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Shootout of Nos 6sn7 tubes

I will have shootout between TS BGRP, RCA vt231, KR vt231, Syl vt231, Raytheon vt 231 and "Bad boy" next weekend.

If I get MELZ 6N8S 6SN7 Metal Base next week, then I will also include it in shootout


RCA5691, Psavne Acme 300B, Psavne Acme 805 are also being used in Line Magnetic 508 amplifier.

Speaker will be Lansche 4.1 with plasma tweeter.

Digital source will be Dave and HMS fed by ripped CD stored in ssd drive of Cocktail audio x30.


I will play

Eva Cassidy's 'Autumn Leaves"

"Trinity Sessionn " by Cowboy Junkies

For classical orchestra, "Trittico" directed by Fennel.

"Still harry after all these years" will be for fusion jazz.

Any more suggestion gentlemen and ladies.

Thomas
128x128shkong78
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,615 posts
 
shkong78, Thanks for giving us the results of your shoot out.  It's a lot of work to gather and listen to all those tubes in your system.

Aside from which tubes are among the best, I take away a couple of points.  First, the law of diminishing returns applies big time in audio.  you're going to pay a hefty premium to get something that is considered "the best".  

Second,  There is no one best for everyone.  Our ears, systems, and rooms are all different.  The tube that sounds right in one person's system may not sound right in another's.  If you're looking for the best tube in your system, you have to try them out yourself.

Thanks again for the info.
audition__audio
1,572 posts
 
Bass too tight?

Of this group I think the Tung Sols are the best. With probably the Raytheon as my 2nd choice. Ken Rads are usually very problematic in high sensitivity applications. K.R.s probably my least favorite. The GTBs tubes from the 1960s are actually very good and are very reasonably priced. Best of these would probably be the Tung-Sols or maybe Sylvanias.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
@tomcy6

I agree with your points.

There is no best one for everybody.

It will depend on system and personal taste.

Each person had better try those tubes in his system himself.

I appreciate transparency of TS bgrp but it is too expensive to have one more pair as reserve.

I have 3 pairs of Rca vt231, Syl vt231 and two pairs of KR, RT vt231 as reserve since it is getting difficult to find Nos tubes in good condition.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 


List of 6sn7 that I have

1. Six Syl vt231
2. Six RCA vt231
3. Quad Kenrad vt231
4. Quad Raytheon vt231
5. Pair of Tungsol bgrp vt231
6. quad Syl GTB made in 1955
7. Two Amperex 6sn7 made in Canada
8. Six Rca gray glass gtb
9. Two Syl GT "Bad boy " made in 1952
10. Two Melz metal base 6n8s coming on May from Ukraina( two more coming on June)
11. Five Tungsol 6sn7gtb
12. Two CBS/Hytron 6ns7gt
13, Three Sylvania brown base 6sn7gtw

I will do second sets of shootout after delivery of Melz metal base which I ordered 3 weeks ago.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Is the Melz 6N8S metal base the same as the 1578 stamped tube?
I've read to look for the 1578 white lettering on the glass.
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