The Reference 6SN7 Thread

[walterboss]

Well... there's some controversy about to begin... so I'll start it!

I have many Brimar CV1988s... I enjoy them very much. But not for a thousand pounds a pair! Got mine back when they were a highly regarded $50 tube.

Now some will claim the fancy dark glass editions are better. IME, not really. Actually prefer my clear glass CV1988s from the 50s more than the dark glass of later decades.

My suggestion is to start with the far cheaper clear glass Brimars, like these from:
https://audiovalves.co.uk/#!/produc...988-grey-plate-valve-nos-boxed--0x28-w8-0x29-

£200 each... still not cheap... and as suggested above there's the Mullard ECC32s for the spendy spendy money.

Could also consider a pair of Brimar/GEC L63/6J5s. Less money and more open soundstage... but that's not 6SN7 cricket.

Thanks, hadn't found that website yet. Similar tubes to ones I found on Vintage Electronics.

I found these on eBay for dirt cheap, purely as backups in case the stock PSVanes on my Envy ever break. I get they're not the real deal Brimars, but that said ebay reviews for them seem like they're fine?

But I do want to buy good upgrade 6SN7s, so the ones you linked to seem to be a good start. Thanks!

 

[TLO]

I'm trusting users on the Feliks Envy thread (I have one incoming) who have paired Brimar CV1988s with the same power tubes I've bought (WE 300b). Consensus is that it's a great sounding pairing, so I'm trying to ascertain differences between the models.

Do you have ECC32? If not, again I will suggest it over CV1988 with the same amount of money. ECC32 is very much better than CV1988 on soundwise, value and rarity.

 

[walterboss]

Do you have ECC32? If not, again I will suggest it over CV1988 with the same amount of money. ECC32 is very much better than CV1988 on soundwise, value and rarity.

Will dig into these on the Envy thread. Cheers!

 

[TLO]

Thanks, hadn't found that website yet. Similar tubes to ones I found on Vintage Electronics.

I found these on eBay for dirt cheap, purely as backups in case the stock PSVanes on my Envy ever break. I get they're not the real deal Brimars, but that said ebay reviews for them seem like they're fine?

But I do want to buy good upgrade 6SN7s, so the ones you linked to seem to be a good start. Thanks!

That is NOT Brimar CV1988 but Russian made 6N8S.

 

[LobalWarming]

Thanks, hadn't found that website yet. Similar tubes to ones I found on Vintage Electronics.

I found these on eBay for dirt cheap, purely as backups in case the stock PSVanes on my Envy ever break. I get they're not the real deal Brimars, but that said ebay reviews for them seem like they're fine?

But I do want to buy good upgrade 6SN7s, so the ones you linked to seem to be a good start. Thanks!

Those are Fotons of some vintage.... @bcowen can give you the exact details of how empty the vodka bottle was that day.

Not in any way a backup to a Brimar CV1988. There are decent enough for banjo/accordion duets... but not my cup of dull, bland meh sonics.

 

[walterboss]

Those are Fotons of some vintage.... @bcowen can give you the exact details of how empty the vodka bottle was that day.

Not in any way a backup to a Brimar CV1988. There are decent enough for banjo/accordion duets... but not my cup of dull, bland meh sonics.

As there's no mention anywhere on the listing of 6n8s, presumably I'm within my rights to send these boomeranging back to seller for 'item does not match description'?

 

[TLO]

or you can try Brimar sound at less than USD10 each...

 

[walterboss]

or you can try Brimar sound at less than USD10 each...

What are those?

 

[TLO]

As there's no mention anywhere on the listing of 6n8s, presumably I'm within my rights to send these boomeranging back to seller for 'item does not match description'?

6N8S is the Russian equivalent to American 6SN7GT.

 

[walterboss]

6N8S is the Russian equivalent to American 6SN7GT.

So not totally useless then? I don't mind if they're tubes I can use as a temp replacement. Even if they don't sound great, I can still at least listen to my amp?

 

[TLO]

What are those?

Brimar made dual triode 30L15 (MAZDA labeled) but you will need adapter on 6SN7.

 

[OctavianH]

Those are Fotons of some vintage.... @bcowen can give you the exact details of how empty the vodka bottle was that day.

Well, the Item Description si correct:

FOREIGN on them tells they are only branded as Brimar. So the seller is fine in my book. Langrex sells russian tubes without mentioning they are russian. That is a bigger problem.

 

[TLO]

Well, the Item Description si correct:



FOREIGN on them tells they are only branded as Brimar. So the seller is fine in my book. Langrex sells russian tubes without mentioning they are russian. That is a bigger problem.

actually it did mentioned Made in USSR.

 

[LobalWarming]

So not totally useless then? I don't mind if they're tubes I can use as a temp replacement. Even if they don't sound great, I can still at least listen to my amp?

You sure can. But you need to choose the music to suit the tube - @bcowen chooses Marilyn Manson with his Fotons. But maybe when you buy a thousand Fotons your taste in music contracts inversely.

 

[OctavianH]

actually it did mentioned Made in USSR.

As a general advice, if you see on a tube printed IMPORT or FOREIGN that means they were rebranded and imported or manufactured in other place than the logo.