Linlai E 6sn7 tubes

@bugredmachine, please excuse my lack of technical knowledge,I concede that most here forgot more than I know. That being said,let me throw something crazy out there. Is it possible that this tube in your room is acting like some sort of antenna? Is it possibly picking up some radio or electronic interference?  

From what I observed,these tubes took at least 50 hours to start to open up. These were kind of impact free on all levels at first. After having well over 200 hours at this point,these are very full frequency tubes in my system,  

@aldnorab, any early impressions? 

@invalid,and @bugredmachine, I’m looking forward to your impressions.  

I just went to Viva Tubes website.  I didn’t realize they were a Linlai dealer until it was mentioned in this thread.  I find it interesting how you can buy, a single tube, a trio, a quad, a sextet, or an octet, but you can’t get a pair?  Am I missing something?  

@lowrider57, that is absolutely correct. Horizontal labeling.  Yes, both sets ordered from amptata_audio. 

@danmar123, did your tubes come in a gift box? 

@danmar123 , that’s what I noticed as well. I did a search on the company printed on the gift boxes I have.  The more I research, the more confusing.  I’m just going to enjoy the music at this point.  @xcool posted the answer,that there are two versions, one for the western markets,and one for the Asian market. I’m assuming the ones that I am using must be the Asian version.  These also ( I believe) are the versions that Mr. Sachs uses in his preamps.   Not realizing that there were two variations,the versions I own were the ones recommended to me.   These seem to be the more common versions.  

@xcool, I just read the disclaimer on the Linlai website.  They constantly refer to the tubes as Linlai Global.  No where on my tubes is “Global” used.  After a visual inspection of the Global tube on their website,vs the tubes I have, I can notice no difference.  Now,this isn’t saying there isn’t a difference, just I can’t notice any.  I’m now interested in a side by side comparison of the Globals vs the version I own. This is interesting to say the least.  The only Chinese writing I see is on the gift box. No Chinese writing on the tube. All this being said,doesn’t make me not like what I’m hearing,and I’m still impressed with the sound quality once burned in.  

Pictures would be quite helpful.  

@flisker, I agree with your opinion on the Linlai’s,and the Psvane.  There are so many variables, synergy, how and what we hear, and personal preferences.  In the history of audio, there has never been a “one size fits all” product. That’s one of the things that makes this hobby so interesting. 

@decooney, I’m curious how many hours before the Psvanes settle in for good.  As far as the Linlai’s, I had planned on doing a more substantial comparison with the KR’s,but I just can’t take the Linlai’s out of my preamp.  They sound that good to me. At some point I’ll do the comparison,but for now I’m just enjoying the music. 
 

Anyone else have any updates? 
 

    Ray

So far, you folks are experiencing what I heard in the early stages. This is exactly what I was told to expect. Hang in there. I think you will be rewarded. 

I guess I should take the time and type out KenRad vs being lazy and abbreviate. My apologies for the confusion. 

Mine came in the same display box with sculptured foam.  I thought that was pretty solid packaging.   @bugredmachine, is it possible your tubes somehow made it past QC?  My tubes are dead quiet with the volume up way past the volume I would ever listen.  The Dude. That is a pre I lusted after.  My interest with Aric’s Motherlode II came about after reading that the original Motherlode was an attempt to duplicate the Dude topology.  Changes were made,thus the Motherlode II.  I would love to do an A/B comparison between the two preamps.   Now back to our regularly scheduled program.  Also,please give an update if you swap out your cables. 

@lowrider57, the bass also goes to the Linlai’s.  Don’t get me wrong, the KenRads are fantastic.  But a back to back comparison in my findings, the KenRads are the second best tubes I own. 

Thanks for the update @aldnorab. The 100 hours of burn in that I was told I believe is very accurate. I hope they work out for you,the way they did for me. 

Don’t get me wrong.  The purchase of the Psvane 6SN7-BE has nothing to do with not being happy with the performance of the Linlai’s,and everything to do with something new and shiny. 

@decooney, this is actually the first tube I’ve ever had this issue with.   When you mentioned it,I remember I read this on Brent Jessee’s website,and I also remember hearing about tapping the tube to dislodge the cathode material somewhere else on the interwebs.  However,if you never had posted that,it never would have jogged my memory.  It took three separate tappings to get rid of the issue. ( I had noise, shut system down,tapped both tubes. Waited a couple minutes, popped them back in, fired everything up, rinse and repeat.  I also left the tubes out for a few days,and got re acquainted with the blue globe Psvanes.  I’m at about 15 hours of noise free enjoyment of the Linlai’s.  So far,everything seems to be back on track.

@pindac, I’m not sure I understand the question.  If you are asking about which 6SN7 Linlai to try,I only have experience with the Elite E-6SN7. Any other Linlai version I can’t say,because I haven’t experienced them. The E-6SN7 does,at least from my experience,need about 100 hours of burn in to really hit stride.  
   I also want to state again, that these observations were in my gear,in my listening room,with my ears. I never want to come off sounding like I have the definitive ear in all things. ;-)  

@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.  

Last night I was listening to music, and decided to do a little experiment.  I shut everything down,and waited a few minutes.  I then preceded to put the Linlai’s back in the system to verify the bad tube and mark it.( since I had failed to do so the other evening.)   After putting them back in,they have worked flawlessly.  I am thinking in my haste,I didn’t seat the tubes correctly?? They have about two hours on them since trying them out again. Not a peep out of them, but great music.  Anyone care to speculate what the heck is going on over here?  At this point,all is not lost,as I have a back up pair on the way.

Thanks for pointing that out.  You can teach an old dog new tricks. No more lazy abbreviations.😁. 

Looking forward to your observations @pindac. Please keep us posted.

I’m assuming that was the issue.  When I turned the pre back on, I heard a pop,and shut it down. Waited a few minutes,turned it back on,an low volume on the right channel. Shut it down,waited a few minutes,switched tubes. Low volume moved to the left channel.   Waited again,pulled the Linlai’s out,swapped in the Psvanes, all is well.  I feel like a knucklehead. 

@aricaudio, that is exactly the way these tubes were described to me. I’m running KenRad vt 231 dark glass now,and they are awesome. I was told”wait till the Linlai’s burn in”.

@lowrider57,the gentleman that recommended the Linlai’s also runs a Don Sachs pre. He said they are very close to the Shuguangs. 
 

@debjit_g , thank you for the feedback. 

No size issues with the Motherlode 

This will be my first taste of Linlai’s. Unfortunately I can’t offer any opinions. 

@decooney, I remember reading about the Grant/Psvane thing a while back. That being in the back of my mind,held me back from ordering a pair of the blue globe 6sn7’s. 

I agree with you @decooney. There could be numerous reasons for that partnership to dissolve.  The quality thing has stuck in my mind. Rightfully so? I can’t say.  But I know there are Psvane dealers that do offer 12 month warranty on their tubes.  I guess that wasn’t enough to sway me. Yet….

@immatthewj, I’ve dealt with some reputable tube sellers on EBay.  There are some(what I feel) are great deals on NOS measuring tubes for very reasonable prices. 

I had done just a little research on the Sophia Electric Blue glass,and they seemed to be highly regarded,however there were none to be found. I have no idea about the longevity of the Linlai’s. If I’m still around,I’ll report after 5-10K hours of use. LOL! 

I only looked for the Blue Glass 6sn7’s. I’m not sure of other SE 6sn7.   I checked on them about 5-6 weeks ago.

I’ve heard the same thing @lowrider57. If you do a google search for the we 6sn7,you’ll find some for sale. STAY AWAY 

Not totally I guess, It still produces sound, much lower,with some crackle. I shut it down before possibly harming my preamp.  The pre must have still been charged? I’m just really thankful I only ruined a tube. 

Thanks for all the input so far folks.  

@lowrider57, that would be my luck to happen to me.

@aldnorab , I believe there is a warranty against defects, I don’t think stupidity is covered.   

I must have a serious comprehension issue. I looked on Vivas website for 5 minutes last night, and couldn’t find a mention of a matched pair!  Singles,triplets,and so on, but no pairs.  Time to start eating some brain food. Any suggestions?? 

I just checked tracking. My tubes are in IL. Hopefully I’ll have them by the end of the week. 

It appears the Psvane 6SN7 blue globes will be delivered today.  I won’t get to hear them until this evening. I purchased these used with about 80 hours on them,so I won’t have to run them for days on end to burn them in.   I have no idea what to expect.  This should be interesting. 

The Linlai’s arrived today.  I’ll let them reach room temperature,then the burn in begins.  More to come…….

I now have about seven hours of play time.  I sat and listened for 5 minutes after the first 1/2 hr. My first impressions were exactly what I was told to expect,dark, no sparkle. I also noticed a very narrow soundstage.  I’ve been running mid 60’s GE 6SN7 GTB for the last month or so. Prior to the GE’s, I was running a pair of Brent Jessee KenRad vt231 black glass. The KenRads have been my reference tubes thus far.( I’ll be putting them back in after proper burn in of the Linlai’s) 

      I just sat down to have a listen,and the darkness is starting to fade,and the soundstage is becoming wider and deeper.  They are starting to show promise. 
 

    Ray

@invalid, yes it is. Make sure you’re looking at the E-6SN7. It is their ELITE series. 

@vinylvalet,and @aldnorab, I’ve been told they need 100hrs of burn in. Please post your impressions here. I’m at about 55 hours. I m on vacation,so I’ve been running them 12-14 hrs a day. I haven’t done any analytical listening,but they are definitely filling in from first listen.

     @aldnorab, I’ve read in advertising copy about the shape of the glass affecting sound. I would have to defer that question to those more knowledgeable than myself.  

@aldnorab, from the base,not including the pins,they are about 4”. They are biggins for sure. 

I did get mine off of flea bay. I searched for a seller with 100% positive feedback. Unfortunately,that seller is out of stock. I know a lot of you are hesitant to buy there. AliExpress has a bunch of sellers with plenty in stock. None have 100% positive feedback.  I figured I was safer with epay and using PP,if something went south. It was 18 days from the date of purchase to my front door. 

One thing that is definitely noticeable immediately,is these are really quiet tubes.  

Good catch @lowrider57!  

@decooney,bloomy was the term I was looking for. 

I’m at the 70 hour point. Like I’ve stated earlier,I was told to give these at least 100 hours. I can easily say that I am happy with my purchase.  The depth and width of the soundstage is really wonderful.  I don’t find these dark at all any longer.  They present with meat on the bones as it were, but not thick.  I don’t listen very loud,so low volume detail means a lot to me. These are delivering.   I’m going to give these another week or so, and at that point I plan on doing a side by side comparison with the KR black glass.  
          
           I’m looking forward to hearing what others have to say regarding the Linlai’s.

                   Ray