The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[TLO]

Yes, the Marconi's were made at either the Calgary or Montreal factories. The operating company was Radiotron Valve Company(RVC) They bought licenses from RCA and Sylvania. But just like Visseaux using Sylvania licenses in Lyon, France, RVC made tubes that have a unique and individual sound. Maybe the metals they used where a little different? But they definitely have a secret sauce to them. I love them!!

They are available with the following names that I've encountered.

Marconi Canada
General Electric Canada
Westinghouse Canada
Rogers Canada
Sylvania Canada
RCA Canada

Maybe more???

But they all have this raised and ultra sturdy made structure with a foil D getter, in a tall bottle. They also all have 6SN7 made in Canada that's been acid etched on the glass envelope.

Sonically they are slightly warm with a tremendous slap of deep and extremely extended bass. I use these as my driver tubes in my Cayin HA-300B MKII - 300B amp, paired with the very linear Elrog ER300B-Mo. They seem to add a touch of soul to the technical Elrog.

I also use this tube as a driver into my Studio Six paired with Visseaux 6V6Gs. The Studio Six is tuned also in a very linear way and the touch of warmth with deep bass pairs very well with the Visseaux that has a beautiful harmonic complexity. It's a really refined, complex and addictive sound.

Without getting into the mega bucks 6SN7s, and I own the many of them. I think this might be my desert island 6SN7. They are available, hint if you can't find them on Ebay and I'd be surprised if you don't find them. Then go the the Ebay Canada site. They are pretty common. I see pairs go for as low as $40.00 that test good. NOS testing pairs can go for closer to $80.00. Still a deal in my book.

Note, I run a Delta Sigma DAC, the Weiss DAC501-4Ch. I have detail to spare. As I said I run an Elrog 300B that's known to be very very revealing. These Canadian made 6SN7s might smear a little in the upper bass to the low mid-range. Just a tad. But with the system and amps I've assembled it's really not anything to think about. As I've said, I have resolution to spare. But at this moment in time and probably for the last few years, I'd say that this is my personnal desert island 6SN7.

A brief history of Radiotron Valve Company(RVC): http://www.r-type.org/static/makervc.htm

These are the only tubes, EL32/VT52, I have from RVC and they sound really good.

 

[Isaacc7]

Haha actually I just wanted a New in Box pair of Sylvania Badboys and I wanted to see if the moniker is true.
Usually you find those 2hole Badboys only as used OEM tubes. So I'm Very happy with this pair.


You like kenrad vt-231? I wanted to try how the clear glass variant sounds, but unfortunately no original boxes. So black glass it is.



Very helpful post. There is more hehe. RCA opened a factory in Italy, which later got bought by Marconi who produced the know Italian 6sn7 variants with Marconi and Fivre branding I suppose.



Just got these in. I only have a pair of RCA 6sn7gt grey glass to compare these to.

Interesting. I have some Miniwatt branded b36 tubes that Langrex said were made by Fivre. B36 is a code that only MOV used and the label says Made in England. I wonder if there also have the RCA lineage…

These do sound different than the RCA versions of 12sn7 and 123sx7 I have. The b36 have grey plates while my 12sx7 have black but they have a similar layout albeit with different micas and getter position. Also makes me wonder about different materials affecting the sound.

 

[David A Silva]

Interesting. I have some Miniwatt branded b36 tubes that Langrex said were made by Fivre. B36 is a code that only MOV used and the label says Made in England. I wonder if there also have the RCA lineage…



These do sound different than the RCA versions of 12sn7 and 123sx7 I have. The b36 have grey plates while my 12sx7 have black but they have a similar layout albeit with different micas and getter position. Also makes me wonder about different materials affecting the sound.

What differences between B36 and your favorite 12sn7? Thanks!

 

[Renexx]

Interesting. I have some Miniwatt branded b36 tubes that Langrex said were made by Fivre. B36 is a code that only MOV used and the label says Made in England. I wonder if there also have the RCA lineage…



These do sound different than the RCA versions of 12sn7 and 123sx7 I have. The b36 have grey plates while my 12sx7 have black but they have a similar layout albeit with different micas and getter position. Also makes me wonder about different materials affecting the sound.

Yes those are Fivre. I'm selling a pair of these also from Langrex in classifieds. There have been different construction for the Italien Fivre/Marconi 6sn7gt variants.

Let me see the date and manufacturers code on the back of your tube. The sticker is genuinely from MWT England (GEC).

 

[reg66]

Would like to see a pic of these if possible? My only KR’s are these, I believe from 1943, and definitely up there with the best.

Here ya go, boss. Mine aren't as clean looking as yours, or matched. Oh yeah, don't get wrong when i say they aren't the most technically perfect - they aren't far off. But i found a couple of others to have a tiny bit more clarity and detail (such as Melz). However, those i find almost too pristine and clean sounding. Like i say, i find the KRs to have a slight grain/roughness to them (if that makes sense!) and this i prefer for a lot of guitar/blues etc.

 

[jonathan c]

At least in Lyr 3 they were my faves, yeah... But not because of outstanding technicalities... i found others to have more detail and clean presentation. But the KR VT231 black's just had something about them, i don't know the words... but grainy and rustic spring to mind. Just what i was looking for with my main choice genre of that time - Blues. They had a kinda slight rough edge (plus decent bass etc) which suited.
That said, i'm certainly no expert in this field by a country mile, SS or tube, so take things with a grain of salt and just a relative novice opinion!!

If you like a KR VT-231 in Lyr 3, try a pair of KR VT-94 (6J5) on a @Deyan built 2x6J5 —> 6SN7 adapter! The impact, imaging, spatiality dwarfs those of a single 6SN7!

 

[reg66]

If you like a KR VT-231 in Lyr 3, try a pair of KR VT-94 (6J5) on a @Deyan built 2x6J5 —> 6SN7 adapter! The impact, imaging, spatiality dwarfs those of a single 6SN7!

You mean one of these beauts - made by the man himself! Haven't tried those tubes though... Will deffo give them a go one day.

There's just one slight issue... Fell on hard times and had to downgrade significantly - as such, sold the lyr 3 (big regret now) along with most of my other audio setup. I may look to to purchase another one day, or lyr+, but if and when cash allows i may go for an Elekit amp. Undecided tho...

Cheers dude
In case curious, i now have 1 pair HD6XX, NJC ref DAC and amp, a heavily modded AK4396 DAC i built and a little OTL that was just £139 delivered new! It'll all have to do me for a while. I'm now even/coming round to the thinking, is it worth all those extra £££s when i'm not missing mega amounts and my old knackered ears struggle to hear the nuances and differences anyways! Who knows, we'll see when cash is ok again.

 

[TLO]

You mean one of these beauts - made by the man himself! Haven't tried those tubes though... Will deffo give them a go one day.


There's just one slight issue... Fell on hard times and had to downgrade significantly - as such, sold the lyr 3 (big regret now) along with most of my other audio setup. I may look to to purchase another one day, or lyr+, but if and when cash allows i may go for an Elekit amp. Undecided tho...

Cheers dude
In case curious, i now have 1 pair HD6XX, NJC ref DAC and amp, a heavily modded AK4396 DAC i built and a little OTL that was just £139 delivered new! It'll all have to do me for a while. I'm now even/coming round to the thinking, is it worth all those extra £££s when i'm not missing mega amounts and my old knackered ears struggle to hear the nuances and differences anyways! Who knows, we'll see when cash is ok again.

Those NJC chassis sure look amazing...

 

[reg66]

Those NJC chassis sure look amazing...

Yup, worth a look at their website, all facias including volume knob are hand milled/cut. These NJC's are really made with care (and obviously all soldering etc). Although IMO the font could at least do with updating. I prefer a sleek, modern sans serif look over classic serif... mostly
http://www.njc-audio.co.uk/

 

[reg66]

If you like a KR VT-231 in Lyr 3, try a pair of KR VT-94 (6J5) on a @Deyan built 2x6J5 —> 6SN7 adapter! The impact, imaging, spatiality dwarfs those of a single 6SN7!

VT-94 metals or VT-94D glass? Having a browse about for them; like you do when you have no cash spare or even a 6SN7 amp anymore... Just a look though, i swear

 

[jonathan c]

You mean one of these beauts - made by the man himself! Haven't tried those tubes though... Will deffo give them a go one day.


There's just one slight issue... Fell on hard times and had to downgrade significantly - as such, sold the lyr 3 (big regret now) along with most of my other audio setup. I may look to to purchase another one day, or lyr+, but if and when cash allows i may go for an Elekit amp. Undecided tho...

Cheers dude
In case curious, i now have 1 pair HD6XX, NJC ref DAC and amp, a heavily modded AK4396 DAC i built and a little OTL that was just £139 delivered new! It'll all have to do me for a while. I'm now even/coming round to the thinking, is it worth all those extra £££s when i'm not missing mega amounts and my old knackered ears struggle to hear the nuances and differences anyways! Who knows, we'll see when cash is ok again.

When things loosen up: Lyr 3 vs Lyr 3+, be wary of amplifier body microphonics with Elekit …

 

[JTbbb]

Here ya go, boss. Mine aren't as clean looking as yours, or matched. Oh yeah, don't get wrong when i say they aren't the most technically perfect - they aren't far off. But i found a couple of others to have a tiny bit more clarity and detail (such as Melz). However, those i find almost too pristine and clean sounding. Like i say, i find the KRs to have a slight grain/roughness to them (if that makes sense!) and this i prefer for a lot of guitar/blues etc.

Thank you for the photos, all nice tubes. What piqued my interest was the vt-231 designation as I don’t recall seeing a Ken Rad marked as such. Perhaps there is such a tube? I’m sure a pic will appear forthwith! Or maybe it’s a generalisation for this type of tube?

 

[David A Silva]

Thank you for the photos, all nice tubes. What piqued my interest was the vt-231 designation as I don’t recall seeing a Ken Rad marked as such. Perhaps there is such a tube? I’m sure a pic will appear forthwith! Or maybe it’s a generalisation for this type of tube?

How about this on? VT231 marking in second photo…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/335162275818

 

[jonathan c]

VT-94 metals or VT-94D glass? Having a browse about for them; like you do when you have no cash spare or even a 6SN7 amp anymore... Just a look though, i swear

VT-94 metals. Now, if you want an excellent glass 6J5-type tube, try the GEC L63 (at Langrex, U.K.):

 

[TLO]

Thank you for the photos, all nice tubes. What piqued my interest was the vt-231 designation as I don’t recall seeing a Ken Rad marked as such. Perhaps there is such a tube? I’m sure a pic will appear forthwith! Or maybe it’s a generalisation for this type of tube?

Yes, they do...