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What made you change to a 6SN7 preamp?

If you made an intentional shift toward a 6SN7-based tube preamp, what sonic characteristics motivated your move?

I have been doing some comparisons and think I have some reasons I like the 6SN7 better, but there are so many factors which could be at play, that I'm not sure what is responsible. 

Rather than list my details for others to analyze, I'd rather hear your answer to the basic question.

Tell me about your path toward a 6SN7 preamp?

What did you change from and why?

Even if, overall, the change was worth it, did you lose anything in the transition? What?

hilde45

Showing 1 response by avanti1960

avanti1960
1,551 posts
 

I did not jump to a 6SN7 preamp for the tube but did so to upgrade at preamp and the one I picked happened to use 8 of them including headphone amp.  

It also uses a tube rectifier which also contributes to the sound as well as a resin encased R-core power supply transformer.  

I came from a 12AU7 based preamp (4 mu followers) and I never loved the sound despite lots of tube rolling.  I have several on hand from prior amps and preamps.  

The sound of the new preamp with stock EH 6SN7 was better than the outgoing preamp by a wide margin.  Much larger soundstage, a purer more refined sound that was more transparent and bassier at the same time.  

After several NOS tube and rectifier trials the overall presentation is just incredible.  

Lots of variables in the comparison but the 6SN7 tubes are part of the mix that got me here.  

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