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Linlai E 6sn7 tubes

I just placed an order for a pair of these for my Aric Audio Motherlode II.  I’ve been chatting with a fellow that runs the E 6sn7 in his Don Sachs pre. He loves them, He says they make his NOS tubes sound thin and lifeless.  
    It will be a couple weeks until I receive them,and I was curious if anyone out in Agon land has tried these,and what are your impressions?   
Thanks in advance,

    Ray

128x128rocray
bugredmachine's avatar
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bugredmachine
423 posts
 

I've heard from those who have traveled the Psvane path that their globes are not as good as the Linlai globes.

xcool's avatar
xcool
273 posts
 

Hi, I've been following this thread and do have an interest in the Linlai E 6SN7.

From what I read do far I see a few options to purchase these tubes:

  • Grand Fidelity
  • Viva Tubes
  • eBay
  • jjyaudio.com
  • mableaudio.com

Looks like Grand Fidelity is the "official" authorized dealer, and their price seems to be the highest.   Viva Tubes seems to be questionable.   I'm a little bit uneasy with buying from eBay, but I guess most sellers are legit.  I believe the last 2 that I listed are Chinese retailers, and they seem to have the best price.   I wonder if they are genuine Linlai dealers.   I'm leaning towards the Chinese dealers because of the price.

Can anyone share their experience with the Chinese dealers?  Are the tubes in good quality in terms of noise and matching etc.?

I'm not in a hurry to buy yet.  I'm still researching and reading up on these tubes, but so far most people seem to be happy with them.

Thanks!

decooney
1,948 posts
 

I wonder if Viva got a bad batch all from the same lot (giant box o’ tubes), rattled apart or something maybe from a dropped box in shipping from afar. Who knows, they’ll have to answer to you’all on that. Over the years had good luck with them, however also started purchasing from different individual suppliers who test or test/listen to tubes before shipping them out. Seems like varied quality right now. Like what @lowrider57 said, "band of brothers" giving feedback and forcing their hand a bit will help, a message of seeing to folks getting their refunds taken care of first.

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jayctoy
4,002 posts
 

Xcool go for Grant Fidelity it’s worth the price, don’t cut corners on tube.

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 

wonder if Viva got a bad batch all from the same lot (giant box o’ tubes), rattled apart or something maybe from a dropped box in shipping from afar. Who knows, they’ll have to answer to you’all on that. 

More likely they were a backdoor purchase or worse. Not the same build and they are called by a different name. Even Ali Express, which Linlai has declared illegitimate, uses the correct name of the tubes.

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