Most Musical 6NS7 tube for a Preamp?

I would look for a Rogue Audio Magnum 99 pre and then you can roll all the 6SN7's you like. I tried them all and some of the variants are just better. I went from the 6SN7 to the 6F8G's and then to the 6J5GT's which will require and adapter, these are by far the most linear of all....

The word musical means different things to different people. It’s just word. There is a very large audiophile vocabulary for sound which oft goes unused. Anyway, you can’t go wrong with Sylvania NOS of almost any type, Chrome Domes all the way up to ‘52 Badboys. Then, more progress can be yours for the cost of Herbies tube dampers. They’re gold, Jerry, gold! All tubes are microphonic, even ones that claim ultra low microphonic. And two dampers are better than one, one of the glass at the level of the getter the other on the base. 🤗 Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “but don’t two dampers cost more than the tube itself?”

@ozzy62. Your assessment of the deHavilland is correct that why it requires the changes I mentioned above. Just adding audio note resistors will change all that around $60 for the two non-magnetic or over $100 for the silver versions.  Add some nicicons and v-caps and almost there. Change out that junk of a transformer and you are there.   Of all the 6sn7 tubes the CBS 6sn7 sounded the best for $15.   Happy listening

In the past I wouldn't give you a nickel for any Chinese tube but the recent new Dawning Series tubes out of Shuguang are excellent.  I recently bought a Don Sachs all in preamp and he suggested them and they are lush sounding.  WE6SN7 PLUS.

Long time 6SN7 fan and tube roller.  I happen to run a Modwright LA-100 and like it very much.  I have run every 6SN7 and I mean every! mentioned above.  I stumbled a crossed a Don Sachs forum thread and for the first time heard of a tube that got rave reviews from NOS snobs like myself, that I had not heard of nor tried.  The Shuguang Dawning Series WE6SN7 PLUS.   Bought a pair on line from a Hong Kong dealer, let them burn in for 150 hours and was absolutely shocked by what I heard.  They replaced my beloved NOS Tung Sol VT-231 Black Glass Round Plates.  These inexpensive Chinese tubes were better in every way.   Sound stage much more open and spacious, great balance top to bottom with lush but not overblown mids.  Great bass and beautiful extended highs without harshness or glare.  I had tried every 6SN7 and these were by far my favorites.  In fact bought a second pair that I now run in my Modwright Oppo in my main system.  Just a heads up....these tubes are huge for a 6SN7!  They are beautiful but in my LS100 I had to cut holes in the top for them to fit....no big deal as I had already cut a whole in it to fit the Mullard GZ-37 Fat Bottle rectifier I am running.  In any case, this Chinese  WE6SN7 PLUS is an incredible tube!