The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[turbofeet]

I have these and as suggested they tame bright tubes.

The midrange is excellent:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22638247...AKhRTzZSRi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I think they are also known as smoked glass.

Edit: I'm sure you'll find a cheaper pair in the US. They are normally quite reasonably priced. I attach my pair.

 

[tdx]

I have these and as suggested they tame bright tubes.

The midrange is excellent:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22638247...AKhRTzZSRi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I think they are also known as smoked glass.

Edit: I'm sure you'll find a cheaper pair in the US. They are normally quite reasonably priced. I attach my pair.

Thanks very much!!

 

[Deleeh]

Da dieser Thread die Heimat des gesamten 6SN7-bezogenen Wissens ist, möchte ich Sie um Rat fragen, wie Sie die richtige Röhre auswählen. Ich habe kürzlich auf einen Verstärker umgestiegen, der großartig für Wirkung, Geschwindigkeit und Klangbühne ist, aber etwas zu intensiv/hell und etwas schlanker sein kann, als ich es gewohnt bin. Also suche ich nach einem Paar 6SN7-Röhren, um es auszugleichen, etwas, das sich an Musikalität, entspannte/Süße und Notendichte nenegt. Habt ihr eine Empfehlung? NOS oder neu, beides ist in Ordnung. Vielen Dank im Voraus! [/ZITAT]
Hello,
my suggestion would rather be 5692 RCA,depending on which direction it goes there are Black or Greyplates,Blackplates are a bit more detailed and neutral in tone and still Grfiffig.Greyplates tend to be warmer and more lush but still grippy,but not easy to find at a good price.Doesn't necessarily have to be Rca because the same ones can be found a bit cheaper under GE,Tungsol.
6SN7 GTB Blackplates,clearglass are also very good have the character of the 5692 but play a little less of everything but very detailed.
In terms of New Stock, the Ray Tubes 6SN7 Select are very well detailed, a little warmer in tone, very nice and well tuned for a New Stock.
A lot also depends a bit on the output tubes you use.English tubes work well in combination with Japanese tubes.Us output tubes you always have to try a bit what harmonises together.German tubes are usually very neutral and work well with US/British tubes.Can be tuned well.
If you have rectifier tubes on board, it can also be worth trying them out for fine tuning.
Sometimes you have to try something and take a chance to reach your goal.

 

[ceylon103]

I have these and as suggested they tame bright tubes.

The midrange is excellent:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22638247...AKhRTzZSRi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I think they are also known as smoked glass.

Edit: I'm sure you'll find a cheaper pair in the US. They are normally quite reasonably priced. I attach my pair.

smooth operators

 

[Waffle Prime]

Since this thread is the home to all 6SN7-related knowledge, I'd like to ask for some advice on choosing the right tube. I recently switched to an amp that is great for impact, speed and soundstage but can be ever so slightly too intense/bright and a little leaner than what I'm used to. So I'm looking for a pair of 6SN7 tubes to balance it out, something that leans towards musicality, laid back/sweetness and note density.

Would you guys have some recommendation? NOS or new, both are fine.

Thanks in advance!

What 6sn7 tubes are you running currently? Without a comparison point any recommendation could be spot on or wildly off the mark.

Also how much impact, speed, and soundstage are you willing to give up? Taming highs and going for tubey laid back musicality will reduce those characteristics.

Price and how much space you have around each socket is a factor these days, some of the well liked Chinese tubes are quite large.

Cheers,
W

 

[tdx]

What 6sn7 tubes are you running currently? Without a comparison point any recommendation could be spot on or wildly off the mark.

Also how much impact, speed, and soundstage are you willing to give up? Taming highs and going for tubey laid back musicality will reduce those characteristics.

Price and how much space you have around each socket is a factor these days, some of the well liked Chinese tubes are quite large.

Cheers,
W

Fair question. The new amp I have (Cayin Soul) has Tung Sol KT170 drivers (which sound great). JJ GZ34 tubes (which I've already replaced with RCA JAN 5R4GY) and JJ 6SN7 stock tubes. The overall sound signature is punchy, fast and vast, and I'd obviously want to keep some of that and not make the amp go completely limp, although I doubt 6SN7 tubes could change it by that much. Rolling the RCA 5R4GY has already tamed some of the excess energy, but I'm still finding it a tad harsh and lean. So i'm hoping the proper pair of 6SN7s can fill in the sound a bit.

Thanks

 

[Waffle Prime]

Fair question. The new amp I have (Cayin Soul) has Tung Sol KT170 drivers (which sound great). JJ GZ34 tubes (which I've already replaced with RCA JAN 5R4GY) and JJ 6SN7 stock tubes. The overall sound signature is punchy, fast and vast, and I'd obviously want to keep some of that and not make the amp go completely limp, although I doubt 6SN7 tubes could change it by that much. Rolling the RCA 5R4GY has already tamed some of the excess energy, but I'm still finding it a tad harsh and lean. So i'm hoping the proper pair of 6SN7s can fill in the sound a bit.

Thanks

Ah thank you.

I wonder if this situation has some similarity to tube rolling at my brothers place this summer. He runs 845s on a Mastersound Amp, with 6sn7 as gain tube and 12au7 as input buffer. JJ tubes in the 12au7 were rolled off, soft, and dull. Comparing the JJ 6sn7 to other new production (sadly via youtube videos) they seemed the most murky and soft. So you could go down the rabbit hole of chasing NOS RCA or other warm tubes.

Or, maybe look at speaker placement and tone controls first? Sidewall then rear wall proximity can boost bass and mid perception, which might bring it into balance and allow a better range of 6sn7 spice and seasoning to play with.

What are other Cayin owners trying with those new 170s? If the cost of early nos is acceptable then by all means try some. I have some RCA GTA 6sn7 which remind me of 1960s tv 'soft focus'. Kinda fun but seriously detrimental to super well recorded modern music.

Perhaps a more refined treble that isnt rolled off would also solve the problem. Linlai perhaps?

Sounds like fun! Good luck.

 

[Renexx]

NEC 6SN7GT 1952/53
Shiny grey welded plates

Hitachi 6SN7GT
shiny dark grey welded plates
Rectangle getter

Very excited to find out how these will sound.
I didn't even know these early japanese tubes do exist.

 

[TLO]

NEC 6SN7GT 1952/53
Shiny grey welded plates


Hitachi 6SN7GT
shiny black welded plates
Rectangle getter

Very excited to find out how these will sound.
I didn't even know these early japanese tubes do exist.

Some might like them but I always find Japanese tubes sound too thin for my taste. Have tried Toshiba, NEC and Hitachi.

 

[Renexx]

Some might like them but I always find Japanese tubes sound too thin for my taste. Have tried Toshiba, NEC and Hitachi.

I have Toshiba and Hitachi 6sn7GTB. I would not say they sound thin or lacking in any way. Sure GTBs are not as resolving as their 6sn7gt predecessors.

These channel master have a slightly different construction than Toshiba 6sn7gtb. Not sure who made these.

 

[ceylon103]

I have Toshiba and Hitachi 6sn7GTB. I would not say they sound thin or lacking in any way. Sure GTBs are not as resolving as their 6sn7gt predecessors.


These channel master have a slightly different construction than Toshiba 6sn7gtb. Not sure who made these.

well, those two pair have some big differences in construction. could be same manufacture made a different times. most channel master branded tubes i come across are hitachi.

 

[Renexx]

Some might like them but I always find Japanese tubes sound too thin for my taste. Have tried Toshiba, NEC and Hitachi.

I under stand now. The NECs are very delicate sounding tubes. Wonderful voice presentation with Toshiba 6as7g using Atrium Closed. These might rival GEC b65.
Very excited to find out how the Hitatchis with black welded plates will sound like

 

[Andrew Randle]

I have one on order for my Lyr+.

Andrew

Hi Edward and all. Received the PSVANE ART 6SN7 valve for my Lyr+ that I am using as a pre-amp. Couldn’t listen to it this weekend, but now am.

First impressions without burn in are that it is a significant step up from the CV181 TII. It still retains the tonal character of the TII, while improving things holographically, with more refined treble detail, air, presence, and instrument separation.

Well done PSVANE.

The valve looks cool too.


Andrew

 

[Waffle Prime]

Hi Edward and all. Received the PSVANE ART 6SN7 valve for my Lyr+ that I am using as a pre-amp. Couldn’t listen to it this weekend, but now am.

First impressions without burn in are that it is a significant step up from the CV181 TII. It still retains the tonal character of the TII, while improving things holographically, with more refined treble detail, air, presence, and instrument separation.

Well done PSVANE.

The valve looks cool too.


Andrew

Hi Andrew,
How are you liking the tube after a couple weeks? Hopefully it still shows favorably after the initial impression!

Would you say it is better in dynamics than the Tll or the same? At some point I'll need to choose between the Art or Tll, because quads aren't cheap.

Cheers, W

 

[Andrew Randle]

Hi Andrew,
How are you liking the tube after a couple weeks? Hopefully it still shows favorably after the initial impression!

Would you say it is better in dynamics than the Tll or the same? At some point I'll need to choose between the Art or Tll, because quads aren't cheap.

Cheers, W

Still loving the PSVANE Art, it is an excellent tube. Like the TII but better.

Andrew