The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[HTSkywalker]

Can somebody name a few good 6SN7 tubes from current production?

NOS here only

 

[tafens]

There's also a new company called Linlai that supposedly was founded by people who used to work for Psvane (which sounds promising), but I haven't heard any of their tubes.

As I understand it, Psvane was also founded in the same way, by people who used to work for Shuguang..

 

[FLTWS]

As I understand it, Psvane was also founded in the same way, by people who used to work for Shuguang..

And the key Psvane folks left to form Linlai as I understand it.

 

[UntilThen]

I have to ask the wise sages here for directions. I am interested in buying a pair of Melz 6sn7. It must be the genuine stuff. Is this genuine or some backyard stuff masquerading as Don Quixote's Sancho Panza?

At this price, I better go solid state. Are there any cheaper?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2744054...gM%2BG23N6IHCQ%3D%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675

 

[cddc]

I won't comment on the pricing. But these are genuine Melz 6N8S tubes (U.S. 6SN7 equivalent).

They seem to be new in box.

Their test values seem a little bit weird though, maybe because they're using some weird Russian tester. So can't say how well they test. The Ia value should be around 8-12 mA, but they have something like 60-90 Weird Russian numbers

 

[cddc]

They are sometimes also marketed as Melz 1578 tubes, because of the holes on the anodes.

 

[UntilThen]

Hmmm at that price I think I will get Mullard ECC35 instead.

 

[bcowen]

I have to ask the wise sages here for directions. I am interested in buying a pair of Melz 6sn7. It must be the genuine stuff. Is this genuine or some backyard stuff masquerading as Don Quixote's Sancho Panza?

At this price, I better go solid state. Are there any cheaper?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/274405496479?_trkparms=aid=1110018&algo=HOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS&ao=1&asc=232616&meid=4949418773104a0ea8a111bfb1755130&pid=101196&rk=2&rkt=12&sd=262214258645&itm=274405496479&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&algv=ItemStripV101HighAdFeeWithCompV3Ranker&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219&amdata=cksum:2744054964794949418773104a0ea8a111bfb1755130|enc:AQAFAAACEF7W2J%2Byad9XHRq7BGeEL9xHt%2BL4Rxha5wZgkZpbj%2BYrYblz5i9vlgj4AfGdXASGn%2BesfcxRWaaYJLLICDpmflSo8K7WTydreX4fmZtZGa8pwRNmBR8yP9Q3YmWBCJgLVj5iZh4Q8Vyx1o3F95noBu3C5s%2BiB4xExBuhnhfy5JbiM0DCeFt1k6fbwkwrSzcsyL0cRM3zaaGtXJmmzAX7AqzjVHAgZZltu%2BVWirc1sZjeM%2FLkP7iXi84bKZ0Ref8K%2FH4zXd7PKTdI0Q39jc1D2PC%2FeMWvSJp1tcVt%2Bq7OGaBbnkeKgT%2BT26xGERDEavBR4s1CxjnyYXzivdVlZ%2BSoXk3dgeSKLq0YvjZh6fMOPXefgo%2BN2ZThsveV37hdBPmnAJtTXgXIRsqrrxYFA%2B5g4CAXkaE0MkD9yl4l57jdFWrmukbFCIOeYrTz%2B4Lpt1gc2%2FiNyla56M1gd%2FPmlWyeBuZF1RkzBv3ttbs06OIW1%2F8FGL%2FSoKjP2UWO%2BnfefXplPJ%2FMcyJV3NRWmvOS9PK2U%2Bm%2B0zJ5JRv38x9yfU4d9XnpSTA6G29Efl9W%2Bx5M2lqELnGtIRKSrz8z3VJtLoWMrgBpQq5KJqYZOQoSHHXM%2BN4bLDYjb%2B53ZlrEJkqQduErvnsmIxrmxRmrG8mOc%2BCqsyRegdu4pwXfrU7VmBvBKj9LDGwZqncxjmgM%2BG23N6IHCQ%3D%3D|ampidL_CLK|clp:2047675

There are two (main) varieties on these: the "regular" ones with oval top and bottom micas, plastic top mica supports, and solid plates, and then the true 1578 (which is the more sought after version) with tabbed rectangular top and bottom micas, metal spring top mica supports, and perforated plates. @Paladin79 is the resident Melz expert, and he's also found a very few mutants that are a combination of both. Those in the ad are genuine 1578's and 1963 is one of the better years, but that price is high -- you can find these on US Ebay for around $100 USD each, but it's not always easy to tell what year they are and there are differences in sonics between the various vintages. Like @cddc I can't make heads or tails of those test values, but at least they indicate they were tested.

 

[UntilThen]

Thanks cddc and Bcowen. 1963... how can I forget. The assassination of President John F Kennedy. I was too young to comprehend then but now I think it's the saddest moment in history.

 

[Paladin79]

There are two (main) varieties on these: the "regular" ones with oval top and bottom micas, plastic top mica supports, and solid plates, and then the true 1578 (which is the more sought after) with tabbed rectangular top and bottom micas, metal spring top mica supports, and perforated plates. @Paladin79 is the resident Melz expert, and he's also found a very few mutants that are a combination of both. Those are genuine 1578's and 1963 is one of the better years, but that price is high -- you can find these on US Ebay for around $100 USD each, but it's not always easy to tell what year they are and there are differences in sonics between the various vintages. Like @cddc I can't make heads or tails of those test values, but at least they indicate they were tested.

My current favorite perforated plate 1578 is the 1961, well balanced but with a slightly better sound stage IMHO. They are not common yet worth watching for.

 

[bcowen]

Thanks cddc and Bcowen. 1963... how can I forget. The assassination of President John F Kennedy. I was too young to comprehend then but now I think it's the saddest moment in history.

Easy for me to remember too 'cause that's the year my sister was born. Not going to say whether she's my older or younger sister.

 

[UntilThen]

I will buy a pair of Melz 1578 from the year 1963. Not from that ebay listing. A gentleman reach out to me and I will buy it. Will also hunt down a pair of Mullard ECC35. All for Odyssey and Wa22. Also a single ECC31 and 33. Don't think I will be able to get the mint Sylvania 6sn7w metal base that I sold off again. Well not at the 175 pounds that I got from Langrex NOS NIB.

Hindsight is a dirty word but yeah on hindsight I shouldn't have sold off those tubes because I thought I will go tubeless. Now I'm tube full more than ever.

Fortunately I kept a pair of Fotons ! Haha...

 

[HTSkywalker]

I have to ask the wise sages here for directions. I am interested in buying a pair of Melz 6sn7. It must be the genuine stuff. Is this genuine or some backyard stuff masquerading as Don Quixote's Sancho Panza?

At this price, I better go solid state. Are there any cheaper?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/274405496479?_trkparms=aid=1110018&algo=HOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS&ao=1&asc=232616&meid=4949418773104a0ea8a111bfb1755130&pid=101196&rk=2&rkt=12&sd=262214258645&itm=274405496479&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&algv=ItemStripV101HighAdFeeWithCompV3Ranker&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219&amdata=cksum:2744054964794949418773104a0ea8a111bfb1755130|enc:AQAFAAACEF7W2J%2Byad9XHRq7BGeEL9xHt%2BL4Rxha5wZgkZpbj%2BYrYblz5i9vlgj4AfGdXASGn%2BesfcxRWaaYJLLICDpmflSo8K7WTydreX4fmZtZGa8pwRNmBR8yP9Q3YmWBCJgLVj5iZh4Q8Vyx1o3F95noBu3C5s%2BiB4xExBuhnhfy5JbiM0DCeFt1k6fbwkwrSzcsyL0cRM3zaaGtXJmmzAX7AqzjVHAgZZltu%2BVWirc1sZjeM%2FLkP7iXi84bKZ0Ref8K%2FH4zXd7PKTdI0Q39jc1D2PC%2FeMWvSJp1tcVt%2Bq7OGaBbnkeKgT%2BT26xGERDEavBR4s1CxjnyYXzivdVlZ%2BSoXk3dgeSKLq0YvjZh6fMOPXefgo%2BN2ZThsveV37hdBPmnAJtTXgXIRsqrrxYFA%2B5g4CAXkaE0MkD9yl4l57jdFWrmukbFCIOeYrTz%2B4Lpt1gc2%2FiNyla56M1gd%2FPmlWyeBuZF1RkzBv3ttbs06OIW1%2F8FGL%2FSoKjP2UWO%2BnfefXplPJ%2FMcyJV3NRWmvOS9PK2U%2Bm%2B0zJ5JRv38x9yfU4d9XnpSTA6G29Efl9W%2Bx5M2lqELnGtIRKSrz8z3VJtLoWMrgBpQq5KJqYZOQoSHHXM%2BN4bLDYjb%2B53ZlrEJkqQduErvnsmIxrmxRmrG8mOc%2BCqsyRegdu4pwXfrU7VmBvBKj9LDGwZqncxjmgM%2BG23N6IHCQ%3D%3D|ampidL_CLK|clp:2047675

@Paladin79 is our Melz Guru but probably by now he harvested all of it through his Russian connections (mostly thugs breaking in on peaceful old dudes and unplugging tubes from old radios)

 

[HTSkywalker]

Easy for me to remember too 'cause that's the year my sister was born. Not going to say whether she's my older or younger sister.

 

[HTSkywalker]

I will buy a pair of Melz 1578 from the year 1963. Not from that ebay listing. A gentleman reach out to me and I will buy it. Will also hunt down a pair of Mullard ECC35. All for Odyssey and Wa22. Also a single ECC31 and 33. Don't think I will be able to get the mint Sylvania 6sn7w metal base that I sold off again. Well not at the 175 pounds that I got from Langrex NOS NIB.

Hindsight is a dirty word but yeah on hindsight I shouldn't have sold off those tubes because I thought I will go tubeless. Now I'm tube full more than ever.

Fortunately I kept a pair of Fotons ! Haha...

Seems you are our for blood
And don’t mock Fotons coz @bcowen may take it as a personal offense