Shootout of Nos 6sn7 tubes

@tksteingraber Thanks for the thorough description of your listening impressions of the Linlai E-6SN7 tubes. Sounds like a good tube overall yet probably not one I want to add to my stable based on the weaknesses you noted.

The 1982 Melz 1578s have settled in very nicely as they accumulate more hours. I definitely place them in my top five. Still a touch forward in the upper mids but no longer objectionable. Their superb soundstage and bass continue to impress and, despite their reputation, one of the quietest tubes I own.

What’s up next for you? Perhaps a pair of Tungsol 6f8g round plates?

@dlcockrum I would not say the Linlai E-6sn7 has “Weaknesses” they are just subtle differences that I felt a few Nos tubes provided that I preferred.  The Linlai’s are really an excellent new production tube. No Tung Sol’s RP’s for me just too pricey for their performance review.  Looks like I am done adding 6Sn7’s.  I feel I have hit most of the key good 6SN7’s and have a good selection.  Selling off ones that just aren’t special to reduce collection.  It was a fun experimenting on my own system.  

@dlcockrum thought I would give an update on the Linlai E-6sn7 after 120+ hours.  The strong bass has declined to be very average, the highs are bright and don’t sound real, and the midrange has declined and sounds muffled.  It does sound better at higher volumes but still to solid state like for me.  I would not recommend it now and have started a return.  Maybe on other systems it sounds good but not here. Melz, Sylvania’s, 6FG8’s, are much preferred.

@shkong78 Which Melz did you obtain? Apparently two versions of the metal base, one with T plates a la “bad boy” style, and one with similar T plates but holes “drilled” up the front side of the plates. Based on asking prices, the “holed” metal base are more rare and perhaps better SQ. I have all of the 6sn7s in your shootout, except the Melz. Ones without the holes can be had for $100+, the holed version are $300+ pair. 

I have four tube amps, Willsenton R800i, Inspire KT-88, Cary 300SEI LX20 and an inexpensive chfi EL3, several pairs of speakers, Klipsch, Vienna Acoustics, Focals. Your impressions are spot on with what I hear when swapping tube manufacturers, nice work. Thanks for sharing. 

There’s a Willsenton tube rolling thread on Steve Hoffman site run by Rachel, she may be the only person on the planet with more 6SN7s than you! Folks there rave about the Melz, and distinguish the drilled hole version over the non holed version. 

I’m curious to try a pair of Melz, but procrastinating on the spend. 
 

@trivema well here’s my 2 cents on my Melz experience.  I did a lot of research on forums and most of the forums  talked about the holed version as the best.  But I did come across some praising the solid plates if you get the older ‘50’s version. Saying they performed very similar if not the same. After shopping for the holed version I realized the prices were crazy especially with the risk of buying from Ukraine or Eastern Europe.  I opted for the ‘53-56 solid plates and was able to put together 2 noise free pairs that are my best sounding 6sn7 tubes. I was fortunate they only cost me $60ea a year or so ago but prices keep going up. The biggest challenge is finding tubes that aren’t noisy which Melz are known for due to the age/quality of the solder on the  pins. Fyi- Heating the pins with a solder iron to reset the tin solder does fix the noise in many cases. I eliminated the noise on one of my tubes using this method.