Building the Audio Note Kit 1 SET amp...

Joe,

I'm so glad you posted.
There's a local fellow who's selling off his tube collection, which must've been huge. I asked him about 6sn7's and he replied saying that he has the following to sell. I'm curious if any of these are worth picking up:

RCA Radiotron Electron Tubes, one labeled 6SN7GT, the other GTA
Sylvania, old Yellow box
Sovtek
Ruby tubes

What do you tube rollers think?

Rebbi be careful most Kenrad 6SN7 are very microphonic. I would stay away from Sovtek and Ruby tubes.

My Audionote Kageki came with the brown-base RCA 6sn7s. This is a warm, lush sounding tube. I tried numerous other types, and I ended up liking the Tungsol roundplates (and copies thereof, like French Neotrons). I really did not like the metal-based Sylvanias because they are lean sounding, but, something like the Sylvanias MAY be good in a 300B amp (something much more lush sounding than a 2a3 amp like the Kageki). Currently, the amp is on loan to a friend who recently tried CV 181s (old tubes, not Chinese, but I don't know what brand) in it and liked that tube best of all in the Kageki. I have not heard the combination myself. I believe the CV 181 is not exactly a drop in replacement and draws a bit more current so keep that in mind.

Rebbi,
Congrats again. If that fellow selling tubes has any other types perhaps you can let us know. In my tube stash I already have the RCA 6SN7s you purchased, lovely tube. So happy for you that you are experiencing really good sound and rediscovering your music collection. All the best.

I was fortunate to score a pair of Hy Wycomb Mullard CV378’s recently. Now on the hunt for U52, GEC, etc. you never know where stuff like this will pop up.