Spent almost 5 hours tube rolling last night...

[zimbida]

@Synaxis Just reading through your 6sn7 tube tasting notes - and I think what it emphasizes most clearly is that tube rolling is highly personal, and also context specific. I think tubes are a way to "tune your system" so the environment (which speakers, source, and importantly other tubes being used) makes a large difference, as well as personal preference.

there are myriad 6sn7's variants out there, and I've tried most of the "big name" ones (Tung sol BLGRP 6sn7 and 6f8G, BG flat plate 6f8G, sylvania metal base 6sn7w, brimar 6sngty, numerous sylvania early 50's, rca and cbs 5692's, etc) I found your list solid for what it covered, however it should be noted that early 50's clear glass tung sol's (I believe you tried the so-called "mouse ears") are in no way a stand in for the black glass round plate 6sn7's or 6F8G's, which have a completely different plate construction. In my system (supratek preamp using 6sn7's for line stage, western electric 350b for voltaage regulation, and WE 417a and mullard 6gk5 for phone) into a type 46 amp (rca globes) on Altec 604C's - my prefence has clearly been the 40's tung sols

from what you've noted you might also enjoy the RCA smoked glass vt-231, which are relatively affordable, a real sleeper if you have the space and the adapters are dual 76's (almost all 76's are round plate)

 

[Synaxis]

@Synaxis Just reading through your 6sn7 tube tasting notes - and I think what it emphasizes most clearly is that ube rolling is highly personal, and also context specific. I think tubes are a way to "tune your system" so the environment (which speakers, source, and importantly other tubes being used) makes a large difference, as well as personal preference.

there are myriad 6sn7's variants out there, and I've tried most of the "big name" ones (Tung sol BLGRP 6sn7 and 6f8G, BG flat plate 6f8G, sylvania metal base 6sn7w, brimar 6sngty, numerous sylvania early 50's, rca and cbs 5692's, etc) I found your list solid for what it covered, however it should be noted that early 50's clear glass tung sol's (I believe you tried the so-called "mouse ears") are in no way a stand in for the black glass round plate 6sn7's or 6F8G's, which have a completely different plate construction. In my system (supratek preamp using 6sn7's for line stage, western electric 350b for voltaage regulation, and WE 417a and mullard 6gk5 for phone) into a type 46 amp (rca globes) on Altec 604C's - my prefence has clearly been the 40's tung sols

from what you've noted you might also enjoy the RCA smoked glass vt-231, which are relatively affordable, a real sleeper if you have the space and the adapters are dual 76's (almost all 76's are round plate)

Thanks for taking the time to share. I do appreciate tube suggestions!

 

[Synaxis]

@Synaxis Just reading through your 6sn7 tube tasting notes - and I think what it emphasizes most clearly is that tube rolling is highly personal, and also context specific. I think tubes are a way to "tune your system" so the environment (which speakers, source, and importantly other tubes being used) makes a large difference, as well as personal preference.

there are myriad 6sn7's variants out there, and I've tried most of the "big name" ones (Tung sol BLGRP 6sn7 and 6f8G, BG flat plate 6f8G, sylvania metal base 6sn7w, brimar 6sngty, numerous sylvania early 50's, rca and cbs 5692's, etc) I found your list solid for what it covered, however it should be noted that early 50's clear glass tung sol's (I believe you tried the so-called "mouse ears") are in no way a stand in for the black glass round plate 6sn7's or 6F8G's, which have a completely different plate construction. In my system (supratek preamp using 6sn7's for line stage, western electric 350b for voltaage regulation, and WE 417a and mullard 6gk5 for phone) into a type 46 amp (rca globes) on Altec 604C's - my prefence has clearly been the 40's tung sols

from what you've noted you might also enjoy the RCA smoked glass vt-231, which are relatively affordable, a real sleeper if you have the space and the adapters are dual 76's (almost all 76's are round plate)

So I just checked my master list excel spreadsheet of the tubes I have (it's 214 lines long) as otherwise I'd have no idea what I have, have sold, have tried and like. Turns out I have some black glass Tung-Sol 6SL7GT's.

Even though I haven't tried them, I had just moved them to the "for sale" column as all the other TS's I tried I did not like. You feel it's worth giving the black glass ones a try?

Turns out I also have a pair of RCA smoked glass vt-231's