All I learned about the great 1578 years, I learned from you... and maybe @bcowen when I learned too much.
A 6SN7 comparison won by a 1578 as I recall. Probably just a coincidence.You are most kind in mentioning my collection. I was also involved in what may well have been the largest 6SN7 comparison of all time.
Well there were over 50 test subjects in a blind study.All I learned about the great 1578 years, I learned from you... and maybe @bcowen when I learned too much.
A 6SN7 comparison won by a 1578 as I recall. Probably just a coincidence.
I started stocking up after that, with no idea fewer would be coming in from Russia so the price escalated.Thank you. I had to look close but there was the ghost of an image left and a strong light helped me identify them both as 1980.
Oh... 1980... that was the outlier throw-back retro year. Playing like it was '58.
I like the 1950's Foton 6N8S's a lot, especially for comparatively inexpensive 6SN7 tubes. Once into the 1960's and later not so much though. They are not to the level of a '50's or early '60's Melz 1578 to my ears, but also not uber expensive like those are these days. I bought a couple spares to be sure I didn't run out.
Hi WP,
When is your next garage sale?I like the 1950's Foton 6N8S's a lot, especially for comparatively inexpensive 6SN7 tubes. Once into the 1960's and later not so much though. They are not to the level of a '50's or early '60's Melz 1578 to my ears, but also not uber expensive like those are these days. I bought a couple spares to be sure I didn't run out.
Don't know that much about the Russian 6SN7 equivalents. However, based on reading (and experience with the 1950-56 Foton ladder style plate tubes), the best sounding are the MELZ 1578 with the unique round holes in the plate (there may be other good sounding variants of the MELZ tubes) and the Foton 6H8C early ladder plate. Since the Cyrillic alphabet is used, it sometimes translates into 6N8S.
I prefer to say this a different way, some amps allow you to hear differences in tubes better than others. I designed the amps my local group used to compare around 1500 6SN7 tubes and their compatibles. We used music specifically recorded to show off 25 criteria across the sonic spectrum. It was a blind study conducted with a large group. (Accuracy of a large group exceeds that of an individual). There are some differences in the human ear but as humans we tend to hear a specific range of frequencies till age and loud noises take their toll. ( most of our test subjects were college age with a mixture of older listeners.) I set up three smaller experiments prior to the large comparison and Mr. Cowen as well as people at Schiit Audio took part. One can say we hear differently yet in one study with 20 DACs, one received a top score from 90% of those present. In a session with different some different DACs a few years later it finished in second place. This was all from listening to music.
Most all of us have certain capabilities but what a human can hear is not as subjective as you might think.
The escalation was also due to the effects of @Paladin79 buying for his hoard, oops, I mean collection.Well there were over 50 test subjects in a blind study.
In our own small way, each of us does what we can. Sam is the owner of one of my amps along with one of the more unusual Melz. @bcowen has the same amp and I gifted him an early 50’s Melz. Both men know tubes.
Nope. Consider all the aspects of a standard perforated plate including metal supports at the top, now remove the perforations. That is the only change. Some were grey plates but I like them less.Are these the one you are talking about? BTW, these are dated 1956.
