Linlai E 6sn7 tubes

@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.  

For good measure, I also got the Gotham 85025 power chord with gold pins to replace my stock power cord to my preamp.  That requires some burn in too. Hope it all comes together well.

@rocray  Thank you for the reassurance. Having read some of your comments here thats what I am going to do; having the Linlais go through a lengthy burn in before critical listening. 100 hours is a fair bit of time. I just gotta be patient before I enjoy the sonic quality these tubes seem to provide.  Its indeed very encouraging to hear your impressions.  By the way, my Linlai tubes are on amptata 8pin octal socket savers as you had suggested. Its the gold pin version - only way to get the Linlais fully plugged into my preamp.