The Reference 6SN7 Thread

Jul 9, 2024 at 8:04 PM Post #10,171 of 10,669
Nope. Consider all the aspects of a standard perforated plate including metal supports at the top, now remove the perforations. That is the only change. Some were grey plates but I like them less.IMG_3335.jpeg

Solid black plate on the left, solid grey plate on the right. Metal supports, stepped bottom mica. Never oval micas or mica supports.
Good to know, thanks!!! :thumbsup:
 
Jul 9, 2024 at 8:08 PM Post #10,172 of 10,669
Good to know, thanks!!! :thumbsup:
NP there were also perforated plates with other variations but I would have to dig deep into my Melz vault for those.🤪
 
Jul 10, 2024 at 2:47 PM Post #10,173 of 10,669
Hi everyone,
Hoping one of you experts can identify the provenance of this RCA 5962 red base. The color/font isn't familiar to me and it does not have any other marking on the base.

Thanks in advance!
 

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Jul 10, 2024 at 3:31 PM Post #10,176 of 10,669
Hi everyone,
Hoping one of you experts can identify the provenance of this RCA 5962 red base. The color/font isn't familiar to me and it does not have any other marking on the base.

Thanks in advance!
Well, the RCA logo on that tube was implemented in 1968, so we know its 1968 or older. Are there any letters/numbers above/below the hexagon markings on the glass? If there are, I can't make them out.

Here is a document on dating RCA tubes - I am pretty sure in it somewhere RCA actually used breaks in the hexagon shape in certain locations during certain periods of time, which if the hexagon marking is not degraded too much, you may be able to use it to determine when it was manufactured.

https://www.teltec.se/bocker/rcadates.pdf
 
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Jul 12, 2024 at 4:47 PM Post #10,177 of 10,669
I have dug out some tubes that I haven't used in a long time. Forgot how much I like them.

The Raytheon 6f8g with ladder plates is a great all rounder. I'm also a big fan of the 12j5wgt with the same ladder plate and the support rod. I assume the 6j5 version sounds the same. There is a 6sn7 with support rods as well. I've never tried them but I assume they'll keep up the family reputation. They are still decently priced when you can find them. The T plates seem. to be selling for more. I have some of those too, somewhere. It has been a while since I compared them but I do remember preferring the ladder plate style.
 
Jul 16, 2024 at 5:57 PM Post #10,178 of 10,669
Please tell us about your experience once the tubes arrive.
To my surprise items i have ordered from AliExpress arrive almost as fast as USPS.
It could very well be that Linlai sells wholesale to manufacturers.
Got them in. Unfortunately, there was no infosheet or indication on the boxes regarding the transconductance of each tube. Supposedly, they should have been a quad matched.

I threw on the first pair and the center image was way off-center and the soundstage was really withdrawn, which may indicate a non-matched pair. I took these out after 20mins. The second pair I threw on appear to be matched, soundwise, as the center image was where it should be and the soundstage was way more normal. Initial impressions on my Susvara, neutral/slightly warmish. Subbass is nicely extended on my one of my sub-bass test tracks (see below). Initial, impressions on the second pair are good so far (1.5 hrs in). Still, I feel I get more punch from a proper speaker-ss amp with my Susvara. Indeed, the bass on Massive Attack's track "Protection" is on the lighter side with the Susvara. Supposedly, the soundstage will fill out as the tubes burn in. I feel these are good value at their sale price (~$50/matched pair), especially after listening to a pair of Tung-Sol 12SN7 bgrp's before these tubes. I still want to take these to someone with a tube tester to get their readings.
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EDIT: It seems that three out of the four tubes sound the same, so one tube appears to be faulty. I want to find a tube tester to check on all of them, especially the suspected faulty tube.

EDIT2 (last listen around last week of Aug. 2024): Avoid. They are crap. Good pair starts shorting out after 30-60mins. One of the tubes is definitely not matched (extremely low volume compared to the other three. No spec sheet/testing results included in this supposedly quad matched set. No confidence in seller. As for the sound, just okay. A decent NOS pair is much better.
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Let's say that the shipper did not treat the package gently (see below). Thankfully, the tubes were securely packed and, based on outward appearances, they looked fine. Of course, such rough treatment could've rattled something internally.

20240715_124939_shipping.jpg


Other descriptors for these tubes (Linlaitube 6SN7): black T-plates, gold-plated pins, ST bottle, dual(?) mica, dual UFO getters.

Pics below (attn fellow LG owner, @Ham Sandwich ):

20240716_135145.jpg
20240716_135150.jpg

20240716_195911.jpg

20240716_135204.jpg



 
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Jul 20, 2024 at 3:02 PM Post #10,179 of 10,669
Hello all!
I’m wondering if anyone has any experience, comments or knows the history behind these tubes. I’ve not heard or seen them before but thought these are branded for use/sale with Melody amplifiers (though I could be wrong). Any thought/input would be appreciated!

IMG_0927.jpeg
 
Jul 20, 2024 at 3:15 PM Post #10,180 of 10,669
Hello all!
I’m wondering if anyone has any experience, comments or knows the history behind these tubes. I’ve not heard or seen them before but thought these are branded for use/sale with Melody amplifiers (though I could be wrong). Any thought/input would be appreciated!

I believe they are Australian, Jan signifies military, joint army and navy.
 
Jul 20, 2024 at 6:05 PM Post #10,181 of 10,669
Hello all!
I’m wondering if anyone has any experience, comments or knows the history behind these tubes. I’ve not heard or seen them before but thought these are branded for use/sale with Melody amplifiers (though I could be wrong). Any thought/input would be appreciated!

Hmm, idk.. I think those are Chinese SHUGUANG 6N8P tubes - checkout the top mica, from what I can see in the pictures looks very similar. There are companies like Cayin that will put new markings on the glass of tubes, which I have a few tubes like this from Cayin - wouldn't surprise me at all if other companies did this as well.

They look like these
https://www.ebay.com/itm/186567809477

1721512938554.png


Not 100% sure tho.
 
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Jul 20, 2024 at 6:36 PM Post #10,182 of 10,669
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Jul 20, 2024 at 6:50 PM Post #10,183 of 10,669
Jul 20, 2024 at 8:44 PM Post #10,184 of 10,669
Jul 20, 2024 at 8:56 PM Post #10,185 of 10,669
They look a lot like these tubes currently on offer at eBay, also marked Melody although just 6SN7 in this case.

Screenshot_20240720_162853_eBay.jpg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1159202670...sXnNGoOQAy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Guaranteed they are Chinese manufactured tubes labeled for an OEM. The JAN is definately an affectation and signifies nothing beyond a laughable marketing strategy.

Cheers,
Robert
Sounds to me like these are “who knows what your getting”- I’ll file these in the $5 per tube category.
 

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