The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[Isaacc7]

I definitely am not gonna fill up a huge collection of b36, maybe just 1 metal base and 1 gec to compare them against the 6J5s

Yeah, there’s no sense in buying b36 at the current typical prices. Sure, it’s a great 12sn7 but you can easily get equivalent quality for a fraction of the price with single triodes of a variety of flavors. None of them sound exactly the same of course but different is just different, not bad.

Oh, and make sure to try a 14n7. I have been extolling third virtues. Pretty sure they are equivalent to the much more expensive Sylvania 6sn7w.

 

[g0ldl10n]

I know that bargain tubes cannot compare to the GEC et al stuff - I mean, how can a $7 tube compete with the mega$ stuff?
Can’t be…
But maybe? Forget about bragging rights- how can an el cheapo tube sound as good or better than the real exxpenssive stuff?
And it doesn’t even look special- like worker housing in Albania.
And most people won’t believe me (but some do).
6S2S.
Or 6c2c.
From Russia with love…
Oh - one more thing. If you drop it by mistake it will not break. Think tanks.

I believe you lol.. its because I have sub $5 tubes that sound better than my triple digit costing tubes I own

 

[Isaacc7]

I believe you lol.. its because I have sub $5 tubes that sound better than my triple digit costing tubes I own

Here’s my annoying reminder that tubes never act in isolation. Any of my tubes, even the “best sounding” ones I own like GEC b36, TS RPBG, etc. can lead to bad sound with the wrong combo. I’ve been trying for half a year or more to get good sound with my Mullard ecc31. Finally got it with an impossible to predict combo (Triode Fivre 12j7 in the preamp, ecc31 input tube, Thompson 6aq5 output tubes). I am a firm believer that you can get good sound from most tubes with the right combo.

I understand that is an opinion that is formed by my, uh… sizable selection of options. It’s quite possible to not get good sound from an input tube if you only have 4 or 5 output tubes to choose from lol. This is the real reason God invented tube preamps of course, it gives up another way to combine tube combos lol.

 

[mordy]

I agree with you: You can get good sound from almost any tubes with the right combination!

And that is one reason why I won’t sell any tubes I have - you never know when it will have a chance to shine!

And this is one the main allures of tube rolling- you cannot predict how a certain tube combination is going to sound.

 

[g0ldl10n]

Here’s my annoying reminder that tubes never act in isolation. Any of my tubes, even the “best sounding” ones I own like GEC b36, TS RPBG, etc. can lead to bad sound with the wrong combo. I’ve been trying for half a year or more to get good sound with my Mullard ecc31. Finally got it with an impossible to predict combo (Triode Fivre 12j7 in the preamp, ecc31 input tube, Thompson 6aq5 output tubes). I am a firm believer that you can get good sound from most tubes with the right combo.

I understand that is an opinion that is formed by my, uh… sizable selection of options. It’s quite possible to not get good sound from an input tube if you only have 4 or 5 output tubes to choose from lol. This is the real reason God invented tube preamps of course, it gives up another way to combine tube combos lol.

yep, this is true.. but when these same tubes I am speaking of ($5 varieties) have the same results on my friends equipment, which is actually completely different between all of us and we all come to the same conclusion compared to triple digit offerings, its clear they actually just do sound better.

And I am speaking of OTL amps using just single 6SN7 -> 6AS7, and talking about OTC amps using 300B outputs driving speakers, and not headphones, to other OTL amps using many more tubes in total.. so, all completely different, but we have all come to the same opinion of these selections. Pretty compelling evidence imo.

 

[UntilThen]

cheap BGRP was definitely something I wanted sometime ago, but I already acquired the 6SN7 variant awhile back ! I think the B36s would be interesting, I don't have many UK stuff onhand

I did have a GEC B36 but when I sold GOTL it went with the amp. I didn’t think that I will use a 12.6v tube again.

However I kept a pair of Tung Sol 12SL7gt bgrp with original boxes. I still can’t use it now though.

 

[Isaacc7]

yep, this is true.. but when these same tubes I am speaking of ($5 varieties) have the same results on my friends equipment, which is actually completely different between all of us and we all come to the same conclusion compared to triple digit offerings, its clear they actually just do sound better.

And I am speaking of OTL amps using just single 6SN7 -> 6AS7, and talking about OTC amps using 300B outputs driving speakers, and not headphones, to other OTL amps using many more tubes in total.. so, all completely different, but we have all come to the same opinion of these selections. Pretty compelling evidence imo.

I will admit that there is sometimes a hierarchy. I think I can get good sound with Sylvania 6sn7 with angled plates but I have always gotten a better sound from any of the parallel plate models from them. Some of my favorite combos use the parallel plates but I get lousy sound with them in other combos. Mind you, I’m not sure everyone would agree with my view of what is better. I definitely have favorites but I think in terms of combos and not individual tubes.

I’ve given up on the idea that particular tubes impart a particular sound in every case. Every time I think I have a tube’s essential characteristics figured out, combining it with a different tube shatters that illusion. I now pick a tube I want to try and then fiddle until I find a combo that sounds good. No more trying to cook with tube spices, the spices keep changing their flavor! I keep my angled plate Sylvania 6sn7 around in case they are the right thing to use one day.

 

[mordy]

I will admit that there is sometimes a hierarchy. I think I can get good sound with Sylvania 6sn7 with angled plates but I have always gotten a better sound from any of the parallel plate models from them. Some of my favorite combos use the parallel plates but I get lousy sound with them in other combos. Mind you, I’m not sure everyone would agree with my view of what is better. I definitely have favorites but I think in terms of combos and not individual tubes.

I’ve given up on the idea that particular tubes impart a particular sound in every case. Every time I think I have a tube’s essential characteristics figured out, combining it with a different tube shatters that illusion. I now pick a tube I want to try and then fiddle until I find a combo that sounds good. No more trying to cook with tube spices, the spices keep changing their flavor! O keep my angled plate Sylvania 6sn7 around in case they are the right thing to use one day.

Funny, the Sylvania early 50's parallel plates 6BX7 tubes sound better than the 6BX7 Sylvania angled plates as well.

 

[LobalWarming]

Funny, the Sylvania early 50's parallel plates 6BX7 tubes sound better than the 6BX7 Sylvania angled plates as well.

Except.... AFAIK... which may not be far... but all the 6BX7s from the 50s were made by

Spoiler: Look Away!

GE!

TS, RCA and Sylvi only made 6BX7s in the 60s.

 

[Louisiana]

I should probably stop investing in gold and rather invest my money in "tubes"....
Unbelievable where they are priced today.
Got an offer for various tubes, I thought it was fun at first

5692 RCA red base, NOS, 350$
CV1988 Philips, NOS, 500$
Marconi/STC QA2408 NOS, 685$
CV181 Mullard, 650$

Prices are for ONE tube, for matched pairs the price is double plus 10% surcharge.

Another interesting offer:
https://reverb.com/item/40444203-ge...-nos-nib-england-6sn7-cv1988-amplitrex-tested

 

[keenerz]

yeah the cost of tubes has skyrocketed unfortunately

 

[leftside]

Another interesting offer:
https://reverb.com/item/40444203-ge...-nos-nib-england-6sn7-cv1988-amplitrex-tested

Genuine 1940's tubes from 1951.

 

[leftside]

I should probably stop investing in gold and rather invest my money in "tubes"....
Unbelievable where they are priced today.
Got an offer for various tubes, I thought it was fun at first



Prices are for ONE tube, for matched pairs the price is double plus 10% surcharge.

If those are genuine NOS/never been used tubes, then yes those are fair current prices. You should be able to get slightly used for cheaper elsewhere, but some of those tubes are getting rare now.

 

[Isaacc7]

Genuine 1940's tubes from 1951.

The thing is, $880 a tube isn’t all that far out of the norm for those these days.

 

[g0ldl10n]

The thing is, $880 a tube isn’t all that far out of the norm for those these days.

Thing is, do you think paying for the pair, which you would need, could actually be worth it? I understand some will say its up to the individual to determine that answer - however, if one was going to try to be as objective as possible, do you think there is any type of amp they could be used in, that they would sound so much incredibly better than anything else that is out there, that would justify their price?

Thing is, you can buy some very nice headphones for that price .. or very nice amps, or DACs.. the list goes on.