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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.
jtcf
jtcf's avatar
jtcf OP
1,620 posts
 
jmolsberg I am using Sylvania 12AT7 and the original Tung Sol SN7.I think the Sofias would sound excellent in the M2 but it's working so well in the amp that I have no desire to try them now.But I will give it a try anyway this weekend just to satisfy both our curiosities and let you know.One caveat is the Sofias are quite a bit taller and would require a new lid  from LTA to accommodate them.
I tried the Sylvania SN7s - too veiled,JJs - meh,EH - hyper detailed.The Tung Sols don't do anything wrong,but they don't have that sweet organic midrange and seem too polite?congested?un-dynamic?

@winoguy17  thank you!
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
^ sounds great!
wig's avatar
wig
1,310 posts
 
Guys 
I use both Sophia Electric KT88 and 6SN7s and love them over everything I have tried. Recently tried Psvane Shuguang WE 6SN7 that comes with a 1 year warranty and they are stellar; rich, awesome clarity and super quiet. 

Recommend you give these a try, these are much cheaper in comparison to Sophia with 1 year warranty and are so close in SQ to the Sophia. Joe from Psvane, a vendor here on this site has been awesome in answering all of my questions and fast shipping.

I am so impressed that I decided to try their WE KT88 and should have them in two weeks. This new tube design and material selection allows you to hear so much further into the recording with clarity I just can't believe; it's like there's nothing between you and the performers.

Wig
jtcf's avatar
jtcf OP
1,620 posts
 
Very cool Wig!Please post your impressions when you get the WE KT88s up and running:)
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
Wig, thanks for the heads up on the Shuguang WE 6SN7s.  My M-60s  take a total of 8 6SN7s, which gets a bit painful at ~ $200/tube.  Fortunately, the tubes don't require matching and the amps seem to like a mixture of different tubes.  Right now I've got a mixture of RCA grey glass, Bad Boys, and old stock GE GTBs.  I ordered one pair of the new Sophias.  After those burn in, I will probably get a pair of the new Shuguangs.   It is really good to see some current production tubes that are equaling or surpassing the best tubes of the past. 
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