The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[mordy]

So, uh, do you remember what the GEC version was called? I know about the 5a/152m from STC but unaware of other versions.

I think STC was the successor of GEC and these are the ones I meant. There was one loctal version and one with flying leads.

 

[triod750]

STC was Standard Telephone and Cables of which Brimar was a part. https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Standard_Telephones_and_Cables

In 1933 they established Brimar at Foots Cray.

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/GEC

@gibosi showed me this source a couple of years ago. His is the honour...

 

[Isaacc7]

I think STC was the successor of GEC and these are the ones I meant. There was one loctal version and one with flying leads.

GEC was a MOV brand. Pretty sure STC was its own thing and they were the parent company of Brimar right?

 

[triod750]

Yes. Kind of. Initially Western Electric representative. Later part of ITT which renamed the English operation Standard Telephones and Cables. Follow the link. Easier to read than a lot of posts on this forum ...

 

[triod750]

1919 Marconi-Osram Valve Co formed as a company owned jointly by GEC and Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co[26].

 

[ColSaulTigh]

So the Ghost of @bcowen paid me a visit and dropped off these lovely Foton 6H8C's from the Ukraine today.

[Note to self: kill @bcowen so his ghost can haunt me]

 

[LoryWiv]

So the Ghost of @bcowen paid me.a.visit and dropped.off these lovely Foton 6H8C's from the Ukraine today.

[Note to self: kill @bcowen so his ghost can haunt me]

Man, and I thought "ghosting" someone was bad thing!

 

[bcowen]

So the Ghost of @bcowen paid me.a.visit and dropped.off these lovely Foton 6H8C's from the Ukraine today.

[Note to self: kill @bcowen so his ghost can haunt me]

Sweet! Hard to make out in the photos....are they '67's?

 

[bcowen]

Man, and I thought "ghosting" someone was bad thing!

Well,, it is kinda....unless you're the ghost.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

Sweet! Hard to make out in the photos....are they '67's?

Yep. Bought them on a lark. They popped up on Etsy with a $20 off coupon, so I said "if they're good enough for @bcowen then they're good enough for me!"

Ambien may have been involved.

 

[bcowen]

Yep. Bought them on a lark. They popped up on Etsy with a $20 off coupon, so I said "if they're good enough for @bcowen then they're good enough for me!"

Ambien may have been involved.

LOL! If you like their character in general, we'll have to find you some early '50's ribbed plates to take it up a notch.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

LOL! If you like their character in general, we'll have to find you some early '50's ribbed plates to take it up a notch.

So far they're ok, but nothing earth-shattering. Very mid-forward. Lacks brilliant highs or deeply defined sub-bass like my beloved Melz 1578.

 

[sam6550a]

So the Ghost of @bcowen paid me a visit and dropped off these lovely Foton 6H8C's from the Ukraine today.

[Note to self: kill @bcowen so his ghost can haunt me]

These are probably @bcowen rejects, since he owns most of the world's Foton supplies!

 

[bcowen]

So far they're ok, but nothing earth-shattering. Very mid-forward. Lacks brilliant highs or deeply defined sub-bass like my beloved Melz 1578.

They'll stay mid-forward with rather laid back treble, but the bass will fill in nicely once they get 20 or 25 hours on them. Honestly though I haven't listened much to '60's or later production -- the '50's are where it's at with these IME. But even the '50's aren't going to climb up into Melz 1578 territory in sound.....or price.

 

[Vonx]

Yeah, a shop around here that makes custom gear told me that he thinks that audiophiles tend to prefer tubes with some micro phonics. His most popular preamp uses a WE tube that rings like a bell if you bump the table it is on. On the other hand I have found the c3m tube a revelation as a driver tube. Mind you while some sources claim that the tube was designed for low microphonics some people claim they are highly microphonic so who knows? Lol

Wise words, this My favorite tube currently is a particularly microphonic 6sn7w that makes a little "ting" sound every time I turn the volume on the stepped knob.

Makes me wonder if and what ways some people may have introduced microphonics deliberately to get different and potentially more pleasing sound profiles.