The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[Ripper2860]

No need to worry. It's still open season on the Schiit Vali and Lyr 3 threads.

 

[Monahans67]

No need to worry. It's still open season on the Schiit Vali and Lyr 3 threads.

Yes it is, it is!!!!!

 

[thomaskong78]

I had been happy with Sylvania vt231 made in 1940's.

But some people claim that Bad boy version made in 1952 has better bass and body than vt231.

Can anybody confirm the below linked tubes are genuine "Bad boy"?

https://www.vivatubes.com/tests-nos...7gt-black-3-rivet-t-bad-boy-plate-tall-tubes/

thanks in advance

 

[whirlwind]

I had been happy with Sylvania vt231 made in 1940's.

But some people claim that Bad boy version made in 1952 has better bass and body than vt231.

Can anybody confirm the below linked tubes are genuine "Bad boy"?

https://www.vivatubes.com/tests-nos...7gt-black-3-rivet-t-bad-boy-plate-tall-tubes/

thanks in advance

Just from what you see of them in the picture, they look legit to me.

 

[Paladin79]

I am sending some of my concealed 6SN7’s with an amp so a friend can hear some classic tubes that match well with a Class A amp. One final test, @bcowen has heard them as well as Jason at Schiit and others.

 

[JKDJedi]

Going through my rummage and found these guys in there, or forgot about them really... not sure how to read the date codes on these, is it year first then week? Thinking I have two from 1967 and one from 1960.. correct?
EDIt: doing some research and it seems that the two on the left are actually from 1957.. found this link to help with that presumption. https://tubeworldexpress.com/collections/preamp/products/6sn7gtb-westinghouse-1957

 

[bcowen]

Going through my rummage and found these guys in there, or forgot about them really... not sure how to read the date codes on these, is it year first then week? Thinking I have two from 1967 and one from 1960.. correct?
EDIt: doing some research and it seems that the two on the left are actually from 1957.. found this link to help with that presumption. https://tubeworldexpress.com/collections/preamp/products/6sn7gtb-westinghouse-1957

With most US tube codes it's year then week (or quarter). Glad you found that link though 'cause I generally suck at deciphering dates.

 

[barbz127]

Is it worth grabbing a set of Ken rad Jan CKR 6sn7gt clear glass tops? Box says accepted may 1945.

Thankyou

 

[JKDJedi]

Is it worth grabbing a set of Ken rad Jan CKR 6sn7gt clear glass tops? Box says accepted may 1945.

Thankyou

One of these?

 

[thomaskong78]

I received Freya+ this morning



I skipped JJ stock tubes and inserted Nos Amperex 6sn7gtb in gain stage and Sylvania 6sn7gtb in buffer stage.



After running demagnetization tracks twice( 6min each) on Freya and Jot R to drive Raal Sr1a headphone, I started listening to Capricio Italian (Tchaikovsky) directed by Bernstein.



Wow, Freya with Jot R sounds much better than Jot R only with more relaxed and nuanced details but with minimal loss of transparency



While it sounds slightly thin with Jot R only.



Old Jazz recording by Benny Goodman sounds more relaxed with less hot edge from Freya and Jot R.



My digital source is Dave and HMS.



I use 20ft Purist Audio Design balanced cable between Dave and Freya and 6ft Synergistic Research balanced cable between Freya and Jot R.



I still have several choice of tube rolling with Sylvania vt231, RCA gray glass 6sn7gt and all quad Syl 6sn7 gtb.



Audio depends on personal preference, but Freya fitted with Nos tubes and Jot R sounds much more musical to my ears than Jot R only with overall nuanced presentation.



Although I had enjoyed fast and exciting sound out of Sr1a driven by Jot R for the last three months, I keep going back to 009s driven by Kgsshv Carbon amp to get more relaxed sound.



With Freya and Jot R, Sr1a move halfway between Jot R only and 009s with relaxed presentation.





Out of curiosity, I am driving HD 800s out of Rca output of Freya using "Hosa TPR-257" adapter bought from Amazon.


Wow, Freya+ is also a killer amp for HD 800s.



I had driven HD 800s by headphone output of Dave and HMS.



It sounds transparent but with one note bass.





But with Freya in the chain after Dave, HD 800s sounds almost perfect with nice soundstage, clean details and full and textured bass.

Freya also makes sound of 009s driven by Kgsshv Carbon amp more graceful.




Freya + use 4 6sn7 tubes, two in gain stage and two more in buffer.

It is kind of dream amp for tube rolling of 6sn7.

I have Nos Syl vt 231,GTB, Rca, Tungsol tubes to roll.

 

[barbz127]

One of these?

Similar markings but not identical.

 

[thomaskong78]

So far RCA gray glass 6sn7 is best in Freya+ for my taste with warm and lush sound.

 

[Paladin79]

So far RCA gray glass 6sn7 is best in Freya+ for my taste with warm and lush sound.

A very good tube indeed, I have also used a quad of Melz 1578's that I like and other friends have liked them as well in the Freya. Another favorite is the CBS/Hytron 5692. The RCA grey glass and Ken-Rad black glass VT-231 are among my favorite tubes in the under $1,000 range. I personally listen to them in my builds along with 1963 Melz.

 

[Jon L]

So far RCA gray glass 6sn7 is best in Freya+ for my taste with warm and lush sound.

If your tastes align with RCA gray glass 6SN7, keep an eye out for National Union Gray Glass 6SN7/VT231.
IME, if a component uses 2 6SN7 per channel, I usually find the best final sound is obtained by combining two different types of 6SN7, one from "warm, rich" camp and one from "fast, detailed" camp.

 

[Paladin79]

If your tastes align with RCA gray glass 6SN7, keep an eye out for National Union Gray Glass 6SN7/VT231.
IME, if a component uses 2 6SN7 per channel, I usually find the best final sound is obtained by combining two different types of 6SN7, one from "warm, rich" camp and one from "fast, detailed" camp.

I do that with some tubes and it is sure easier to find matching pairs than matching quads on some of the older tubes.