For 6AS7G tube rollers here .....

[spanyam]

I recently tried out many different 6080, 6AS7G tube options. For your price range, I personally think the Chatham JAN-CAHG-6080WA (yellow lettering) is the best sounding and best value for money. I ended up buying an expensive 5998, considered by many to be among the very best, and I like my Chatham JAN-CAHG-6080WA just as much. Plus the Chatham was nearly 4x cheaper. I also tried a Tung-Sol 6080 and it did not sound nearly as good to me as the Chatham version. There's a Chatham JAN CAHG 6080WB as well, but I've not tried that tube and it's probably outside of your budget anyway.

Otherwise, I think the Svetlana Winged "C" 6AS7G / 6H13C would be a good option for that amount of money. I prefer the Chatham 6080WA over it, but the Svetlana is a good sounding tube IMO at that price range.

You should be able to get a pair of either of those for less than $150. The Chatham will be more difficult to find, but there are some pairs on ebay.

Some might say the RCA 6AS7G. I preferred both of the above over it. I tried a couple different RCA's (one which had black plates and one with grey plates). The black plated version sounded different and better than the grey plated version to me, but I couldn't say if it was actually the plates, year of manufacture or something else which made the difference.

Of course, a lot of this is very subjective. You have to try out different tubes to find what sounds best to you personally. If you can buy a tube where there's a return policy that would be best, or short of that don't over-pay so you can resell if the tubes aren't a good fit for you - without losing much $ in the process.

I'm in a similar price range, so thanks for these recommendations! The only ones I can find are the RCA and the Svetlanas. Does the print color on the Svetlana matter (gold vs grey)? I can find a matched NOS pair pretty cheap right now (< $50).

 

[gibosi]

I'm in a similar price range, so thanks for these recommendations! The only ones I can find are the RCA and the Svetlanas. Does the print color on the Svetlana matter (gold vs grey)? I can find a matched NOS pair pretty cheap right now (< $50).

I also recommend the Svetlana 6H13C. But I think the older 6H5C / 6N5S are a little better, especially those manufactured in the 1950's and 1960's.

 

[spanyam]

I also recommend the Svetlana 6H13C. But I think the older 6H5C / 6N5S are a little better, especially those manufactured in the 1950's and 1960's.

Thanks for the input. I was able to get a pair with the 65HC printed on the winged "C", manufactured 1968. Fairly inexpensive open box NOS, but they did not note the test results (despite mentioning it was tested). Any precautions I should take with situations like this where I don't know the test results and can't get the equipment to test it myself?

 

[mordy]

Thanks for the input. I was able to get a pair with the 65HC printed on the winged "C", manufactured 1968. Fairly inexpensive open box NOS, but they did not note the test results (despite mentioning it was tested). Any precautions I should take with situations like this where I don't know the test results and can't get the equipment to test it myself?

Just plug in the tubes and listen to them - as long as they sound fine everything is OK.
Test results can easily be manipulated. In addition, a tube that measures very good may sound the same as a tube measuring marginally good.
There are people who claim that the main function of a tube tester is only to tell if a tube is bad...

 

[spanyam]

Awesome, great to know. I'll update in a few weeks when I get them in and test. They definitely are a beautiful looking pair.

 

[GenX]

I'm in a similar price range, so thanks for these recommendations! The only ones I can find are the RCA and the Svetlanas. Does the print color on the Svetlana matter (gold vs grey)? I can find a matched NOS pair pretty cheap right now (< $50).

I don't know much about the variations of the Svetlana tube, but it sounds like you got some good info from gibosi. Enjoy!

 

[mordy]

I don't know much about the variations of the Svetlana tube, but it sounds like you got some good info from gibosi. Enjoy!

A Russian tube amp designer told me that the 6H5C / 6N5S tubes are military spec versions of the 6H13C and made to tighter tolerances.

 

[GenX]

Is there any general consensus regarding which of the Sylvania 6080 tubes sound best among the many different versions of them? Many say the Gold Brand version is considered best, but there are both 2 mica and 3 mica versions. Others have said there's no detectable difference in sound between the GB and non GB versions. And there are Sylvania 6080's with copper rods vs not, and the WA, WB and WC variations to choose from.

I've seen all range of opinions on this tube from it being utter garbage to being quite enjoyable. Obviously everyone will have a different subjective opinion, but I do wonder if some of the discrepency comes simply from certain variations of the tube just sounding better than others.

If anyone here has sampled different variations of this tube, I'd love to know your thoughts. I know there are better options than the Sylvania 6080 to begin with, several that I own already, but this is a tube I am curious to try myself.

 

[JKDJedi]

Is there any general consensus regarding which of the Sylvania 6080 tubes sound best among the many different versions of them? Many say the Gold Brand version is considered best, but there are both 2 mica and 3 mica versions. Others have said there's no detectable difference in sound between the GB and non GB versions. And there are Sylvania 6080's with copper rods vs not, and the WA, WB and WC variations to choose from.

I've seen all range of opinions on this tube from it being utter garbage to being quite enjoyable. Obviously everyone will have a different subjective opinion, but I do wonder if some of the discrepency comes simply from certain variations of the tube just sounding better than others.

If anyone here has sampled different variations of this tube, I'd love to know your thoughts. I know there are better options than the Sylvania 6080 to begin with, several that I own already, but this is a tube I am curious to try myself.

I had a honeymoon phase with a few Sylvania 6080, and ended up keeping the Gold Brand. I'll look

and see if I kept notes on it.

Edit:

I reviewed three 6080 tubes on this quick write up. Might help.



Tidal Master - R&B & Alternate Playlist



Tung Sol Mouse Ear (Zenith) 6SN7GT (preamp tube)



Sennheiser HD6XX & Fidelio X2 (Headphones )



"Sylvania Gold Brand 6080WA (1961) So the reviews say this baby is "musical" (warm and fuzzy like a teddy bear) I like bass, and I like good bass, this has it. I tried a few different drivers and found the Tung Sol to mesh well with this tube. Lows are not over blown, great impact, even with bass heavy music and rolls off slow, smooth, and extends deep. To elaborate on the "musical" description, reviews claim this tube doesn't sound like a 6080, "Unlike other 6080 tubes that have very tight sound" (I rolled a 6AS7G RCA tube for comparison, and not even close, the RCA is a lot warmer and laid back than any of the 6080 tubes here, including the Sylvania Gold Brand favorite, with the (inner) corked base and golden support rods, double upper getters, has a nice premium feel. Using the Fidelio X2 the highs hit clean, great mids, and bass fills the room (You Don't Love Me - Dawn Penn). Sennheiser- not as wide and yeah the treble roll off, and with the Sylvania, some tracks (Wait - M83) just melt your ears. (that was a compliment). I have this new love affair with Tung Sol tubes at the moment, and this pairing is great. (On Your Mind- Kaskade)



Philips (Mullard) 6080 (1956?) I really like the 6080's, they seem to push the drivers with the least coloration to the combined sound of power/driver amp output. And there's nothing wrong with changing the sound, that's why we tube roll. (Closer To You - Clairo) For 6AS7G tube rollers Here..... thread says "6080 are low gain, great vocals with a wide soundstage". And with tracks like (If Your On The Water - The Saxophones) this 6080 does a splendid job. It's not much different from the Sylvania Gold Brand, which says a lot about the Sylvania GB. Like Rap? (A Lot - 21 Savage) Bumps here just as nice.

At its peak, Philips was a large conglomerate based in Holland, with wholly owned subsidiaries all over Europe, and elsewhere. Collectively, it was the largest manufacturer of vacuum tubes in Europe with the most advanced research facilities. Its subsidiaries and brands included Mullard, Valvo, La Radiotechnique, Dario, Amperex, Pope, M.B.L.E. (Bruxelles - Mazda), WIRAG, Loewe Opta and a number of others.



Philips (Sylvania) 6080WC (1987) A quick note on the acronyms next to the 6080, I'm told "The W means "rugged" tubes, are supposed to be 10,0000 hour tubes.The A means revision A. In general, there are four revisions re 6080 tubes: 6080, 6080WA, WB and WC . (There may be more)"

And from my observation these are built rugged, micas are thicker and base sturdier than the normal 6080, this tube is built like a tank, really thick micas, and base with a teflon liner, probably made for them airplane jet fighters. On with the sound. Descent highs, bass almost on par with the Gold Brand. Initial thoughts are this falls somewhere between the other two tubes here meshed as one, this one the latest build of the three. With this tube you can get lost in the music surfing the net and not miss a beat in your train of thought, that was me searching dat
e codes of these tubes".

I haven't read that in years and it seems like I liked them all...lol, I currently have the GEC 6080 in my Darkone... so maybe one of my favorites?

 

[mordy]

I had a honeymoon phase with a few Sylvania 6080, and ended up keeping the Gold Brand. I'll look and see if I kept notes on it.

Edit:

I reviewed three 6080 tubes on this quick write up. Might help.



Tidal Master - R&B & Alternate Playlist



Tung Sol Mouse Ear (Zenith) 6SN7GT (preamp tube)



Sennheiser HD6XX & Fidelio X2 (Headphones )



"Sylvania Gold Brand 6080WA (1961) So the reviews say this baby is "musical" (warm and fuzzy like a teddy bear) I like bass, and I like good bass, this has it. I tried a few different drivers and found the Tung Sol to mesh well with this tube. Lows are not over blown, great impact, even with bass heavy music and rolls off slow, smooth, and extends deep. To elaborate on the "musical" description, reviews claim this tube doesn't sound like a 6080, "Unlike other 6080 tubes that have very tight sound" (I rolled a 6AS7G RCA tube for comparison, and not even close, the RCA is a lot warmer and laid back than any of the 6080 tubes here, including the Sylvania Gold Brand favorite, with the (inner) corked base and golden support rods, double upper getters, has a nice premium feel. Using the Fidelio X2 the highs hit clean, great mids, and bass fills the room (You Don't Love Me - Dawn Penn). Sennheiser- not as wide and yeah the treble roll off, and with the Sylvania, some tracks (Wait - M83) just melt your ears. (that was a compliment). I have this new love affair with Tung Sol tubes at the moment, and this pairing is great. (On Your Mind- Kaskade)



Philips (Mullard) 6080 (1956?) I really like the 6080's, they seem to push the drivers with the least coloration to the combined sound of power/driver amp output. And there's nothing wrong with changing the sound, that's why we tube roll. (Closer To You - Clairo) For 6AS7G tube rollers Here..... thread says "6080 are low gain, great vocals with a wide soundstage". And with tracks like (If Your On The Water - The Saxophones) this 6080 does a splendid job. It's not much different from the Sylvania Gold Brand, which says a lot about the Sylvania GB. Like Rap? (A Lot - 21 Savage) Bumps here just as nice.

At its peak, Philips was a large conglomerate based in Holland, with wholly owned subsidiaries all over Europe, and elsewhere. Collectively, it was the largest manufacturer of vacuum tubes in Europe with the most advanced research facilities. Its subsidiaries and brands included Mullard, Valvo, La Radiotechnique, Dario, Amperex, Pope, M.B.L.E. (Bruxelles - Mazda), WIRAG, Loewe Opta and a number of others.



Philips (Sylvania) 6080WC (1987) A quick note on the acronyms next to the 6080, I'm told "The W means "rugged" tubes, are supposed to be 10,0000 hour tubes.The A means revision A. In general, there are four revisions re 6080 tubes: 6080, 6080WA, WB and WC . (There may be more)"

And from my observation these are built rugged, micas are thicker and base sturdier than the normal 6080, this tube is built like a tank, really thick micas, and base with a teflon liner, probably made for them airplane jet fighters. On with the sound. Descent highs, bass almost on par with the Gold Brand. Initial thoughts are this falls somewhere between the other two tubes here meshed as one, this one the latest build of the three. With this tube you can get lost in the music surfing the net and not miss a beat in your train of thought, that was me searching dat
e codes of these tubes".

I haven't read that in years and it seems like I liked them all...lol, I currently have the GEC 6080 in my Darkone... so maybe one of my favorites?

Haven't listened to the Sylvania 6080 in a long time but I have several variants. All in all, a good sounding tube with the right pairing - I think I remember liking the early 6080 Sylvanias the best (without suffixes like W, WA-C).

 

[JackarlTwo]

Question, is it normal for 6080 tubes to run hotter than 6AS7G tubes? I'm curious why that would be the case. I always thought they were identical electrically, but my amp definitely runs hotter with a Mullard 6080 vs the standard 6AS7 tube (Svetlana/ RCA). Not really a concern though as it seems to be working perfectly fine for the past year or so.

 

[JKDJedi]

Question, is it normal for 6080 tubes to run hotter than 6AS7G tubes? I'm curious why that would be the case. I always thought they were identical electrically, but my amp definitely runs hotter with a Mullard 6080 vs the standard 6AS7 tube (Svetlana/ RCA). Not really a concern though as it seems to be working perfectly fine for the past year or so.

Its normal,

 

[mordy]

Its normal,

Concur - and different brands may run hotter than others.

 

[MDR30]

Sylvania 6080 is a workhorse, strong and reliable. First alternative I got for my OTL amp. But was it a 6080? Not sure. Seems to be a mixup opportunity here. "Same internal structure as... with a different bottle".

 

[mordy]

Sylvania 6080 is a workhorse, strong and reliable. First alternative I got for my OTL amp. But was it a 6080? Not sure. Seems to be a mixup opportunity here. "Same internal structure as... with a different bottle".

The 6AS7GA supposedly is a 6AS7 in a tubular envelope. Don’t know how much it differs from a 6080 but IMHO there is a difference.
The main difference seems to be that the 6080 is made to military specs and the 6AS7GA is not.
Possibly the same brand sounds different in the two different versions.
I have a number of 6AS7GA tubes and they all sound the same regardless of brand. However, the different brands of 6080 sound very different; among the best sounding are the GEC and Bendix but unfortunately the prices for these went through the roof.