[jaywillin]

i received my sylvania 6sn7's today, waiting on the adapters
also ordered 
Super Matched Pair 5687 Vacuum Tubes Tung-Sol AF JTL Same Date Code 8/60 NOS
 

MATCHED PAIR GE JAN 5687 WB Black Plate GREEN LABEL​

 
AMPEREX 7119 ECC182 5687 12AU7 PQ VACUUM TUBE 1970
 
and the corresponding adapters

 

[gibosi]

Bravo!

 

[jaywillin]

all the adapters are coming from china, so, it might be a while

 

[Ctritical Bill]

Firstly I would like to apologise to Mordy for not replying to his PM he sent months ago. I have not been checking this forum for over a year.
You may remember that I was keen on the russian sub-miniature tubes and recently I ordered some 6N16B-VR to add to my collection. When I received the package I found I had been sent 6N16G-VIR instead. Here is a picture with a standard 6N16B-V on the left for comparison.
 

 
As you can see, much larger but electrically the same, except for an internal shield and the plate dissipation is up to 1.2W. This was made at the Melz plant in Moscow in 1979.
I have to say this is a very good tube with a great soundstage and sense of ambiance. Only had it running for less than an hour so it can only improve but highly recommended. There is just one seller on ebay at the moment who has some so if you are interested get in quick.
 

 
I solder the legs of these tubes into an 8 pin dip socket and then I can simply plug it into another socket on the breadboard. This is a universal board that I can use on other amps by simply changing the leads and it has an in-built voltage regulator so no need for separate heater connections. Also I have it wired so I can use it with two single triodes or one dual triode.

 

[gibosi]

Very interesting! I tried a Melz 6N16B-VR some time ago. It too has a shield, so 9 leads. I very crudely mounted mine into an octal base. lol. 
 

 
Like your 6N16G-VIR, I found the VR to have a wonderful 3-D stage and ambiance. However, the vocals are a bit thin, and on some recordings, even a bit raspy. (This in an LD 1+, MUSES02 opamp and Senns 700.) And I should note that I heard the same raspy vocals with the 9-pin miniature 6N5P and 6N1P-E. Of the Russian tubes I have tried, the mid-1970s 6N23P are the best, with exceptional staging and ambiance, plus the vocals are smoother and have more body. I wonder if your VIR is more similar to the VR or the 6N23P....
 
To my ears, the best of the four sub-miniatures in my possession (including the Sylvania 6021 and Raytheon 6832) is the Sylvania 7963. It has all the 3-D magic of the 6N16B-VR plus that warm, silky-smooth Sylvania mid-range.

 

[Ctritical Bill]

I too have some 6N23P but I don't like them that much. I find the whole 6DJ8 family too analytical and cold.
This 6N16G-VIR has a similar sound to the 6N16B but more of the "magic". I don't notice raspy vocals but I am using a ( now quite modified ) LD 3 so that may be the difference.
Others I really like are the single triode version of the 6N16B - the 6S6C, and a G.E. 5star 6021 . I have tried a lot of the pentode versions but they don't impress. I think the 6N16G-VIR is the best of the bunch.

 

[gibosi]

Thanks for telling us about this. I should have one shortly.

 

[mab1376]

Anyone have any NOS tung-sol 6SN7 they wanna get rid of?
 
everything on ebay is $100 ish.

 

[mordy]

Hi mab1376,
 
You must be looking for a specific Tung Sol 6SN7 because I just checked and there are dozens of listings for far less than $100:
 
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Tung+Sol+6SN7&_sop=15

 

[adtrance]

  Very interesting! I tried a Melz 6N16B-VR some time ago. It too has a shield, so 9 leads. I very crudely mounted mine into an octal base. lol. 
 

 
Like your 6N16G-VIR, I found the VR to have a wonderful 3-D stage and ambiance. However, the vocals are a bit thin, and on some recordings, even a bit raspy. (This in an LD 1+, MUSES02 opamp and Senns 700.) And I should note that I heard the same raspy vocals with the 9-pin miniature 6N5P and 6N1P-E. Of the Russian tubes I have tried, the mid-1970s 6N23P are the best, with exceptional staging and ambiance, plus the vocals are smoother and have more body. I wonder if your VIR is more similar to the VR or the 6N23P....
 
To my ears, the best of the four sub-miniatures in my possession (including the Sylvania 6021 and Raytheon 6832) is the Sylvania 7963. It has all the 3-D magic of the 6N16B-VR plus that warm, silky-smooth Sylvania mid-range.

Man you guys are hardcore.  I understand a hobby is an iterative process but the things you guys do for the sake of trying new tubes is pretty amazing.
 

 

[gibosi]

  Man you guys are hardcore.  I understand a hobby is an iterative process but the things you guys do for the sake of trying new tubes is pretty amazing.
 

 
Where there is a will there is a way. lol

 

[mab1376]

Yeah, should have clarified, specifically VT-231 variants. 
 
Either Tung Sol or Ken Rad
 
I would be fine with newer GTB variants if it has good bass performance.

 

[mordy]

Looks like Ken Rad is the way to go on a budget.
 
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Ken+Rad+VT-231&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc
 
This link takes you to recent SOLD LISTINGS (last checkbox on the left of Ebay search screen). The least expensive went for $16 each, and several pairs for $60 (did not check shipping costs).
 
This tells you what the current lowest market price is. With a little patience you will be able to get the Ken Rads for a relatively good price. However, I am sure that there are 6SN7 variants equally good for much less. Although I have not heard the VT-231 variants, I would suggest looking for a pair of RCA 60's 6SN7 tubes with a thin horizontal heater wire above the top mica. If you find a rebranded one it will be even less. These tubes I did try and found very good sounding.
 

 

 
So far no one has corroborated my like of these tubes.....

 

[mab1376]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Acapella11]

  Yeah, should have clarified, specifically VT-231 variants. 
Either Tung Sol or Ken Rad
I would be fine with newer GTB variants if it has good bass performance.

 
Quote:

  Looks like Ken Rad is the way to go on a budget.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Ken+Rad+VT-231&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc
This link takes you to recent SOLD LISTINGS (last checkbox on the left of Ebay search screen). The least expensive went for $16 each, and several pairs for $60 (did not check shipping costs).
This tells you what the current lowest market price is. With a little patience you will be able to get the Ken Rads for a relatively good price.

 
Just bought a pair of Ken-Rad VT231 for $66.95, lol. Burning them in now and so far, they sound generally speaking, very promising! This statement is not to be underestimated .