straight vs rounded base who knows I am sure while the plates and structure may have had slight differences the chemical recipes used for coating plates would most likely have changed for one reason or another over the years of prodution.

Plate structure of the GEC 6asg and 6080 is the same they were both manufactured on the same assembly line but they do have different getters and do have their own unique sonics so small differences in construction do have a noticeable impact in sonics.

This brings me on to the 5998 so far I have owned at least six 5998 tubes that had differing internal construction from each other which is not surprising as the first tubes were produces in the 50's and last in the 70's so I believe. Personally I definitely have a preference for the early 50's clear top 5998 above later produced WE421a's. But we all hear thing differently and probably no two Bottlehead Cracks are the same due to modding or the type and brand of driver tube used in front there is just a myriad of combinations possible..
 
Oct 8, 2019 at 3:14 PM Post #4,535 of 9,574
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Oct 23, 2019 at 12:25 AM Post #4,536 of 9,574
Anyone had experience with the different types of Sylvania 6080? Wa/wb/wc and the gold brand? I’m curious if there is much of a sonic difference between them. There are some real mixed reviews on the 6080, some people love it and some say it’s a muddy mess. Wondering if it’s the different iterations?
 
Oct 23, 2019 at 12:50 AM Post #4,537 of 9,574
DenverW said:
Anyone had experience with the different types of Sylvania 6080? Wa/wb/wc and the gold brand? I’m curious if there is much of a sonic difference between them. There are some real mixed reviews on the 6080, some people love it and some say it’s a muddy mess. Wondering if it’s the different iterations?
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Hard to say, I have the Sylvania Gold Brand 6080WA and a Mullard made Philips 6080, both phenomenal and not anything close to this "muddy" sound. Some tubes mesh really well with 6080, 7N7 for example. It's more of a neutral sounding tube with emphasis in vocals, although the Gold Brand Sylvania had been described as a musical tube. Thinking it has something to do with the slight warm tone to it. What amp are you using? And what preamp tubes do you have now?
 
Oct 23, 2019 at 1:00 AM Post #4,538 of 9,574
Slade01 said:
Thank you for that. I was not - and have not been a fan of the 6080 tube for some time now, since trying but being sorely disappointed with my first 6080 -- the JAN Sylvania 6080WB, which just did not sound good no matter what tube I paired with it at the time. Since getting rid of one of my RCA 6AS7s (going bad), i've decided for kicks to give the 6080 another shot, and figure I just have to find the right synergy that works. I've never considered the RCA 6080 as users within the (darkvoice tube rolling) threads usually favor other power tubes over the RCA 6080 probably 8 out of 10 times. Then again, I have loved the RCA 6AS7G and 6SN7 Gray Glass as well as the 6F8G for what it adds to warmth and body musically. So good enough for me to give it a go. Thanks again!
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Hi S01,
One thing I have learnt is that the same tube sounds different in different amps. If the majority of owners of a specific amp prefer a specific tube it is a good bet that it will work for you.
Since you like the RCA 6AS7G, why don’t you get a replacement? Usually they are inexpensive and you only need one.
 
Oct 23, 2019 at 1:14 AM Post #4,539 of 9,574
I have a number of different Sylvania 6080 tubes. Some of the later production are branded Philips and even Mullard! (Sylvania/Philips tubes branded Mullard could cost ten times more!)
One giveaway that it is a Sylvania tube is a grey Bakelite bottom of the metal encased socket.
The Gold brand was supposed to be 10,000 hour tubes but I don’t think that has any bearing on how it sounds.
In general I preferred the older tubes from the late 50’s early 60’s.
For recommendations you would have to consider the synergy with other tubes in the amp you are using.
 
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Oct 23, 2019 at 2:50 AM Post #4,540 of 9,574
Here is a list of tubes that I’m using either with my Darkvoice or bottlehead crack. I’m still looking to try some more Sylvania such as the 6080 or 6sn7w. I’m ALWAYS open to suggestions from everyone :).

Power tubes

Tung sol 7236 - go to power tube

Tung sol 6080

Chatham 5998

RCA 6AS7G

Mullard 6080




Input tubes

Westinghouse 6SN7GTA - surprised how much I like this one.

JJ ECC802S

Phillips E80cc gold pin

RCA 12bh7a

Tung sol 12bh7a

Tungsram e80cc

Raytheon 6F8G smoked glass

Ken rad vt-231

Tung sol mouse ears 6sn7gt

RCA VT-231

CBS/Hytron 6SN7GT

Sylvania 6sn7gt 1952
 
Oct 23, 2019 at 6:25 AM Post #4,541 of 9,574
mordy said:
Hi S01,
One thing I have learnt is that the same tube sounds different in different amps. If the majority of owners of a specific amp prefer a specific tube it is a good bet that it will work for you.
Since you like the RCA 6AS7G, why don’t you get a replacement? Usually they are inexpensive and you only need one.
Click to expand...

No doubt. As far as 6080 tubes go, I have found solace with tung sol/chatham 6080WA.
 
Oct 23, 2019 at 6:40 AM Post #4,542 of 9,574
DenverW said:
Anyone had experience with the different types of Sylvania 6080? Wa/wb/wc and the gold brand? I’m curious if there is much of a sonic difference between them. There are some real mixed reviews on the 6080, some people love it and some say it’s a muddy mess. Wondering if it’s the different iterations?
Click to expand...

I am no fan of the Sylvania JAN 6080WB this tube to me was a muddy bloated mess (at least in a dark voice amp). I do have Chatham 6080WA which sound great. For Sylvania, sonic wise it seems to be consensus that the 6080 Gold Brand is the best of the bunch. I have also read that in general, the older the 6080 is - better it sounds. Meaning as it goes through the variants - the SQ goes down. Not sure how true it is, and I only have experience with two tubes. If that is truly the case, the cut off for me personally is at WA variant, because the WB made me hate 6080. lol.

If youre looking for a Sylvania 6080, stick with the gold brand version and older the better per @JKDJedi and @mordy.
 
Oct 23, 2019 at 10:00 AM Post #4,543 of 9,574
DenverW said:
Here is a list of tubes that I’m using either with my Darkvoice or bottlehead crack. I’m still looking to try some more Sylvania such as the 6080 or 6sn7w. I’m ALWAYS open to suggestions from everyone :).

Power tubes

Tung sol 7236 - go to power tube

Tung sol 6080

Chatham 5998

RCA 6AS7G

Mullard 6080




Input tubes

Westinghouse 6SN7GTA - surprised how much I like this one.

JJ ECC802S

Phillips E80cc gold pin

RCA 12bh7a

Tung sol 12bh7a

Tungsram e80cc

Raytheon 6F8G smoked glass

Ken rad vt-231

Tung sol mouse ears 6sn7gt

RCA VT-231

CBS/Hytron 6SN7GT

Sylvania 6sn7gt 1952
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Nice collection there, and yeah I was surprised by them Westinghouses the same. The Sylvania you want is the Gold Brand. If you want something Sylvania made that's laidback, one of them newer Philips 6080 tubes (with the grey bottom, thanks @mordy ) are nice and don't cost much at all.
 
Oct 23, 2019 at 11:09 AM Post #4,544 of 9,574
Oct 23, 2019 at 11:48 AM Post #4,545 of 9,574
DenverW said:
This might be worth a look too, seems to be the Mullard factory codes?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/one-pair-v...274585?hash=item3b2ffe7099:g:PZ8AAOSwaXpb3hUu
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First link has same factory codes... Discription..

"They are branded Philips and they come in original Philips boxes + wrapped in paper. They are made in Mullard Mitcham tube plant, and codes are clearly visible on 2nd photo A1J R1G".

The exact same tube In my possession. Brown base....not grey.
00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190822170219991_COVER.jpg
 

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