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.
Oh, there are outfits like Grant Fidelity that are dealers. I dunno, perhaps others. I still think its outrageously disingenuous for the manufacturer to use the CV181 name. Its an identity which contains important information. Its inaccurate and sloppy and absurd.... have the post-modernists taken control of the asylum? Things are tricky enough at the best of times with tubes without us poor sods (I’m sure I’m not the only one) having to go in circles trying to figure stuff out. End rant. Phew. |
@lowrider57 sorry, stepped away from the thread for awhile. Just checked the Viva tube website and I do not see where they even have shuguang, just psvane. The measurement given of 2 inch width is spot on @1.98 inches. I purchased mine off ebay from Vicaudio_1 out of China but he does not show them for sale at this time. I have seen them pop up on Audiogon from a dealer out of China and for some reason I want to say it was Pavanedirect, I even tried to order them from him when I bought mine but they were out of stock. I believe Grand Fidelity has severed their ties with Psvane. If you can find a pair and squeeze them into your set up, you will not be disappointed. FWIW, I have tried a few sets of the Psvane and Shuguang 181 (grey glass) treasures in several different applications and didn't like them at all. Enjoy the music |
I let Ken Rads run a couple days they have come back to life from being dormant all these years. Ken Rad is more relaxed compared to the Shuguang. RCA more relaxed than Ken Rad. I may need to put Shuguang back in to see if memory is right but seem Ken Rad has more weight/body on instruments very natural highs. Again memory may be off but Shuguang may have more solid state highs but I need to try them again. Maybe brighter, thinner, cleaner and faster, maybe lose a little tube magic, but not in a bad way. I play jazz and have a lot of new and old hand hammered ride cymbals and I did notice the Shuguang can make a heavy ride cymbal sound very realistic with weight, like you are there sound. That was the first thing that impressed me with the Shuguang for a modern tube. It’s a toss up between all three. They all do good for what they are and have there place. For an all rounder the Ken Rad is nice. The Shuguang has a more modern sound if my memory is correct. I’m going to put Shuguang back in this weekend and see what happens. I’m just going to enjoy Ken Rads for a while. Then I’m going to try Sylvania vt-231’s and pick one and leave it in for a while. |
