2. amps-preamps
  3. 175191-139155

What made you change to a 6SN7 preamp?

If you made an intentional shift toward a 6SN7-based tube preamp, what sonic characteristics motivated your move?

I have been doing some comparisons and think I have some reasons I like the 6SN7 better, but there are so many factors which could be at play, that I'm not sure what is responsible. 

Rather than list my details for others to analyze, I'd rather hear your answer to the basic question.

Tell me about your path toward a 6SN7 preamp?

What did you change from and why?

Even if, overall, the change was worth it, did you lose anything in the transition? What?

128x128hilde45
fleschler
2,029 posts
 

Andy @ Vintage Tube Services is a great guy and helped me decide on the best 6SN7 for my monoblocks.   Question-I have not had microphonic tubes in 50 years of audio gear.  For the past 20+ years, my pre-amp and phono stage uses subminatures which have a reported life of 100,000 hours, really thick (bomb use) glass and great sound.   Can using various dampening rings such as Herbie's reduce or eliminate most microphonics?   Or is the microphonic the result of internal parts vibrations?  

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,381 posts
 

For you 6SN7 fans, the VT231 equivalents can be a fun roll especially for rockers. IIRC, the Kenrads were a relative bargain when I tried them. Cheers,

Spencer

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 

It was said that Vintage Tube carefully tests all tubes for microphonics.

Testing equipment has no way to do this.

The only way is to plug the tube into your component and wait a bit.

True, but the dealer can listen to the tube using a high gain device like a phono preamp. This is what Kevin Deal uses. But this type of test only insures that the tube is non microphonic when it leaves the dealer.

 

 

 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 

Can using various dampening rings such as Herbie's reduce or eliminate most microphonics?   Or is the microphonic the result of internal parts vibrations?  

@fleschler ,

IME, Herbies can reduce microphonics up to a point. Once a tube has gone full-on microphonic nothing can help. Tube dampers lightly touch the glass envelope and reduce resonances, but in many cases the sound will be affected. It may make the bass tighter in a good way or it may reduce the liveliness of said tube, making it sound dull.

invalid
1,247 posts
 

It was said that Vintage Tube carefully tests all tubes for microphonics.

Testing equipment has no way to do this.

The only way is to plug the tube into your component and wait a bit.

Tube sellers cannot do this. Hoarders may have the best tubes. But even then, you need to buy more than you need just in case.

I paid $750 for 4 Psvane 6SN7 Globes and they were all microphonic.

 

 

Vintage tube service tests them in circuit, he has many different components to test them in.

More to discover