Shootout of Nos 6sn7 tubes

@ testpilot

Two pairs of 1578 sounds clean without noise or hum and one pair give some high frequency noise before full 20 minutes warmup.

Thus I am happy with my three pairs of 1578 made in 1980 and 1983.

I agree with you that TS bgrp is overhyped.

One can get pair of Sylvania vt231 which sound close to TS bgrp around 150$.


But 1578 is not for everyone.

Its balance is bass heavy and closed in at treble compared with Syl vt231.

shkong78... i disagree with you on the Tungsol Round Plate black glass.  Not an overhyped tubes,  ‘One of The Best ‘ if not ‘ The Best ‘ for single ended triode amps for vocal! 

@zipost


I do not think TS bgrp is bad tube.

But Sylvania vt231 also give spooky details and transparent window as well as TS bgrp but at one third cost.

Law of diminishing return apply heavily in audio.

I have pair of Telefuken 12AX7 tubes whose lively and nuanced details I enjoy.

Thus I could understand why you like Telfuken 6sn7 so much.


For most of people, they do not need to go for TS bgrp to get nice lady vocal sound.

They can be happy with Sylvaniia vt231 which I had been happy for 2 years in LM 508 amp.

I am listening to Beethoven Piano concerto using 1578.

Piano sound so natural through 1578 that my judgement on 1578 as "Holy grail of 6sn7" could be justified.

But choice of tube is dependent on system and personal taste.

Thus I understand that other people may have different opinion.

Thomas

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Raytheon-JAN-CRP-6SN7GT-VT-231-Vacuum-Tubes-1944-Balanced-Matched-on-Hickok/392787627010?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I am listening to Jazz music including " I left my heart in San Francisco" through Raytheon vt231 that cost me 65$ from Ebay auction.

I had lived in Berkeley hill overlooking Golden Gate bridge from 1984 to 1987.

This tube does not sound pure as Syl,TS, RCA vt231 with some lively edge.

But Jazz music sound more realistic through this Raytheon tube.

It is really fun to go through nice 6sn7 tubes.

Although 1578 give nice bass and soundstage, but it sound boring with Jazz vocal music due to closed in treble.

I’m loving my new 1578’s that shkong recommended (1980). They’re in the gain stage of my Atma-sphere S-30 and they sound as good if not better than TS Round Plates. The low-end is deep and tight with liquid mids, and the highs are extended yet extremely smooth. Clear and quiet, revealing the softest sounds in a deep and wide soundstage.
Right out of the box (there is no box, they’re in rolls) music had the greatest sense of realism I’ve heard in my system. They’re so transparent and tonally accurate that the tube search for this amp is over.

There are 6 input tubes in the amp; each channel uses two tubes in the gain stage plus the phase inverter (driver). The 2nd gain tube is a Sylvania GTB, the driver is a Sylvania GTA angled plate.

Other 6SN7s I’ve tried in my amp or preamp are:
Sylvania VT-231, which does everything well but is weak in the bass.
Sylvania 1950s GT Staggered plates
Sylvania 6SN7WGT
KR VT-231 WWII
RCA VT-231 & GT black glass
RCA GTB 1950s Silver label
T-S Black Oval Plates WWII
T-S GTB 1950s Triangular plates
Russian 1960s 6H8C black base

I’m sure I’m forgetting some.