The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[bcowen]

I cannot believe there is a matching 6080 set, blue printing and all. Oh dear god.

I already feel sorry for the poor sucker that buys them. Hopefully the USPS will lose or smash them prior to delivery. A mercy killing, as it were.

 

[jonathan c]

23 here shortly but am sure that by now we are all branded as old farts by our spouses and normally the recognition committee always have different angle when choosing the trophy recipient lol

25+ here......if the spousal ‘trophy’: (a) is an object, we might recover in due time; (b) is an experience, “deep pockets, short arms” is not an option...

 

[jonathan c]

True and correct on both counts. The GE 5998 under discussion may be a great sounding tube. I don't have the confidence to try ONE myself, but it may turn out I'm totally wrong about it. It would be a landmark event (the part about me being wrong), but it *is* possible.

Or you could argue that being wrong would require a long sequence of GE 5998s to sound great and that a random chance exists for one GE 5998 to not sound like crap.

 

[jonathan c]

A triumvirate of tube testing.

Et tu(be), bcowe ?

 

[Paladin79]

Or you could argue that being wrong would require a long sequence of GE 5998s to sound great and that a random chance exists for one GE 5998 to not sound like crap.

Some of us will find out soon enough.

 

[Paladin79]

Et tu(be), bcowe ?

I was thinking more of the second triumvirate but a great reference none the less.

 

[HTSkywalker]

Some of us will find out soon enough.

If it will turn out a good tube, probably we should nickname it as GE person but I have a strong feeling it’s a Bona Fide GE

 

[HTSkywalker]

LOL! That actually wasn't the intent. Meant more as a snack food while I watch the plot of the movie unfold.

Yeah I know but the popping idea was too tempting not to mention

 

[HTSkywalker]

Yup, just like the ones below. If anyone has ever wondered exactly what the word "glare" refers to when used as an audio descriptor, grab these and you'll know. Suggest placing thick towels on both shoulders to keep your shirt from getting blood stains when it starts pouring out of your ears.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TUBES-2-ne...991503&hash=item1cf59e15f3:g:4VEAAOSw~bFWMAiw

Those were used for torturing when the person being interrogated is not being responsive under the GE tubes

 

[jonathan c]

Those were used for torturing when the person being interrogated is not being responsive under the GE tubes

Wonder of wonders!....a tube that makes GE good enough....

 

[bcowen]

Wonder of wonders!....a tube that makes GE good enough....

ROFL! Actually, it's a tube that makes solid-state good enough. Or even preferable.

 

[JTbbb]

@JTbbb that is a killer tube set. I just received a pair of 1965 Mullard EL34 (branded Lorenz but have the "B" imprint signifying Mullard's Blackburn plant). I'm running them as powers in Feliks Elise with adapters, loving them, euphonic but the antithesis of sloppy as some warmly musical tubes can be. I may like them even better than the excellent GEC KT66 which are great but a bit rolled off on the top end, the EL34 aren't!

My next quest may be Mullard ECC32 but can't find any that aren't pushing a grand...ouch. Where did you source yours from?

My next quest may be Mullard ECC32 but can't find any that aren't pushing a grand...ouch. Sometimes differing labels with same internals are less spendy if seller isn't sure what he has so doesn't gouge. Where did you source yours from?

LoryWiv,

There looks to be a good pair ecc32’s on uk eBay, 5 days remaining. Think they will get higher though.

 

[Paladin79]

In looking for info on the GE 5998a, I came across this:

yes it is my opinion that all 5998's sound the same. There are top getter and bottom getter variants but i detect no sonic differences between them. And every 5998 was made by Tung-Sol.

Do note that the GE "5998A" is totally different, basically a relabeled 6AS7GA, and not a 5998 at all. (SkyLab was the person who stated this.)

Unfortunately I have seen the spec sheet on the 5998A and it has the same gain as a Tung Sol 5998. This fellow also said only Tung Sol built 5998's.

Sylvania had them as well, the A may designate glass style.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sylvania-J...777755?hash=item263d64dd9b:g:wTYAAOSwSTFe4G8m

 

[HTSkywalker]

In looking for info on the GE 5998a, I came across this:

yes it is my opinion that all 5998's sound the same. There are top getter and bottom getter variants but i detect no sonic differences between them. And every 5998 was made by Tung-Sol.

Do note that the GE "5998A" is totally different, basically a relabeled 6AS7GA, and not a 5998 at all. (SkyLab was the person who stated this.)

Unfortunately I have seen the spec sheet on the 5998A and it has the same gain as a Tung Sol 5998. This fellow also said only Tung Sol built 5998's.

Sylvania had them as well, the A may designate glass style.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sylvania-J...777755?hash=item263d64dd9b:g:wTYAAOSwSTFe4G8m

came across the following as well
" everyone recommend the Tung Sol 5998 power tube as an upgrade, but looking on eBay there's a 5998 made by General Electric at half the price."
"5998A and 5998 are two different tubes. The 5998 is the one with the low output impedance, it sounds phenomenal on the Crack and opens up a lot of details. The 5998A is a good tube, I have an equivalent, but it's no 5998."
"I would stick with the 6080."
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/7oomma/ge_5998a_vs_tung_sol_5998/

 

[Paladin79]

So most probably the GE 5998A is a relabeled 6AS7GA ???

No

Someone stated that and I believe it is inaccurate. I have seen some military versions marked that way but it was a 5998 GE/6as7g....... The GE 5998a has the same specs as Tung Sol 5998's, you need to pay attention to the gain of a tube. 5998's are higher gain than 6AS7G's.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1MP-JAN-59...132949?hash=item2f23536d55:g:08EAAOSwz6pbrGRc

These may be relabeled but they are not the 5998A......