[jc9394]

Quote:

I've been auditioning the 6F8G's again and to my ears the 6SN7 BGRP is slightly nicer than the 6F8G BGRP and quite a lot better than the Sylvania Grey Glass 6F8G's. I have been away from the thread for a while enjoying the music and rolling tubes and seem to keep coming back to the same conclusions.
 
Although the Mullard GZ34 is an awsome rectifier the EML 5U4G is just better with almost everything.
 

 
X2.  To my ear, the 6SN7 BGRP is a little better than the 6F8G BGRP.  According to Glenn, they are the same.  It may be me or the smaller tube helps out a bit too.  But for the price, that is a bargain for the sound quality it provide.
 
I have the metal base Mullard GZ34 and it is great and better than Sophia but the EML 5U4G takes the Woo to another level.
 

 

[Braver]

Well, I just did it, I placed an order for the WA6+Sophia, and a bunch of tubes from Ebay. Nothing quite feels as satisfactory as financial ruiniation Now for the wait. And ramen.

 

[Clayton SF]

Quote:

Well, I just did it, I placed an order for the WA6+Sophia, and a bunch of tubes from Ebay. Nothing quite feels as satisfactory as financial ruiniation

Now for the wait. And ramen.

Congratulations! Yes, and ramen for sustenance for the time being is a good idea--it is about 95% of my larder and will continue to be so for years to come. Most of the great tubes come from the Netherlands so you should be lucky to live there.

 

[flaming_june]

I would recommend udon, it's healthier. 

 

[mikemalter]

Quote:

I would recommend udon, it's healthier. 

Fresher too, right?
 

 

[Clayton SF]

I actually prefer cold soba noodles when I can afford them--and that's usually when I'm not buying tubes. And by the way, someone's WA6 has gone the way of the Hulk:

 

[TheAudioDude]

I finally popped in my newly acquired black glass Ken-Rad VT-231s!  Man alive these are incredible tubes.  The sound is so articulate and detailed.  I need another pair...

 

[jc9394]

Cold soba, my flavor. One of my must have if I go Japanese rest. Isn't that was jamato's old WA6?

Clayton, where in SF for cold soba? The couple places I visited in Jtown was a disappointment.

 

[Clayton SF]

Quote:

Cold soba, my flavor. One of my must have if I go Japanese rest. Isn't that was jamato's old WA6?

Clayton, where in SF for cold soba? The couple places I visited in Jtown was a disappointment.

Jamato's old WA6? I don't know. I just did a Google search and came across that WA6 that looks like it's modded with powder kegs. And I've never been to Japan to be able to compare the ultimate soba noodle dish there to what we have here in San Francisco--but I satisfy my soba noodle cravings at Sanraku, they're two blocks down the hill from where I live.

 

[grokit]

 
Quote:

I finally popped in my newly acquired black glass Ken-Rad VT-231s!  Man alive these are incredible tubes.  The sound is so articulate and detailed.  I need another pair...

What's the difference between those and the clear glass version? I've been meaning to pick up a pair myself but don't know the answer to that yet.

 

[TheAudioDude]

Quote:

 
Quote:

I finally popped in my newly acquired black glass Ken-Rad VT-231s!  Man alive these are incredible tubes.  The sound is so articulate and detailed.  I need another pair...

What's the difference between those and the clear glass version?

After reading the 6SN7 reference thread, nothing is different.  Black glass guarantees a great tube, but if you find a clear glass pair, make sure the plates are staggered (ie, the grid posts are diagonal from each other when viewed from the top).  You'll know by this that they were made in the early 1940s.
 
● “With reference to the KenRad, the first version can have either black glass or clear glass, always with staggered plates (I was the one who coined the 'staggered plates' moniker - there is zero sonic difference between the two). In the late 40's, when GE had taken more control over the KenRad operation, there was a second version with clear glass and in-line ribbed plates - it is NOTEABLY inferior sonically - gone is the big bass and the midrange bloom, added is a dry, slightly constricted sound with no magic.” -Robert H. (in personal correspondence)

 

[grokit]

 
Quote:

Quote:

 
Quote:

I finally popped in my newly acquired black glass Ken-Rad VT-231s!  Man alive these are incredible tubes.  The sound is so articulate and detailed.  I need another pair...

What's the difference between those and the clear glass version?

After reading the 6SN7 reference thread, nothing is different.  Black glass guarantees a great tube, but if you find a clear glass pair, make sure the plates are staggered (ie, the grid posts are diagonal from each other when viewed from the top).  You'll know by this that they were made in the early 1940s.
 
● “With reference to the KenRad, the first version can have either black glass or clear glass, always with staggered plates (I was the one who coined the 'staggered plates' moniker - there is zero sonic difference between the two). In the late 40's, when GE had taken more control over the KenRad operation, there was a second version with clear glass and in-line ribbed plates - it is NOTEABLY inferior sonically - gone is the big bass and the midrange bloom, added is a dry, slightly constricted sound with no magic.” -Robert H. (in personal correspondence)

Ah, thanks for the answer, it kind of rings a bell actually.

 

[jc9394]

Jamato's old WA6? I don't know. I just did a Google search and came across that WA6 that looks like it's modded with powder kegs. And I've never been to Japan to be able to compare the ultimate soba noodle dish there to what we have here in San Francisco--but I satisfy my soba noodle cravings at Sanraku, they're two blocks down the hill from where I live.

It was John (jamato8)'s old WA6.

NICE, I will try that place next time.

 

[Clayton SF]

Wow. Did you ever get a chance to listen to John's (yamato8)'s old WA6? Looks like it could kick tires! Hey, when and if you return to SF, let's go on a soba hunt together.

 

[jc9394]

No, I did not get a chance to listen to John's WA6, I was thinking picking it up before but decided that I really Wang the WA22.

I will PM you the time I plan to hit SF again, most likely early next year.