JKDJedi
Headphoneus Supremus
I only own one dude... Not a high roller like the rest of you guys here
The Reference 6SN7 Thread
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Paladin79
Previously MOT: Cables For Less
lol the Darkvoice, I should have checked the other thread. You will have some very nice tubes for that amp though. I pay very little for equipment and tubes but then I have made my own cables, amps, modified headphones, built my own equipment racks, and have done plenty of DIY electronics just to save a buck here and there. People who have sent me tubes and quality scotch and such know they can call on me and I will help them out. The exception is @bcowen, I should be way on the plus side with him.I only own one dude... Not a high roller like the rest of you guys here
thomaskong78
100+ Head-Fier
Someone recommend Telefuknen 6sn7 but I found it is listed at 1,600$ from Italy.
I am done for shoot out.
05-29-2020 10:11am
shkong78..... when you get a chance, i strongly recommend the Telefunken 6sn7. With all the characteristics you described and your listening styles the Telefunken might be your cup of tea!
here is my lists of 6sn7 in particular order:
telefunken 6h8c 6sn7
GEC 1988 Metal base 6sn7
Amperex miniwatts ecc32
tungsol Round plates
Tungsol 6f8g Round plates w/adaptor
Sylvania metal base
Kenrad black Round plate
Metz Russian
Hands down the telefunken 6h8c my go-to for 6sn7
Thanks for your recommendation.
But there is no best thing for everybody.
It will depend on system and personal taste.
Also some audio gadgets are overpriced with hype or due to law of diminishing return.
Someone recommend Telefuknen 6sn7 but I found it is listed at 1,600$ from Italy.
I am done for shoot out.
I have more than enough 6sn7 (18 different kinds total 80 tubes) .
Thus I am going to stop purchase of more 6sn7 tubes.
Since my speakers with plasma tweeter and Dave and HMS is on the neutral or somewhat analytical side ( not warm or bloated) , my preference without considering cost is
1. 1578 Melz
2. TS bgrp
3. Syl vt231
4. Kenrad vt231 bg
5. Raytheon vt231
6. RCA vt231 gray bottle
7 6n8s made in 1978
8. Syl 1952 "Bad boy" three hole.
9 Syl 6sn7w brown base
10 Syl gtb tall bottle made in 1955
11 RCA gray bottle
12 Shuguang Treasure CV181-Z ( New production)
14.. CBS/Hytron made in 50's
15,Tungsol gtb tall bottle made in 1950’s
16. Amperex GTB
17. New production 6n8s ( stock tube of Schitt Freya)
18. New production Tungsol GTB
I am done for shoot out.
05-29-2020 10:11am
shkong78..... when you get a chance, i strongly recommend the Telefunken 6sn7. With all the characteristics you described and your listening styles the Telefunken might be your cup of tea!
here is my lists of 6sn7 in particular order:
telefunken 6h8c 6sn7
GEC 1988 Metal base 6sn7
Amperex miniwatts ecc32
tungsol Round plates
Tungsol 6f8g Round plates w/adaptor
Sylvania metal base
Kenrad black Round plate
Metz Russian
Hands down the telefunken 6h8c my go-to for 6sn7
Thanks for your recommendation.
But there is no best thing for everybody.
It will depend on system and personal taste.
Also some audio gadgets are overpriced with hype or due to law of diminishing return.
Someone recommend Telefuknen 6sn7 but I found it is listed at 1,600$ from Italy.
I am done for shoot out.
I have more than enough 6sn7 (18 different kinds total 80 tubes) .
Thus I am going to stop purchase of more 6sn7 tubes.
Since my speakers with plasma tweeter and Dave and HMS is on the neutral or somewhat analytical side ( not warm or bloated) , my preference without considering cost is
1. 1578 Melz
2. TS bgrp
3. Syl vt231
4. Kenrad vt231 bg
5. Raytheon vt231
6. RCA vt231 gray bottle
7 6n8s made in 1978
8. Syl 1952 "Bad boy" three hole.
9 Syl 6sn7w brown base
10 Syl gtb tall bottle made in 1955
11 RCA gray bottle
12 Shuguang Treasure CV181-Z ( New production)
14.. CBS/Hytron made in 50's
15,Tungsol gtb tall bottle made in 1950’s
16. Amperex GTB
17. New production 6n8s ( stock tube of Schitt Freya)
18. New production Tungsol GTB
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JKDJedi
Headphoneus Supremus
And those are just the ones that we know about, the history behind said tubes are just as facinating, to me anyway. Nice collection.
Paladin79
Previously MOT: Cables For Less
My problem with such things is buyer expectation. You have heard what others think or how much something costs and to me that can really affect how you might rate a tube. Another factor is equipment choice, I have had eight tubes used in a blind challenge that were used as buffers in a pre-amp, in hybrid amps, etc. Can you pick that tube you like so well and describe in such detail when you hear it with seven other tubes and some may be better, some worse? What headphones, what speakers? What music choices? Are you A/B testing or are you going from memory? I know of two people who can pick the same tube consistently when offered eight different 6sn7's for blind listening. Eliminate cost and brand and suddenly less expensive tubes can do very well and if you re-read an evaluation will it be anywhere close to the same as when you received a tube that was thought to be wonderful and was uber expensive.
jaboki
100+ Head-Fier
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Is this the 1578 you used? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matched-pa...-audiophile-6H8S-6SN7-Metal-base/273874731266
Just double checking before trying it out.
thomaskong78
100+ Head-Fier
Yes I ordered new tube from above link.Is this the 1578 you used? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matched-pa...-audiophile-6H8S-6SN7-Metal-base/273874731266
Just double checking before trying it out.
One of tube need more than 20 minutes warmup before some high frequency noise is gone..
After playing one hour it seems to be fine
It is better to choose 6sn7 tube based upon what you want to improve.
The advantage of 1578 is nice timber, bass, decay and widest and deepest soundstage, but it can sound closed in if your system is on the warm side.
If you want to go for utmost transparency and details, then you had better get Sylvania vt231.
If you want lush and warm sound, then go for RCA vt231 grey bottle.
Just my 2 cent.
jaboki
100+ Head-Fier
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Thank you for your feedback!
What stores do you recommend to get the Sylvania/RCA? I just recently picked up a tube amp, and starting to learn all of this.
thomaskong78
100+ Head-Fier
Thank you for your feedback!
What stores do you recommend to get the Sylvania/RCA? I just recently picked up a tube amp, and starting to learn all of this.
It could be hit or miss to order from Ebay.
It is better to order from dealer with good feedback and return offer.
This one may be fine
First you have to decide whether to go for details or lush and warm sound.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Sylvan...101686?hash=item340f5dc036:g:I28AAOSw8ZhdNUb1
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-RCA-VT...906335?hash=item34279d18df:g:qDoAAOSwh5petNzZ
jaboki
100+ Head-Fier
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I definitely want something that's lush > warm > details.
Thank you for the quick responses by the way.
Paladin79
Previously MOT: Cables For Less
Check out Lowtechelec on Etsy for tubes, I have found him to be honest and reliable and he checks tubes in a Cary amp (when feasible) as well as a tube tester. He does not deal in many NOS but generally has a great selection of 6SN7’s.
thomaskong78
100+ Head-Fier
Someone is very happy with 1578.
But I have a problem with one of tube.
KR is dead quiet, but 1578 has hum and high frequency noise until 20 minutes warmup.
I am going to wait few more days before I contact the dealer.
Do I need to re solder it?
big_greg
2,397 posts
05-29-2020 4:35pm
I bought a pair of the Melz 1578 from the seller @shkong78 recommended for my Modwright LS 100. I played them for a while last night and they sounded really good right out of the box (I had the LS 100 in HTBP mode for about an hour to get them warmed up, watching TV).
They are detailed, dynamic, and the bass is prominent with a texture that I have not heard in my system before. Pithy might be a good description of the sound of the bass. The soundstage was expanded and there seemed to be more separation between the instruments. I can't wait for them to break in a little more.
They were one of the best bang for the buck upgrades I've made to my system. I've used Shuguang CV-181, the stock Tung-Sol tubes, Sylvania Chrome Domes, Sylvania 6SN7GTA "tall boys", and Sophia Electric clear and blue tubes. The 1578s were the best by far.
But I have a problem with one of tube.
KR is dead quiet, but 1578 has hum and high frequency noise until 20 minutes warmup.
I am going to wait few more days before I contact the dealer.
Do I need to re solder it?
big_greg
2,397 posts
05-29-2020 4:35pm
I bought a pair of the Melz 1578 from the seller @shkong78 recommended for my Modwright LS 100. I played them for a while last night and they sounded really good right out of the box (I had the LS 100 in HTBP mode for about an hour to get them warmed up, watching TV).
They are detailed, dynamic, and the bass is prominent with a texture that I have not heard in my system before. Pithy might be a good description of the sound of the bass. The soundstage was expanded and there seemed to be more separation between the instruments. I can't wait for them to break in a little more.
They were one of the best bang for the buck upgrades I've made to my system. I've used Shuguang CV-181, the stock Tung-Sol tubes, Sylvania Chrome Domes, Sylvania 6SN7GTA "tall boys", and Sophia Electric clear and blue tubes. The 1578s were the best by far.
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Paladin79
Previously MOT: Cables For Less
I explained about issues unless the pins are re-soldered, the Melz and Fotons can be very stable with help. A tube may sound fine at first but the older ones are especially susceptible.
bcowen
Headphoneus Supremus
Another person got 1578 tube this afternoon.
His impression.
big_greg
2,391 posts
05-28-2020 6:14pm
First impression of the 1578 - wow! Looking forward to see how they sound after a little burn in.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matched-pair-Extremely-rare-1578-6N8S-audiophile-6H8S-6SN7-Metal-base/273874731266?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
This afternoon, I got delivery of another 1578 Melz tube from Russia after one week from placing order.
Very fast shipping.
I had not got tubes yet from Ukraine that I ordered 5 weeks ago.
This 1578 was made in 1980 and looks clean as Nos tube.
After playing demagnetization track, I am listening to familiar music to me.
"Thriller" by MJ sounds spooky with deep and full bass, wide and deep soundstage.
Its bass, decay and soundstage is just beyond any other 6sn7 tubes.
But people may get the impression that it is bass heavy.
Now I have three pairs of 1587 Melz tubes and eight 6n8s tubes, I am going to stop shopping of 6sn7 tubes.
After being back from Kr vt231 this morning, I found that 1578 give more body and decay while KR give almost same amount of details as 1578.
Unless I'm missing something (which is more possible than not
) you still lack a 1950's Foton 6N8S. Not suggesting the 70's ones you have are anything but good, but you really should try the Fotons. The ribbed plate (anode) versions are best ('51 through '55 and some '56's), but the non-ribbed '56's through '59's are darn close and usually much less expensive.
bcowen
Headphoneus Supremus
Just tell her what I tell mine -- $100 spent on tubes is $100 not spent on phone sex.
Or Barbies.
