The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[TLO]

I have come as close to rolling all 6sn7 equivalents on the planet (over 1500) and I still enjoy rolling that type of tube. I never was a huge fan of 6922's but I am starting to like 12AU7's more and more.

What about ECC81 / 12AT7? I have been enjoying some British ECC81 equivalent tubes lately.

 

[Paladin79]

What about ECC81 / 12AT7? I have been enjoying some British ECC81 equivalent tubes lately.

I would say they are along the same level, I just need to stick with 12AU7's in a PrimaLuna amp that takes six of them.

 

[Ayaka]

Hi!
Does it give a thread like this one on 6SL7s?

Wanted to be sure those are 6SL7... bought them for 30$ both (but only 1 is tested... and it's the one which have a slightly bent plate , don't even know how this is possible ).

I really REALLY hesitate to just put both of them in my amp and give them a try, they have such a particular design . Already burnt a resistor last week with a defective 'brand-new' JJKT77... would really suck to screw up my amp just before Christmas vacations

But my question was about a 6SL7 thread, so I can ask my question there , thanks!

 

[TLO]

Hi!
Does it give a thread like this one on 6SL7s?

Wanted to be sure those are 6SL7... bought them for 30$ both (but only 1 is tested... and it's the one which have a slightly bent plate , don't even know how this is possible ).

I really REALLY hesitate to just put both of them in my amp and give them a try, they have such a particular design . Already burnt a resistor last week with a defective 'brand-new' JJKT77... would really suck to screw up my amp just before Christmas vacations

But my question was about a 6SL7 thread, so I can ask my question there , thanks!

5691 n 5692 look identical as well as having the same pin out, just different specs n gain.
Check for the print on tube designation, it should be 5691 not 5692....but anyway, wouldn't kill your amp even if they are 5692.
5691 can be subsitute as 6SL7 n 5692 as 6SN7.

 

[g0ldl10n]

Hi!
Does it give a thread like this one on 6SL7s?

Wanted to be sure those are 6SL7... bought them for 30$ both (but only 1 is tested... and it's the one which have a slightly bent plate , don't even know how this is possible ).

I really REALLY hesitate to just put both of them in my amp and give them a try, they have such a particular design . Already burnt a resistor last week with a defective 'brand-new' JJKT77... would really suck to screw up my amp just before Christmas vacations

But my question was about a 6SL7 thread, so I can ask my question there , thanks!

Bent plate .. that I have never seen. How would that happen? Would have to be during the manufacturing process, right? That's crazy - however, even if it doesn't work, that has to be quite rare, so I would definitely keep it for the collection standpoint alone. Kinda like how people that collect money sheets/bills (like rare/old bills/coins) keep eye out for the rare flaws (miscut/misprints) that happen on the printing presses, like so --> https://www.ebay.com/itm/354032675326

 

[LobalWarming]

Well ya, the dual 6922 tubes was just an example, but one I willing to try, specially since I will have everything needed to do so, why not?

I have tried and own most of the popular and expensive 6SN7 variants you listed here. The ones I have not tried are the very very expensive European 6SN7 variants.

However, I think some are missing the point here - I am primarily concerned with the safety of attempting such things, not necessarily what the end result SQ will be, as this is extremely subjective.

For me, the real excitement of tube rolling is finding gems available in true NIB/NOS condition for less than $10 a piece, that are rarely mentioned (or never at all mentioned in this entire forum), with their SQ being spectacular - I can say with confidence, that at least with my current amps circuit, there are tubes in the list I shared previously that are very noticeably better than all of the tubes 10-30x more expensive that have been listed and I own. Those tubes very rarely get any playing time. If not for the collection standpoint alone, I would certainly have sold them all already.

The hunt, and eventual find of these gems for reasonable priced mint condition tubes is where most of the fun comes from!

Oh...that's different. Value tube rolling.

I enjoy cheapskate tube rolling more than anyone not called @bcowen. Stickin' it to the 'Museum Quality Holy Grail' man and their snobby profiteers.

That's why the 12SN7/12J5s and 1633 are great - much cheaper and excellent, pretty much equivalent sonics.

My most recent cheapskate deal was $6 for a pair of minty Loctal NU 7A4s. Took a year of searching and a moment of pouncing, but well worth the hunt. The Loctal 7N7 Lansdales are/were great values as well.

The problem - The Cheapskate's Dilemma - is great cheap tubes should never be discussed on Head-Fi, not just because of the inflationary language.

To return to your initial speculation, uncertain the extravagance of using a pair of 6922s qualifies as a cheapskate rolling option - but if you have a pair of meh 6922s, why not try, indeed.

Replacing smoked bias resistors isn't a huge deal anyhow. The scary limit is the H5 heater current limit. And that can be adapted around.

Happy tube hunting! If you discover a great combo - don't share it here. PM me first.

 

[g0ldl10n]

Oh...that's different. Value tube rolling.

I enjoy cheapskate tube rolling more than anyone not called @bcowen. Stickin' it to the 'Museum Quality Holy Grail' man and their snobby profiteers.

That's why the 12SN7/12J5s and 1633 are great - much cheaper and excellent, pretty much equivalent sonics.

My most recent cheapskate deal was $6 for a pair of minty Loctal NU 7A4s. Took a year of searching and a moment of pouncing, but well worth the hunt. The Loctal 7N7 Lansdales are/were great values as well.

The problem - The Cheapskate's Dilemma - is great cheap tubes should never be discussed on Head-Fi, not just because of the inflationary language.

To return to your initial speculation, uncertain the extravagance of using a pair of 6922s qualifies as a cheapskate rolling option - but if you have a pair of meh 6922s, why not try, indeed.

Replacing smoked bias resistors isn't a huge deal anyhow. The scary limit is the H5 heater current limit. And that can be adapted around.

Happy tube hunting! If you discover a great combo - don't share it here. PM me first.

I kid you not - a pair of 6AJ7/6AC7 tubes, which I can find pairs of RCA NIB/NOS for $7.50 (or $3.25 a piece), strapped in the 6SN7 input stage on my amp, have better SQ in my humble opinion than my 5692 tube. A/B testing them now, its really not even that close tbh. The fullness and low end of the sound reproduction is like Thor's hammer in comparison - instant "wow! factor" - and does everything else just as good, if not better. But hey, this is just one mans opinion.

 

[Ayaka]

5691 n 5692 look identical as well as having the same pin out, just different specs n gain.
Check for the print on tube designation, it should be 5691 not 5692....but anyway, wouldn't kill your amp even if they are 5692.
5691 can be subsitute as 6SL7 n 5692 as 6SN7.

ho yes you're right, the 5691 is on the glass of the lighter red one, but nothing on the glass of the other tube (the dark-red), nor on the base, all writing almost disappeared.

Couldn't resist to try them , working like a charm

 

[TLO]

ho yes you're right, the 5691 is on the glass of the lighter red one, but nothing on the glass of the other tube (the dark-red), nor on the base, all writing almost disappeared.

Couldn't resist to try them , working like a charm

no worry..if the other one happened to be 5692, you will hear unbalanced gain from each channel. Other than that, there is no harm.

 

[Skyediver]

Oh...that's different. Value tube rolling.

I enjoy cheapskate tube rolling more than anyone not called @bcowen. Stickin' it to the 'Museum Quality Holy Grail' man and their snobby profiteers.

That's why the 12SN7/12J5s and 1633 are great - much cheaper and excellent, pretty much equivalent sonics.

My most recent cheapskate deal was $6 for a pair of minty Loctal NU 7A4s. Took a year of searching and a moment of pouncing, but well worth the hunt. The Loctal 7N7 Lansdales are/were great values as well.

The problem - The Cheapskate's Dilemma - is great cheap tubes should never be discussed on Head-Fi, not just because of the inflationary language.

To return to your initial speculation, uncertain the extravagance of using a pair of 6922s qualifies as a cheapskate rolling option - but if you have a pair of meh 6922s, why not try, indeed.

Replacing smoked bias resistors isn't a huge deal anyhow. The scary limit is the H5 heater current limit. And that can be adapted around.

Happy tube hunting! If you discover a great combo - don't share it here. PM me first.

It’s this weird dichotomy that I find fascinating as I dive deeper into tube rolling: We all come here to these forums to share/gain knowledge, but because of the (justified) concerns you mention, sharing that knowledge is tacitly NOT a strategy that makes sense. A conundrum on how to break in and learn how to play the game to some extent.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

In case anyone is in the market for the infamous RCA "Grey Glass" 6SN7's"

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/rca-6sn7gt-vt-231-equivalent-matched-pair-same-dates.37853/#hfc-comment-56393

 

[malenak]

Hello, I have Lyr 3 and I am finding a new tube for it. I like the tonality and tembre of JJ 6SN7. It has nice tonality on mids, tight, detailed and punchy lows and crisp highs. Only thing I am missing there is the spacious soundstage from Psvane CV181-TII. Is there any tube, which sound like these two combined? Thanks.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

Hello, I have Lyr 3 and I am finding a new tube for it. I like the tonality and tembre of JJ 6SN7. It has nice tonality on mids, tight, detailed and punchy lows and crisp highs. Only thing I am missing there is the spacious soundstage from Psvane CV181-TII. Is there any tube, which sound like these two combined? Thanks.

Try a Tung Sol NOS Round Plate 6F8G with an adapter. Actually, most of the 6F8G should give you that sound...

 

[TLO]

Hello, I have Lyr 3 and I am finding a new tube for it. I like the tonality and tembre of JJ 6SN7. It has nice tonality on mids, tight, detailed and punchy lows and crisp highs. Only thing I am missing there is the spacious soundstage from Psvane CV181-TII. Is there any tube, which sound like these two combined? Thanks.

How many hrs have you run them? Just a thought as I have no experience with JJ 6SN7 but in general, most of the tubes needed at least 10-20 hrs before they really open up. Not to mention, some NOS tubes needed longer time like at least 30-40 hrs before they open up on the soundstage.

 

[DenverW]

Speaking of 6SL7 and rca grey glass...

Has anyone had the opportunity to compare similar type 6SN7 and 6SL7? I seem to recall seeing one opinion that the tubes didn't really carry their "house" sound over. For example, an RCA grey glass of each type did not sound the same. I'm curious because you can pick up 6SL7 variants at a much lower price point.

Any thoughts?