[Isaacc7]

Unsurprisingly, the GEC b36 paired with the Cossor 807 sounds exquisite. If I wanted to be super critical I could say they are a touch warm but that’s either good or bad depending on what you’re after. Everything is just so locked in, bass, highs, depth and width. Amazing.

I do want to do some more critical comparisons with the Fivre 12sn7 and the grey glass 14n7 as well. All of them are on the warm side. Oh, I should also compare with the bl63 too. Wonder if I could be happy with any of them or if this tube has spoiled me. I understand why the b65 has the reputation it does and almost understand the prices they command I have two b36 tubes but alas they are completely different years and look completely different. My current amp only uses one input tube but my next one will need two. Will I spend the dough to get a pair? Hmm….

 

[Isaacc7]

A quick swap and I'm impressed at how similar the Fivre and the Marconi sound. Granted, they are both labeled Marconi b36. but Langrex says that the ones they sell are made by Fivre. The Fivre have a little more prominence in the lower treble. That can bring out some more details but also sound a little glaring at times. Other than that they are very similar. The metal based, grey glass b63 is a used tube while the Fivre is brand new FWIW.

 

[bcowen]

This has NOTHING to do with 6SN7 tubes. This is for @bcowen and @Ripper2860 . They can resolve this……

And as soon as that lawsuit is settled, they'll get sued by Pete for using his name without permission.

 

[Isaacc7]

Listened to the grey glass 14n7 last night. In comparison to the b63 tubes, the 14n7 adds the Sylvania top end but is a bit bass shy. In addition the image isn't as deep. It feels like the saturation has been turned down, the timbres aren't quite as riveting/intoxicating/whatever. Mind you I still got lost in the music last night so it's doing more well than bad. I'm going back to the old b63 for the next week or so before tackling the 12sl7 variations I got. The new b63 will be packaged back up and will await my new amp.

 

[jonathan c]

Some Icon Audio HP8 munitions…

 

[paradoxper]

MELZ and Elrog at the helm. I've concluded 6L6GC, 6SN7, 300B and perhaps 5V rolling. One more 5U to add. It doesn't get any better.

 

[mayurs]

RCA VT231 are excellent tubes to bring some lushness to the HE6SE. Will get a few more as back up.

 

[JTbbb]

MELZ and Elrog at the helm. I've concluded 6L6GC, 6SN7, 300B and perhaps 5V rolling. One more 5U to add. It doesn't get any better.

Blimey! That tube would scare me…ready to…..

 

[Thaddy]

RCA VT231 are excellent tubes to bring some lushness to the HE6SE. Will get a few more as back up.

I have a few different pairs of RCA Gray Glass 6SN7/VT-231's and a pair of Sylvania VT-231's as well. They're among my favorite tubes.

 

[Galapac]

Some Icon Audio HP8 munitions…

Nice tubes and I know the seller by those boxes, very good seller to boot. Dare I say he is the Brent Jesse of 6SN7s?

 

[paradoxper]

Blimey! That tube would scare me…ready to…..

Certainly wouldn't be an Elrog. Ha.

 

[JTbbb]

There have been so many pics and discussions about alternatives to the 6sn7 (which I say now has and is wonderful to read). Thought it about time to get a picture or two up of a pair of 6sn7’s, CKR 6sn7gt US NAVY Black Glass 1943, I bought in the spring for a very reasonable price, untested etc. They sounded stunning! And now I’m really pleased after receiving back from testing .

 

[g0ldl10n]

There have been so many pics and discussions about alternatives to the 6sn7 (which I say now has and is wonderful to read). Thought it about time to get a picture or two up of a pair of 6sn7’s, CKR 6sn7gt US NAVY Black Glass 1943, I bought in the spring for a very reasonable price, untested etc. They sounded stunning! And now I’m really pleased after receiving back from testing .

Lovely looking pair of tubes you got there!

Oh, there are several alternatives that you can run in the 6SN7 socket that IMHO, have better SQ than vast majority of the popular 6SN7 tubes, and definitely a whole lot cheaper. I'd first suggest looking towards pentodes (two needed - so dual adapter) that can be strapped as triodes. This would be your least expensive route to explore first in comparison to dual triode types.

For example

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-reference-6sn7-thread.117677/post-17052539

 

[Isaacc7]

Switched from the b36 to the bl36. Well, the cv1102 which is supposed to be the same tube. This tube has the same connections and pin out as a 6f8g so can use the same adapter. It has twice the heater requirement though, 1.3a vs .6a. It also has quite a bit lower amplification at 12 vs the 20 of the 6f8g.

When paired with the same Cossor 807 tubes, the cv1102 has a very similar sound to the Marconi b36. Much more alike than different. Same warm tone, same lovely midrange and very British reserved highs. The b36 has noticeably better bass though. Come to think of it, all the *sn7 tubes I’ve been trying recently do. Anyway, if you’re looking for that great GEC/MOV midrange and laid back presentation, have an amp that can take the heater requirements, and don’t want to spend the money on the Osram/MOV b65, the bl63/cv1102/vr102 might be just the ticket. They aren’t cheap anymore but they are far less than the GEC b65.

 

[keenerz]

gosh I feel like I never stop buying tubes haha