The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[432789]

  

anyone know about these?

 

[gurubhai]

^Ya, I have one. Nice tubes, structurally they are identical to early 50's sylvania tubes and sound like them too.

 

[RoundRound]

Hello guys,
Can You help me identify those? 
I believe they are 6SN7WGTA - which are overspeced compared to the normal 6SN7? Would they work in a Schiit Freya? How much do you feel a matched quad would be worth? Is $150 a good deal for those 4?
 
Thank you!
 

 

[r2muchstuff]

Lovely looking quad
 
I am not sure of value, $150 is not outlandish.
 
JMTC,
r2

 

[RoundRound]

  Lovely looking quad
 
I am not sure of value, $150 is not outlandish.
 
JMTC,
r2

Thank you, can yo uhelp me recognise the exact model/year?
I think it's 6SN7WGTA

Also what is the relation betwene Sylvania and Brimar? What sonic properties can I expect?
 
Thank you!
 

 

[r2muchstuff]

Looks like the date code on tube to the left in photo is 66 06, I am not clear about the 06.  This would be 1966, 6th week.  That is all I can add, maybe others with more experience/knowledge will help out.
 
r2

 

[Skylab]

Personally I like the Sylvania JAN 6SN7WGTA a lot. Very balanced, nice tube. Not superlative in any respect but very good at almost everything. $150 forma NOS quad is quite good.

 

[abvolt]

Personally I like the Sylvania JAN 6SN7WGTA a lot. Very balanced, nice tube. Not superlative in any respect but very good at almost everything. $150 forma NOS quad is quite good.

I agree I've got 2 sets of those also..

 

[RoundRound]

Thanks guys.
I'm looking forward to getting my long overdue Schiit Freya and hear them out. 
 
Those tubes are supposed to be a mnatche dquad (or two pairs), here is the testing data I got from the seller, not sure how to read it...
 
1-A was 6.5/6.7
1-B was 6.7/ 7.0
2-A was 7­.5 / 7.5
2-B was 7.8/8.­0
 
What do these numbers mean and how matched is matched in tubes? 5%?
 
Thank you!

 

[Griff65]

Hi my 336 se turned up today, would the 6SN7GT JAN 6SN7WGTA make a suitable first purchase?

Tia

 

[atarione]

Hi my 336 se turned up today, would the 6SN7GT JAN 6SN7WGTA make a suitable first purchase?

Tia

 
nice... my 336SE came last friday.. I'm also trying to figure out some NOS tube options.  
 
How are you liking your 335SE w/ the stock tubes?  I have been diggin' mine w/ my DT880's and also using it as a preamp w/ my Sony TA-N77ES amp and JBL L1 speakers...listening to the speakers that way now..

 

[Skylab]

Thanks guys.
I'm looking forward to getting my long overdue Schiit Freya and hear them out. 

Those tubes are supposed to be a mnatche dquad (or two pairs), here is the testing data I got from the seller, not sure how to read it...

[COLOR=222222]1-A was 6.5/6.7

1-B was 6.7/ 7.0

2-A was 7­.5 / 7.5

2-B was 7.8/8.­0[/COLOR]

What do these numbers mean and how matched is matched in tubes? 5%?

Thank you!

Honestly without more data, those numbers mean almost nothing. What tube tester were they taken on? And on that tester, what is the target reading for a 6SN7GTA? Until you know this, the numbers are more or less just numbers.

Hi my 336 se turned up today, would the 6SN7GT JAN 6SN7WGTA make a suitable first purchase?

Tia

Well they would be a nice first purchase IMO, although there are certainly many options, and some less expensive (and some much more of course).

 

[Griff65]

   
nice... my 336SE came last friday.. I'm also trying to figure out some NOS tube options.  
 
How are you liking your 335SE w/ the stock tubes?  I have been diggin' mine w/ my DT880's and also using it as a preamp w/ my Sony TA-N77ES amp and JBL L1 speakers...listening to the speakers that way now..

 
I'm moving from an original M-stage to the 336 and very happy with the change, also T50rp have replaced my Q40's, so the sound signature is very different.
 
 
Happy with the stock tubes but already scoring the auction site
 
Thanks for the nod Skylab..

 

[RoundRound]

Ok, I'll bite,
 
Can you guys least a few of the most underrated 6SN7s out there - so an ambitious, but noob audiophile can experiment with NOS tubes on the cheap? (I hope).
 
Thank you!

 

[ericr]

Thanks guys.
I'm looking forward to getting my long overdue Schiit Freya and hear them out. 

Those tubes are supposed to be a mnatche dquad (or two pairs), here is the testing data I got from the seller, not sure how to read it...

[COLOR=222222]1-A was 6.5/6.7

1-B was 6.7/ 7.0

2-A was 7­.5 / 7.5

2-B was 7.8/8.­0[/COLOR]

What do these numbers mean and how matched is matched in tubes? 5%?

Thank you!

What Skylab said. If you put a brand new 6SN7 in the sellers tester what would it read? If a new tube reads 7.5 then the B set is as strong as new tubes (even though they may have seen some use), and the A set is close to new. However, if a new tube reads 14 then the sellers tubes are effectively used up. A common rule is a tube needs to be replaced when it tests at 60% of a new tube.

Plus, while these pairs each have 2 tubes that are reasonably matched, it doesn't automatically make them a matched quad. A1 has a plate at 6.5 while B2 has a plate at 8.0. I'm not familiar with your amp but that seems to be a bit wider spread than many "matched sets" I've seen for sale. It would probably be best to check with experienced owners of your amp before buying.

Assuming the questions Skylar raises are answered favorably, for 1960s Sylvania 6SN7s (vs 1940 or 50) the price is OK though not any sort of killer deal.