The Reference 6SN7 Thread

Jun 4, 2024 at 10:17 AM Post #10,066 of 10,668
I have heard nothing but great things about these rubes but I just don’t trust myself with the adapters lol. I actually own a handful. Bought them a long time ago cause they were incredibly cheap. Not anymore lol.
If you're talking about Mullard CV6, I've just posted on the Feliks Envy thread some impressions.

TLDR: WOW
 
Jun 4, 2024 at 10:36 AM Post #10,067 of 10,668
Adapter noob question...

I bought these:
VR135 DET20 CV6 Mullard Valves Tubes Close Matched Quad NOS (Set 6)
to use with two of these:
1pc Dual 6C8P 2C22 7193 CV6 CV3601 TO 6SN7GT B65 CV1988 tube converter adapter
on my Feliks Envy


Attached the tubes the only way they can to the adapter, and attached the adapter the only it fits on the amp. But I can't get any sound.


Is the adapter not compatible with the tube quad I bought?

PXL_20240604_114900008.jpgPXL_20240604_114828585.jpgPXL_20240604_114751759.jpgPXL_20240604_114745987.jpgPXL_20240604_114732201.jpg
Oh, if you’re not familiar with it, single triode stuff is covered in depth in the 6j5 thread.
 
Jun 4, 2024 at 3:49 PM Post #10,068 of 10,668
Sounds like you figured it out, but on Russian tubes the caps seem to go on the same side, but on Mullards and others they have to reach around to what seems like the pin on the opposite side.
 
Jun 4, 2024 at 3:54 PM Post #10,069 of 10,668
Sounds like you figured it out, but on Russian tubes the caps seem to go on the same side, but on Mullards and others they have to reach around to what seems like the pin on the opposite side.
Yes, this was the solution. Tubes guys on here are so helpful and patient with people like me it's unreal. I guess we all have to learn somehow, and now I know!
 
Jun 4, 2024 at 11:56 PM Post #10,070 of 10,668
Sorry if this is out of place here- wondering if anyone has tried the “79” twin triode in their system, I just came past a few for sale and was wondering. Data sheet is attached-
 

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Jun 9, 2024 at 7:33 AM Post #10,073 of 10,668
This Linlai Elite is pretty good for a modern tube. I suppose when NOS stock dries up I would be okay with living with them. It doesn't have the tonal density of the best NOS tubes but it doesn't sound too weird or warm either, a bit SS-ish sounding I suppose.

IMG_6691.jpg
When do you suppose the NOS market will dry by? Ha.
 
Jun 9, 2024 at 8:26 AM Post #10,074 of 10,668
When do you suppose the NOS market will dry by? Ha.

I suppose that sufficient people have so many vintage tubes in their collections that realistically there will always be some availability. We don't live forever / tastes and interests change. And it seems like many new amps coming to market make use of new production tubes, so presumably many owners will be satisfied with those and their replacements, leaving demand/supply for NOS tubes as it is today? Just putting it out there, I know 0.001% of what others here know about the tube market.

But let me ask this... how long can these tubes be expected to last even without use? At which point does a tube from say the 1940s start to deteriorate more than just aesthetically from sitting on a shelf.
 
Jun 9, 2024 at 10:42 AM Post #10,075 of 10,668
I suppose that sufficient people have so many vintage tubes in their collections that realistically there will always be some availability. We don't live forever / tastes and interests change. And it seems like many new amps coming to market make use of new production tubes, so presumably many owners will be satisfied with those and their replacements, leaving demand/supply for NOS tubes as it is today? Just putting it out there, I know 0.001% of what others here know about the tube market.

But let me ask this... how long can these tubes be expected to last even without use? At which point does a tube from say the 1940s start to deteriorate more than just aesthetically from sitting on a shelf.
I believe the vacuum is what keeps the internals from corroding. They will last a lot longer than us for sure. Drop them in your will to me. :beerchug:
 
Jun 9, 2024 at 11:41 AM Post #10,076 of 10,668
When do you suppose the NOS market will dry by? Ha.
Depends on what you mean by dry up. The market for NOS 6sn7 is already beyond what most people are willing to put up with. Prices have gone up dramatically since 2020 for the most desirable versions. Those prices are a direct reflection of the supply. So yes, you can still get a GEC b65 (6sn7) if you want, they are around but at over $1k each that is the definition of dried up for most folks. These are consumable items so they will eventually all be used up. It’s in everyone’s interest for new manufacturers to keep making the tubes we like.

Tubes can have a long shelf life. Even if the base comes completely off, as long as the pins are in good condition it is salvageable. Some tubes have lost their vacuum but I bet that the ones that could already have after all these years.
 
Jun 9, 2024 at 12:29 PM Post #10,077 of 10,668
I suppose that sufficient people have so many vintage tubes in their collections that realistically there will always be some availability. We don't live forever / tastes and interests change. And it seems like many new amps coming to market make use of new production tubes, so presumably many owners will be satisfied with those and their replacements, leaving demand/supply for NOS tubes as it is today? Just putting it out there, I know 0.001% of what others here know about the tube market.

But let me ask this... how long can these tubes be expected to last even without use? At which point does a tube from say the 1940s start to deteriorate more than just aesthetically from sitting on a shelf.
Please remember that vacuum tubes were produced in the millions- there is still a lot of stuff available, especially if you do your research and use less well known tubes that can be just as good (or better) than the famous ones. One example would be tubes that have an anode cap and require a special adapter-many people steer away from them with the result that you can get great sounding tubes very inexpensive.
The reason most tube manufacturers use new production tubes is that they need a readily available supply in quantity. If you need a couple of hundred tubes it is difficult to rely on new old stock.
However, a private person who only needs a few tubes is not restricted to using new production tubes.
And as stated above, the way we use vacuum tubes in our equipment they last a very long time - some people report using the same tubes for twenty years and they are still good.
Regarding old tubes, I routinely use 50 to 80 year old tubes with very few problems.
 

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