2. amps-preamps
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Anyone try modern 6sn7 Shuguang WE type vs NOS RCA,Ken Rad

I just bought a KT-88 amp that uses 6sn7’s and the matching preamp uses the 6sn7 tube also. It came with kt88 Shuguang WE plus and all 6sn7’s in the amp and preamp both came with the same Shuguang WE plus.
 

I have a huge stash of old 6sn7’s Ken Rads vt231, gray glass rca, Sylvania vt231 and many others. I am going to pull them out this week and see what these new production tubes can do.

 

I’ve never used new production signal tubes. To be honest the Shuguang sound pretty good but have never compared them to anything. 

 

What are your views on these new tubes are they even close or as good or even better? Are they cheap and will go up in smoke, thanks for any insight.

paulcreed
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 

Oh, I see there is a Shuguang Treasure CV181 as well.

More WE’s...

https://m.aliexpress.com/i/32985770711.html

noske
783 posts
 

Lots of words in this rant from about 2009, and worth reading it all at one’s leisure.

In the meantime, this is the relevant message, about half way down just above the picture of the tube on the left -

This is why the CV181Z might not be a drop in replacement for the 6SN7. Typical 6SN7 heaters draw about 0.6A and the CV181z draws about 0.9A (900mA), the old Mullard CV181 drew 950mA. This 50% increase in heater current amounts to 0.6A for a pair of CV181 in a circuit, which as you can see represents the load of a whole extra double triode.

I’d be more decisive. "This is why the CV181 (Z, whatever) IS NOT a drop in replacement for the 6SN7." Eventually your amp will take up smoking.

invalid
1,203 posts
 

The shuguang CV 181 tubes are a 6sn7 drop in replacement, the Mullard cv181 tubes are not they have a higher heater current of 900ma.

noske
783 posts
 

@invalid That is blatant misinformation. It has to be also deliberate as you have clearly read the quote I provided which mentions Mullard (drawing 950mA, by the way).

Care to explain to the community?

tooblue
1,932 posts
 

I have been running a pair of the Shu Guang WE6SN7 Plus tubes in a Dennis Had Inspire headphone/preamp for about a year now and love them. Have about 700 hours on them with no issues at all and they replaced a pair of Sylvania 50s chrome dome tubes that have proven to be my favorites till the Shu Guangs showed up, still go back to the chrome domes every now and then but do prefer the Shu Guangs overall. I am a Shu Guang/Psvane fan and have been since I tried their smaller signal tubes 10 years ago, currently run at least 23 of their tubes in preamps, amps, headphone amps, dacs and phono stages and have had no failures as of yet. VIVA tube is a good source and I have had really good luck buying on ebay direct from China. I thought it would be prudent to look for readily available current issue tubes and the Psvane and Shuguangs have allowed me to have a go to that is fresh stock. When I reference their small tubes I am referring to their Treasure series. I just bought a Psvane Classic Series 274B rectifier Tube and hope it works out as right now Brimar rectifier tubes are my favorites. Enjoy the music

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