Shootout of Nos 6sn7 tubes

@dlcockrum thanks for the detailed Melz summary of your experience.  I got lucky andc ordered 2 used Melz with test results in 90%’s.  1-1956 and 1-1953 due to arrive on Tues from Ukraine.  They are the non hole version and the picture shows black shiny plates.  We will see what arrives🤞.  My concern is noise and test results.  I have a tube  tester so we will find out.  Should be fun.  I have really been enjoying tube hunting and rolling🤪

@tksteingraber Please let me know how you like the early Melz and the KR 6f8g.

I too have been a big fan of the NU 6f8g round plates, and I have been using them for quite a while. However, recently I have rolled in the Linlai Elite 6SN7s, and they are fantastic tubes, worthy of replacing the NU 6f8gs in my rig. I find the Linlai to have have better transparency and air, resulting in a more holographic soundstage, but they don’t do this by sounding brighter or etched, and the midrange stays very natural. They are a touch more forward sounding than the NU, but I like that. Other improvements over the NU - tighter bass, much, much quieter, and not microphonic (like the NU usually are). 

@1markr Thanks for the input on the Linlai Elites. I researched those a year or two ago and got lost in the endless back and forth forum chatter about which ones were the good ones (Horizontal or Vertical lettering, etc) and whom to buy from. Can you tell us exactly which ones you have (or better post a pic) and whom you bought them from?

@1markr thanks for your input.  I remember these being recommended a year ago or so.  Are these the ones you have?  Thanks

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284943359892?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=heHyMkH-Re6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=2lFcSwP8SgS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY