The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[Renexx]

The Fivre 6SN7GT has a leaner presentation - closer to 70s Melz - than nearly all 6SN7s.

Are we talking about this Fivre tube with grey plates? I would say that's a pretty warm sounding similar to a later Sylvania GTB.

Maybe the black plate version sounds different?

 

[LobalWarming]

Are we talking about this Fivre tube with grey plates? I would say that's a pretty warm sounding GTB.

Maybe the black plate version sounds different?

Mine are black plate and GT, not GTB. Not warm at all. Need to dig them out of storage and see if they are still as lean as I recall since my ears are fattened-up over the years

Also... and this is the fun and terrifying part of tube rolling. The sonic profile is very dependent on the amp circuit and of course, entire signal chain. That's why we must personally roll them all!

 

[Renexx]

Mine are black plate and GT, not GTB.

Mine were sold by Langrex as GTB, but have the 6SN7GT etching. Still staging is limited like a GTB.
Sadly those black plate versions are very expensive and mostly sold by italian sellers.

Need to dig them out of storage and see if they are still as lean as I recall since my ears are fattened-up over the years

Great idea, please leave us a picture here.

 

[JTbbb]

I find 70s Melz to be...umm... fairly dry, harsh, bright and don't compare well to the smoother sounding versions from the 50s to my delicate sensibilities. However, I do like my cabernets on the dry side.

Agree with other posters about dipping your cab in Twins. Except you will need a quad. Getting a matched quad of good 6J5s is not as easy as it once was.

A matched set of 6S2S wouldn't be too hard to find. A matched quad of Marconi L63s could be a little tougher, much more expensive and more delightful. A quad of Sylvania 6J5Gs could be a sparkling option as well. The Visseaux 6J5M would be a great match to the chrome domes on the Cab as well as delivering excellent detail and staging.

I really enjoy the Tungsol VT-99, but it is a smoother sonic drink compared to the 70s Melz. From my collection, would suggest the 6SN7W - it has great resolution and a bit sparkly up top. The 7N7 'Frankie' of the era is lower cost option - same construction as 6SN7W - in a loctal base.

The Fivre 6SN7GT has a leaner presentation - closer to 70s Melz - than nearly all 6SN7s.

Alternatively... you could go smaller - with noval-to-octal adapters. RFT foil getter ECC82 is a remarkable kiddie's tube. Or for silly money, TFK G73-R.


Yes, they should, but would need a pair of 6J5-to-6SN7 adapters.

However, This pair of 50s Melz 1578s are quite tempting at not a totally crazy price.

The question really is, are you happy with the 70s Melz? Or do you want to roll on to something different?

Hmm, they are not 1578’s as far as I know!

 

[LobalWarming]

Hmm, they are not 1578’s as far as I know!

Good point... construction isn't technically 1578-style. They're 1578 impressionists! I have a pair like those and enjoy their presentation more than my purebred 1578s from the 60s.

 

[Ethereal Sound]

I find 70s Melz to be...umm... fairly dry, harsh, bright and don't compare well to the smoother sounding versions from the 50s to my delicate sensibilities. However, I do like my cabernets on the dry side.

Agree with other posters about dipping your cab in Twins. Except you will need a quad. Getting a matched quad of good 6J5s is not as easy as it once was.

A matched set of 6S2S wouldn't be too hard to find. A matched quad of Marconi L63s could be a little tougher, much more expensive and more delightful. A quad of Sylvania 6J5Gs could be a sparkling option as well. The Visseaux 6J5M would be a great match to the chrome domes on the Cab as well as delivering excellent detail and staging.

I really enjoy the Tungsol VT-99, but it is a smoother sonic drink compared to the 70s Melz. From my collection, would suggest the 6SN7W - it has great resolution and a bit sparkly up top. The 7N7 'Frankie' of the era is lower cost option - same construction as 6SN7W - in a loctal base.

The Fivre 6SN7GT has a leaner presentation - closer to 70s Melz - than nearly all 6SN7s.

Alternatively... you could go smaller - with noval-to-octal adapters. RFT foil getter ECC82 is a remarkable kiddie's tube. Or for silly money, TFK G73-R.


Yes, they should, but would need a pair of 6J5-to-6SN7 adapters.

However, This pair of 50s Melz 1578s are quite tempting at not a totally crazy price.

The question really is, are you happy with the 70s Melz? Or do you want to roll on to something different?

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I'll look into the 6J5's you mentioned. I do like the 70's melz though I do wish a little bit more warmth in the mids. The highs, while fairly bright, didn't bother me very much most of the time. In that sense, if there's something that is just a little smoother up top, that would be welcomed. Which 6SN7W are you referring to?

The ebay listing you provided doesn't seem like those melz are 1578 6SN7's, unless the earlier ones had round plates (I was under the impression the oval plate ones are 6N8S's and not the same thing)

 

[Isaacc7]

Woah, wasn't expecting such awesome replies. Thanks everyone for your input, I've got a lot to look through! I'm super new to tubes but the Melz I had were from 1976 and I found them to be very detailed and spacious with really great linear bass, almost bright sounding, and a little bit lean in the mids. I'm currently using a supratek cabernet 6SN7 ver. if that matters at all.

Would the adapters work fine with the cabernet I have?

Yup, I have a Cabernet myself.

 

[Isaacc7]

I find 70s Melz to be...umm... fairly dry, harsh, bright and don't compare well to the smoother sounding versions from the 50s to my delicate sensibilities. However, I do like my cabernets on the dry side.

Agree with other posters about dipping your cab in Twins. Except you will need a quad. Getting a matched quad of good 6J5s is not as easy as it once was.

A matched set of 6S2S wouldn't be too hard to find. A matched quad of Marconi L63s could be a little tougher, much more expensive and more delightful. A quad of Sylvania 6J5Gs could be a sparkling option as well. The Visseaux 6J5M would be a great match to the chrome domes on the Cab as well as delivering excellent detail and staging.

I really enjoy the Tungsol VT-99, but it is a smoother sonic drink compared to the 70s Melz. From my collection, would suggest the 6SN7W - it has great resolution and a bit sparkly up top. The 7N7 'Frankie' of the era is lower cost option - same construction as 6SN7W - in a loctal base.

The Fivre 6SN7GT has a leaner presentation - closer to 70s Melz - than nearly all 6SN7s.

Alternatively... you could go smaller - with noval-to-octal adapters. RFT foil getter ECC82 is a remarkable kiddie's tube. Or for silly money, TFK G73-R.


Yes, they should, but would need a pair of 6J5-to-6SN7 adapters.

However, This pair of 50s Melz 1578s are quite tempting at not a totally crazy price.

The question really is, are you happy with the 70s Melz? Or do you want to roll on to something different?

I have never bothered to match up my single triodes and haven’t noticed any problems. If you buy some 6j5 and like them you can easily buy more if matching is super critical to you. I’m not sure how the Cabernet uses the two triodes per side. Are the two triodes paralleled?

 

[LobalWarming]

Yup, I have a Cabernet myself.

As did I. But we drank it last night. Very tasty

 

[LobalWarming]

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I'll look into the 6J5's you mentioned. I do like the 70's melz though I do wish a little bit more warmth in the mids. The highs, while fairly bright, didn't bother me very much most of the time. In that sense, if there's something that is just a little smoother up top, that would be welcomed. Which 6SN7W are you referring to?

The WWII Sylvania 6SN7W. Only Sylvania made those. Short or tall bottle. Both are very good. The metal base version is the holy grail edition - at unholy prices.

My short bottles are like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/145120475907

The ebay listing you provided doesn't seem like those melz are 1578 6SN7's, unless the earlier ones had round plates (I was under the impression the oval plate ones are 6N8S's and not the same thing)

They're not round plates... they're holy plates. Or as holy as communist atheists could make them.

 

[Isaacc7]

The WWII Sylvania 6SN7W. Only Sylvania made those. Short or tall bottle. Both are very good. The metal base version is the holy grail edition - at unholy prices.

My short bottles are like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/145120475907

They're not round plates... they're holy plates. Or as holy as communist atheists could make them.

I’ve got a couple of sleeves of the 12v version of this tube, very nice. I have speculated that the 14n7 is probably a 12v version of the metal based 6sn7w. I think they sound better than the other *sn7 from Sylvania and they have the same copper support rod as the metal based 6sn7w.

 

[Isaacc7]

So if I understand correctly that construction in the NU 6F8G with round plates and support rods is not carried over to their 6SN7 versions?

Correct. There are some 7n7 round plates made by NU that are supposed to sound the same But they are rare and hard to find.

 

[incredulousity]

I’ve got a couple of sleeves of the 12v version of this tube, very nice. I have speculated that the 14n7 is probably a 12v version of the metal based 6sn7w. I think they sound better than the other *sn7 from Sylvania and they have the same copper support rod as the metal based 6sn7w.

Care to sell any? PM me

 

[mordy]

I’ve got a couple of sleeves of the 12v version of this tube, very nice. I have speculated that the 14n7 is probably a 12v version of the metal based 6sn7w. I think they sound better than the other *sn7 from Sylvania and they have the same copper support rod as the metal based 6sn7w.

Is this a Frankie tube?

 

[Ranger Ron]

Correct. There are some 7n7 round plates made by NU that are supposed to sound the same But they are rare and hard to find.

Believe it or not I have one black glass NU 6SN7 that has the same round plate structure as the 6F8G. I’m sure they are uncommon but they do exist.