Linlai E 6sn7 tubes

@bugredmachine what a bummer. I'd consider calling Don Sachs for guidance. The Linlai are so big that even staggered with 1 socket saver on left front and right rear the tubes were touching. Didn't notice this at first. The tubes weren't fitting completely flush in the socket. Have to admit the Don Sachs linestage looks impressive with stacked double socket savers and such big tubes. 🙂

Good luck,

aldnorab

At 40 hours the Linlai have picked up more high frequency extension, but it is a little brash sounding. They are less forgiving and not as much fun. Only certain songs sound beautiful now. Hope they move past this phase quickly. Glad the solid state amp is hooked up now. No reason to waste the tubes in the VTL.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@bugredmachine those are the socket savers I'm using. They fit tight and work fine in my Don Sachs linestage. It does look a little odd to have two tubes plugged in straight and the other tubes towering above them on stacked socket savers. The socket savers don't seem to affect sound quality much, if any. The Linlai with socket savers are competing easily with my best antique tubes. Glad you are having better luck. 

Thanks,

aldnorab

@bugredmachine I agree it is hard to believe both tubes could be damaged in shipping the same way. Also hard to believe cables are going to make a huge difference, since they are working well with all the other tubes.

I have seen reports on noisey old tubes being fixed by cleaning the pins and even resoldering them. If you have to send the tubes back, I wouldn't try resoldering. It might be obvious they were "messed with" and seller could blame that for the malfunction. 

Thanks,

aldnorab

Sorry cleaning didn't work @bugredmachine .  Will be interesting to see what @danmar123 finds. Wonder what can go wrong in a tube to make it so noisey? 

Thanks,

aldnorab

@rocray that is a shame. Didn't know it was possible to damage a tube this way. Know one has to be careful turning a big amp back on too quickly. Was also told one should never turn a preamp on/off with phono input selected. Thanks for the warning. Does your tube still have a warranty?

Thanks,

aldnorab

Just ordered two for the Don Sachs Model 2 linestage. If they sound as good as expected, I’ll order two more for the remaining spots. Looking forward to hearing these.

Does the size of the glass affect sound in any way? If a company puts their normal size tube guts into larger glass, will it automatically perform better?

Thanks,

aldnorab

@rocray  thanks for the break in info. Mine are on the way from China and will take time to arrive. Will update their progress as they break in. Previous Don Sachs Model 2 linestage owner set it up with two gray glass RCA VT 231, two Ken-Rad black glass VT231, and a Coke bottle Sylvania 6BY5GA rectifier. If Linlai can match or beat this and have a long life, I'll be thrilled. Looking forward to your break in updates.

 How tall are the Linlai? Hope they aren't taller than the Sylvania rectifier. It is twice the height of a standard 6SN7.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@rocray WOW! The Sylvania 6by5 rectifier is also 4" tall. Luckily the linestage has tubes on the top instead of in a box. Thanks for the measurements. Was going to space the Salamander rack shelves further apart anyway. 

@lowrider57 thanks for the tube profiles. They are the only 6SN7 I have, and had no idea where they stood sonically. It will be interesting to hear the comparison.

Thanks,

aldnorab

Do most people believe the WE 6sn7 will surpass all the other brands? Does WE still have that much knowledge and technology?

Thanks,

aldnorab

@rocray wow, they are big. They look like power tubes. Can't wait for mine to arrive. 

Thanks for providing the photo,

aldnorab

Does anyone make a horizontal off set 6sn7 to 6sn7 adapter? It would allow spacing tubes further apart on open top preamps. If not, it looks like a fairly simple DIY project.

Thanks,

aldnorab 

@decooney I'll be sure to report the 100 and 150 hour results. My Linlai seem to be loosely tracking Your Psvane break in results. Really interested to hear what 4 mature Linlai E 6sn7 sound like in the Don Sachs linestage.

Thanks,

aldnorab

My 2 matched Linlai E 6sn7 tubes arrived today. The Don Sachs Model 2 takes 4. I'll evaluate these in both circuit locations to see how they do. If prefer them to my current GE/Ken-Rad setup I'll order 2 more.

I have the older D Sachs with wood top. Two of these tubes will not fit without using a socket saver to raise one. Even then, a credit card would barely fit between them. I hear newer linestages have spaced the sockets further apart. My savers came from AES.

Initial sound is different than the GE. GE has more mid bass and beautifully sweet upper mids and highs. They can sound slightly distant in the midrange. At hour 2 the Linlai have tighter and more authoritive deep bass. They sound more linear top to bottom and very precise. The GE have more decay. This is like having 2 different preamps. 

Thanks,

aldnorab

Just ordered 2 more Linlai E 6sn7 for the Don Sachs preamp. Interested to hear it with all Linlai tubes. I've got 25 hours of playtime on the 1st two.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@rocray well they sound different than the RCA and Ken-Rad. Replacing the RCA with these brings the lower midrange and midrange forward ( a good thing for my speakers). The high frequencies are rolled off and dark. There is no air and very little decay. Normally this would mean game over for me, but the midrange is so nice, I’m ok with it at the moment. Hope they open up a little with more time and get more "floaty" highs. The Ken-Rad lean a little this way and may be influencing everything. Need a full set of Linlai to know for sure. They should arrive in a few weeks.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@lowrider57  wonder why Linlai isn't interested in small signal tubes? Harder to make? Less profitable? Also amazed tubes change so much during break in. Glass, vacuum, and some metal guts don't seem very susceptible to break in. 

My 2nd set of Linlai E 6sn7 have shipped. First set are gaining some air and decay. Unfortunately a small signal tube in the VTL ST150 quit. Couldn't find my replacements, so ordered a set only 170 miles away, in FedEx home town. Paid extra for FedEx 2 day shipping. 7 days later they are still riding around in FedEx trucks. Found my original replacements. Not the same tubes. Decided to hook up the delightful Pioneer Series 20 M22 class A amp. Will probably use it until all the Linlai are broken in. High-end is a war🙂.

Thanks,

aldnorab

Thanks,

aldnorab

@rocray don't worry. I plan to forge ahead towards 100 hours. Already thinking about breaking in the other two, when they arrive. Trying to decide if I should pull this set while breaking in the newer set. That way all 4 would have the same playing time. This would also allow comparing the break in of the two sets. But, with the two sets in different circuits matched age could be meaningless. Audiophile dilemmas🤔.

Thanks,

aldnorab

My 1st pair of Linlai 6sn7 are at 75 hours. Thankfully they have lost the shrill & brittle sound. They are engaging now, with more body and more open high. The soundstage is back and there is more decay. The high frequencies are more extended, but still not as floaty as the RCA. I could live with these, even if they don't improve further.

I do wonder if the 2nd set will displace the Ken-Rad or be too much of a good thing? They have entered the country. Can't wait to hear how this pans out.

Thanks,

aldnorab

At 100 hours the Linlai 6SN7 sound about the same, perhaps a little more open with tighter bass. I could live with this sound, without further improvement. I would take a little more midrange warmth and ambiance. But, they sound really nice at this point. 

Thanks,

aldnorab

Previous owner sent a Bendix with the DS. Played it a few weeks without any problems. Need to try it with the Linlai, after they break in. With the RCA and Ken-Rad VT 231 it was very, very punchy. The high frequencies were a little aggressive. Reminded me of beginning era Krell amps. 

Thanks,

aldnorab 

@danmar123 my socket savers came from tubesandmoredotcom. Sku P-st8-1000. Item id 003356. They are black and 9.95ea. My older dual gain control linestage can't fit 4 Linlai with just two socket savers. The front & back rows are too close. Had to stack 2 savers on two tubes (diagonally situated from each other). Makes for a very tall preamp.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@danmar123 . Had to stagger mine. Distance between front & back row is less than side to side. So I have left front and right rear on two socket savers each. That barely clears on my linestage. On another forum a man has offered to make custom adapters. They would be a socket and plug with space in between to "extend" the tube sockets further apart. There is plenty of real estate to spread tubes out on top of the linestage. Won’t pursue that until I decide if the Quad Linlai are my favorite setup.

Thanks,

aldnorab

Sorry, man's name above is Deyan. When I try to edit post above tablet goes crazy.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@danmar123 the fellow that makes adapters is in this thread

Scroll down until you see the picture of a similar shaped adapter. Posters name is Devan. It obviously would have only 1 tube socket. He was just presenting this to see if it was kind of what I had in mind. I’ve never met or talked to the man, though others in the thread recommended him highly.

Thanks,

aldnorab