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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
markusthenaimnut's avatar
markusthenaimnut
373 posts
 
Dear @lowrider57 and @shkong78 -
might you be able to post pictures of your favorite Melz 1578 tubes and also the name of your trusted ebay sellers? From my research (much of which took place before this shootout thread was started) the desireable Russian 6N8S/1578 tubes are the ones with multiple round holes up and down the plates, the OTK stamp and (ideally) 1578 stamped on the tube. Now on ebay I am seeing several other variants being marketed as 1578s. One is a more common one without the multiple round holes up and down the plates. This one looks a lot like the Foton 6N8S, which is pretty common. Another has the round holes, but no OTK stamp and no 1578 stamp.
Which ones are you guys enjoying? And how are you able to confirm the production dates?
BTW, some of the Foton 6N8S tubes sound very good, but some sound rather thin, in my system.
Thanks, in advance, for any info you can share.
Markus
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matched-pair-Extremely-rare-1578-6N8S-audiophile-6H8S-6SN7-Metal-base/273874731266?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I am the one who started buying this stock.

But it seems that this dealer is responsive to buyer's request.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Charles turned me on to this seller who is dependable with fast shipping from Russia. They've raised the price, most likely due to demand.

The date is inside the logo.

shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
After receiving two more pairs of 6n8s metal base tube made in 1952 today, now I have 5 pairs of 6n8s metal base tubes in addition to 3 pairs of 1578 tubes made in 1980 and 83.

6n8s metal base sounds more female like with nuanced details while 1578 sounds more robust with deeper bass.

I will take turns at tubes depending on my mood.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Another bad Melz 1578. I ordered 3 pairs and like the first set, one tube is crackling after 50 hours of burnin. It's also microphonic; in between crackles I can hear the tube echo thru the speakers when I tap on my amp.
These are all from 1980 and the same dealer (who does accept returns), but I'm done gambling with this batch of tubes. Damn, they sound so good.

I received my 6N8S 1950 pair from Ukraine, but will wait to try them until I've run-in my 1578's. 

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