Linlai E 6sn7 tubes

I use a pair in my tubed CD player and they sound great. They replaced a pair of NOS Brimar CV-181 that cost over 3x as much.

I've been watching thread with interest. I wonder if those of you who've purchased these tubes can address a few questions. 

As far as I can tell, only Grant Fidelity is selling tubes in two ranges - the "top 10% ultra low noise" and the "factory QC passed, driver quality". Has anyone compared these two ranges?

This raises the question what are people getting when they purchase from the other sellers mentioned on this thread? My sense is there's no free lunch and the lower price tubes that are being sold might be equivalent to the Grant Fidelity's "factory QC passed" tubes. It sounds like everybody who's buying these tubes is liking/loving them pretty well. Maybe the "top 10% ultra low noise" is not a requirement for these tubes to sound good. What do you think?

Also, has anyone who has purchased these tubes tested them and compared your results to those small sheets/reports you receive with the tubes? I'm sure the results won't be the same, but you might at least be able to see how closely the two sections match.

Another piece of information that would be helpful would be to hear what kind of circuit you're putting them in - are they going into a preamp, like a Supratek? Or are they going into a power amp, like in a driver position for a 300B tube? I'm using 6SN7s in both applications and would like to hear from all of you.

Best regards,

Markus no longer really the Naimnut...

@markusthenaimnut, I think those are really interesting points that you bring up. Other than my ears, I’m without any testing equipment.  I had an issue with some flaking of some cathode material in one tube,and after tapping a few times,this issue has cleared itself up.  The Linlai’s are as quiet as any tube I’ve had in my Motherlode II. This is a really quiet pre. I can pick an unused input,turn the volume all the way up, and with my ear to the speakers,only the slightest of a hiss. And I mean slight. Move away a few inches and it is silent.  IMHO, I always believed that the test cards that come from the Chinese vendors were just a gimmick.  Now,on the other hand,companies like Grant or Viva, I believe do proper testing and provide those results.   I am really happy with the performance of my tubes, unfortunately I don’t have access to any tube testing equipment. Hopefully someone can chime in that has,or has access to equipment. 

My Linlais finally arrived. These are the non global ones with horizintal letterings on tubes. I have Linlais on the gains of my Schiit  Freya + preamp and Sylvania GTBs on the buffer side.  Just started playing songs over my Node 2i. It sounds a bit dark at the moment. Sound signture seems warm. Not as good as my previous combo with the Sylvanias on the gains and JJs on the buffer at the moment. Waiting for the Linlais to burn in for the sound to open up. Guess it will take some time.

@ram18, I highly suggest serious burn in before any critical listening.  The darkness you hear is exactly what I heard,and what I was told to expect from the gentleman that recommended these.  I have been playing these every day. I think I’m somewhere around 80ish hours,and they are just starting to really open up and sound special.   I would say these very close to my first pair sonically.  Huge soundstage, great detail, and fullness.