The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[Somatic]

More exception to the rule. Thomas is a absolutely crazed enthusiast.

When he builds the ER45, I will melt.

Thomas is an amazing artist.

 

[Somatic]

They are NOS 12au7 tubes. They are rather intense in their detail. Tuning is neutral. Almost a cross between RFT and Melz. Need adapters, obviously, but run at 6.3V on 6SN7 socketed amps. Dead silent even on high gain on Envy. Expensive AF.

Are the Telefunken G73r more detailed than Melz? I think the intense detail would work amazingly well with the TMs. Which adapter do you use? You use the Hypsos to power it? Thanks.

 

[leftside]

More exception to the rule. Thomas is a absolutely crazed enthusiast.

When he builds the ER45, I will melt.

Yep great tubes, but at a cost. My Elrog 300B (and Tak 300B) cost me far more than any of my highly desirable and rare NOS tubes. Although I don't have any WE 300B

New prod tubes can sound great (as proven by Elrog, Takatsuki, etc) but as they are not mass produced for war or for general audio use, they will always be a premium and expensive product if you want the good ones.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

More exception to the rule. Thomas is a absolutely crazed enthusiast.

When he builds the ER45, I will melt.

Has he softened any to making a 6SN7 yet?

 

[incredulousity]

Are the Telefunken G73r more detailed than Melz? I think the intense detail would work amazingly well with the TMs. Which adapter do you use? You use the Hypsos to power it? Thanks.

They are very detailed. Probably as detailed as Melz. Mrs X 6SN7 to 12au7 adapters. I power all drivers with Hypsos, but you do not need to when using 6.3V which is correct for these tubes on Envy.

 

[Isaacc7]

These ones? Or do you have a link you can share?

https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/6j5gt-jan-sylvania-nos-valve-tube-lc29/

I can’t tell from Langrex’s picture. These are the plate style I was thinking of https://www.ebay.com/itm/266127500333. In my system a pair of these are more open and clear than the so called bad boys but retain the frequency extension that people attribute to Sylvania tubes in general.

I’m also a big fan of the Raytheon 6j5wgt like these https://www.ebay.com/itm/404075165353. Do not buy anything from that particular seller! The ones with the support rod are a great all round tube. Not sure how the regular versions stack up. I love the Raytheon 6f8g T plates as well. They look a lot like the highly regarded Raytheon vt231 but are a lot less Money even when you include the price of the adapters.

 

[paradoxper]

Yep great tubes, but at a cost. My Elrog 300B (and Tak 300B) cost me far more than any of my highly desirable and rare NOS tubes. Although I don't have any WE 300B

New prod tubes can sound great (as proven by Elrog, Takatsuki, etc) but as they are not mass produced for war or for general audio use, they will always be a premium and expensive product if you want the good ones.

Well, the Perryman mesh 45 is frustratingly ultra rare and ran me $3500. They are better sounding than the Elrogs but really entirely different.
I surmise an ER mesh would be priced at the equivalent due to the complexity of manufacturing. The Globe 45 are really great sounding though.

 

[paradoxper]

Has he softened any to making a 6SN7 yet?

Unless some 6SN7 application blew up, we'll likely never see it due to the nature of tooling. It'd probably be a entire separate production scale.

 

[mordy]

These ones? Or do you have a link you can share?

https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/6j5gt-jan-sylvania-nos-valve-tube-lc29/

I have spent some time with various 6J5GT tubes and certain Sylvania tubes rank in the top. Surprisingly, the older Sylvanias don't sound as good as some later ones - instead of buying the 1940s 6J5GT/VT94 tubes I would look for the 1950-53 tall bottle round plate tubes.
In addition to these later tubes being relatively inexpensive, there are a number of rebranded ones that sometimes go for even lower prices (examples are Motorola and FoMoCo but there are several others). I am going to describe what to look for.
But first the dating; most tubes have two dates which I interpret to be manufacturing dates and shipping dates. On the glass envelope under the 6J5GT logo there is a three digit code:

On this tube it says D0M. The first letter is the month - counting the alphabet on my fingers D= April. The zero is 1950. Maybe the M is a factory code - don't know.
Another example:

E2M = May 1952.
The second date is found on the base of the tube. Usually it says 312 which is the EIA (Electrics Industry Association) assigned factory number for Sylvania. This number can be vertical or horizontal. Next to it is the additional date code:

This Motorola branded tube is made by Sylvania (312) and the date code is 039 which is the 39th week (September) of 1950. Compare this date with the first date D0M - April 1950.
Here is a date code on a Sylvania branded tube (often in green):

352 = 52nd week of 1953.
You have to look for tall tubes with black round plates, distinct small rectangular micas and the clip like heat radiator on top.

IMHO a pair of these triodes sound better than the pricey Sylvania 6SN7W tubes.

If there are errors in the information above, let me know.
PS: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Look at this German made Sylvania 6J5GT:

See that inverted saucer getter (bottom right)? It screams out Made in Russia!

 

[incredulousity]

Has he softened any to making a 6SN7 yet?

Apropos to this topic… I wonder what TM likes for 6SN7 paired with the various Elrog 300B tubes. Obviously this would be a little amp dependent too, but might be interesting to know.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

Apropos to this topic… I wonder what TM likes for 6SN7 paired with the various Elrog 300B tubes. Obviously this would be a little amp dependent too, but might be interesting to know.

I don't think her cares for 6SN7's in general, andi don't think (but am not positive) that any off his amps after designed to use them.

 

[Ranger Ron]

What is the most detailed 6Sn7, 6J5 tube available? Maybe with a bit more treble tilt. Trying to pair a super detailed driver tube with the Elrog TM300B ...

Lots of suggestions, but if you have 6F8G adapters the Raytheon T plate version are just that for me.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

Lots of suggestions, but if you have 6F8G adapters the Raytheon T plate version are just that for me.

I second 6F8G's. I don't have any Raytheon, but for detail the Sylvania Z0 Leaf 6F8G's are amazing! Tung Sol Black Glass Round Plate are my favorites, but they are a bit warmer and more "wet" sounding (IMO).

 

[bcowen]

I have a range of 1578s from the 50s thru 70s. The 50s era are my personal favs... sweet musical and beautiful presentation. The 60s and 70s versions are more detailed. 70s learning towards harsh, ime.

Most detailed 6SN7 for me, is my Sylvania 6SN7W tall bottle with the short bottle a close 2nd.

However, my Marconi and GEC L63s (6J5) surpass the above in transparency, detail, soundstage and personal enjoyment. Twins for the Win!

The same might be said for the 7N7 brother from the same mother.

 

[g0ldl10n]

The same might be said for the 7N7 brother from the same mother.

I have a few of the "frankie" 7N7s, and I do thoroughly enjoy their SQ and probably don't listen to them enough, but there is a different 7N7 that is my favorite. I don't think I have seen this specific tube come up on the market (least where I look) except for this one, which I bought about a year ago.

JAN-CHS-7N7 short bottle, with all blacked out glass and very defined flashing up top - I have looked under the black tint as best I could, and there's a fairly thin/skinny rectangle shaped mica with two parallel plates. But, I can't make anything else out unfortunately. I also try not to use this tube too much, lol.. I had a frankie burn out on me several months ago, and I think that scarred me for life