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
1,617 posts
 
@jmolsberg I went ahead and swapped in the Sofias in the MZ2 last evening after reluctantly putting the Sylvania back in the driver socket of the amp.In that configuration the sound took a giant leap forward that caught me totally by surprise.I put on one of my favorite cds Hot Tuna - live at new orleans house in Berkley and started to leave the room to let the system warm up a little while I finished cleaning up the kitchen.Holy shite!!Three hours flew by while I kept saying gotta listen to this and this and that and just one more......So what was so startling is the soundstage immediately deepened and increased in width,the lower mids/upper bass warmed up but retained detail,the instruments and vocalists seemed to 'solidify'and give the illusion of better three dimensionality.The transients weren't as razor sharp but the sound was never syrupy or tubby.The timbre was gorgeous.Detail + Beauty.Dammit now I want to try one in the amp again along with the two in the MZ2.If that works out then I'd need three more for back ups.This is your fault jmolsberg;)I might have to try the Pvanes at half the price.

Today I enjoyed the following and could find no fault with any genre:
John Mayall +Bluesbreakers - Silvertones
Blood Sweat Tears - Greatest Hits
Joan Baez- Ring Them Bells (live)
Neil Young - Unplugged
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Otis Spann - Good Morning Mr Blues
Steve Earle - various downloads
Recording of my son singing and playing guitar

Apologies for being overenthusiastic.I'm not associated with the company at all,just another happy tube nerd.I hope the Sofias will prove reliable over time and I'll update periodically.
 
wig's avatar
wig
1,262 posts
 
I have had zero issues with my Sophia Tubes and have owned a variety of them for several years now.

You will be pleasantly surprised with the sound quality of the Psvane WE Plus tubes, just superb...

Wig :)
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
Wow jtfc, my apologies and you're welcome 😊 
i think you are on the right track to leave Sophia in the mz2 and get psvane for the amp. In the meantime I am going to get sophia for my LTA. Thanks for experimenting  
Post removed 
winoguy17
1,119 posts
 
Where are you buying these from?  Thanks
More to discover