Most Musical 6NS7 tube for a Preamp?

Having tried the top thirteen tubes, of this comparison: http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/6sn7_vt.htm, I have to agree, the Tung-Sol, round plate, w/oval mica, is a beautiful, neutral, extended at both ends, with excellent sound stage and precise imaging, tube.      The pair that I now have in my Carys, came out of three NOS pairs (from three different sources), however.     The other four all went intermittently noisy(crackles), after less than a year, each.      However; I’ll never regret the purchases.      They’re that good.      As some surveys mention; It’s good to mix tube iterations, even if the same brand, which retains the strengths of both, while not emphasizing any weaknesses.      I’ve tried everything mentioned (the top thirteen), in various combinations.     In combo, with the T-S, the best were the tall bottle, metal or black based, Sylvania 6SN7W and Ken-Rad (bottom-gettered), from the 40’s and this Sylvania: https://tubeworldexpress.com/products/vt-231-jan-chs-6sn7gt-sylvania-1944-v1?_pos=1&_sid=79a7fa3be&_ss=r, which gives me the best mid-Bass slam, without coloring the Midrange.      Those four tubes, in whatever position, offer the best sound stage, in width and depth, of any tried, in my system, not to mention, REALISM (ie: tone, dynamics, etc).      I’m staying stocked up, on the others, for when I’m out of (or can’t afford) round plates.      If by, "musical", you mean a warm, tubey, sound; try the other top tubes, on the above mentioned survey.      They all have good presentation, but- were a bit too warm, for my taste.      More opinions, which (of course) vary, per system/ear:   https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-reference-6sn7-thread.117677/    and:  http://digitalaudiodirections.blogspot.com/2012/06/6sn7-tube-comparison-part-1.html   Enjoy your journey!

Try some old Red Base RCA 5692 - the very best 6SN7 there ever was. The go for about $100 on average 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F174260219898

These are what your looking for  - just as an example - no affiliation with seller - proceed with the usual caution 

Good Listening
Peter 

Chorus-
I own a Pass X-25 and a Supratek Sauvignon. I also have a LTA MicroZOTL Mz2 on it's way.. should be here by Saturday. In talking to Sean Casey of Zu, he also has a high regard for the Pass HPA-1. He used the XA-25 and HPA-1 together at a number of shows. It doesn't matter to me about being a Headphone amp. I have a Mytek DAC that has a volume control for the Digital side. Since you're up and down when playing LP's I figured it doesn't matter. The best preamp I've heard so far with the XA-25 is the Dodd Audio Battery unit (not the passive unit) that an audio friend of mine owns. The idea of shoving him out the door and claiming I'd never seen him before, definitely crossed my mind. If your interested in some comments/observations between the two, I'd be glad to share.

Patrick 

The reason I bought a MicroZOTL Mz2 is because there is a reviewer that claimed it sounded very similar to the Dodd.