2. misc-audio
  3. 149479-3923

Sofia Electric Blue 6SN7

Just received a pair of these this morning and to say I'm delighted is an understatement.At $99 per tube I was so hoping it wouldn't turn out to be a mistake.Big sigh of relief and a bigger smile.After fooling around with various tubes,footers,and cables trying to clear up what I was hearing as a congested midrange when there were multiple instruments,this tube has done it.

I replaced the Sylvania 'bad boy' driver tube in my Aric Audio Transcend amp just to get a feel for the sound before removing the bazillion tiny screws in the LTA MZ2 to try them there.Well it's staying right where it is in the amp.The mids cleaned up immediately and the entire presentation seems faster and even more dynamic.The vocals retain their sweetness with no excess sibilance.I recently tried a new EH in that position and also in the MZ2 which gave me the clarity but they were relentlessly hyper detailed.
I have read some cautionary tales about Sofia tube's reliability but they mostly involved power tubes, so fingers crossed.I'll update if any problems surface.So far my perfect tube compliment is one Sofia blue 6SN7,two Sylvania 6SN7,four (new)Tung Sol KT150 power tubes in the amp.The pre has two 12AT7 Sylvanias and two (new)Tung Sol 6SN7.
128x128jtcf
jtcf's avatar
jtcf OP
1,620 posts
 
I received another pair of the Sofias to try one in the driver tube position of the Aric Audio amp.Turns out it was too much of a good thing,lol!The sound became overly euphonic which was so pretty, especially on sax and piano with the added harmonics.But it was really too much.That's ok since I like having back ups.Today I swapped in a EH(which I'd thought hyper detailed) in the driver socket.Beautiful and refined!So the LTA is keeping the Sofias and a new lid to accommodate the taller tubes is on order.
So the final set up is:LTA MZ2 two Sylvania 12at7,two Sofia Blue 6SN7
Aric Audio Transcend Push Pull amp one EH 6SN7,two Sylvania SN7,four Tung Sol KT150

I'm glad you're liking them brownfan!
jmolsberg:)


brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
@jtcf, I may well find the same thing when I pick up another pair.  It takes some patience in finding an optimal mixture of 6SN7s in my M-60s.  I'm going to leave everything as is for a couple of weeks to permit burn in before I make a final decision on buying more tubes.  
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
very nice! 
jtcf's avatar
jtcf OP
1,620 posts
 
Best of luck brownsfan.You have quite a few tubes to mix and match before hitting on the ideal combo.
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
@jtcf  Thanks.  I've been through the drill before with the M-60s, and yes, it takes a bit of time, but I have a pretty good feel for what the amps like in terms of 6SN7 attributes at each of the 4 positions, so its not quite as bad as trying to work my way through all of the 256 possible variations.  In actual fact, this comes down to a yes/no on two of the 4 positions, with the new Sophias potentially replacing the RCA grey glass tubes.  Those two positions have the greatest impact on sonics.  The third position (back, center, one the MK 3.3s) really seems to benefit from the bad boys.  Assuming I like what I hear with Sophias in the two most impactful position, it really comes down to getting a quick A/B  on the bad boys vs. two other Sylvanias that I have on hand.  Tube rolling in the 4th position (front tube), which requires GTA or GTBs, has less impact on sonics.  I always roll that position after I have the other 3 established.  I can probably get this done in 3 or 4 listening sessions, so it is really not all that laborious.  
More to discover