What's the best 6NS7 tube you have tried in your Atma-Sphere MP-3 preamp?

...Or in any preamp that uses the 6SN7 ??

I use Shuguang Globes from Grant Fidelity. Not cheap but the most detailed 6SN7 I’ve heard. Needs 50 hours minimum to break in sounding best after 150 hours. Very bright initially.

My experience was with 6SL7’s in my Cayin Integrated Tube Amp A88T.

Sounded: Great, terrible, great again, future covered!

Made in 2001, I Bought it with used tubes 2019 on eBay with:

4 Gold Aero 6550 power tubes

2 Cayin branded 6SN7

2 Cayin Branded 6SL7 (identical size/appearance to 6SN7s)

all tubes tested good and matched strengths on my tube tester when received.

sounded darn good, I changed to 4 Matched KT88 Power Tubes,

JJ KT88 Blue on sale at Aliexpress, $98. free shipping quad matched $367.

I prefer them to 6550 and the amp’s ultra-linear sound to it’s triode option. I also like having the reserve power even though my 16 ohm horn speakers are incredibly efficient. My model, MK1 with 16 ohm taps, has dangerous internal bias adjusters, I paid VAS to do it, luckily I live only 35 minutes from them. MK2 version had meters and external adjusters, but they dropped the 16 ohm taps.

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2020 Yearly pre-holiday test tubes, all still ok, I mistakenly reversed a 6SL7 and a 6SN7, blew one 6SL7.

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tried a pair of matched NOS, from Brent Jesse, 6SL7WGT Sylvania Brownbase, military matched pair. different look chrome top I thought was smart.

hated their sound. Brent had me break them in (just leave on for 3 full days, no signal needed, 60+ hrs), still hated them.

Exchanged for matched pair of 6SL7GT General Electric, side getters, cylindrical plates, half the price, Brent gave me a full refund, I just paid the shipping.

Happy Days returned.

Since then, found a pair of used Cayin brand 6SN7 and 1 Cayin 6SL7 on eBay (I still have 1 good one), bought them for future use.

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TUBE LIFE: that’s 18 yr old OEM tubes with good matched strength. Signal tubes can last 10,000 hrs, Every year since 1973 I test all my tubes just before Thanksgiving, problems are more likely a short, occasionally a weak one.

seems aliexpress half off price is not that good, I got mine in 2020 from TubeDepot

Tube Depot KT88 Blue, matched quad set $280.

Anyone tried PSVAVE? KT88 Quad Matched $105.??????

...Or in any preamp that uses the 6SN7 ??

A friend of mine on another audio forum had gotten out of the 6sn7 business (meaning he no longer has the amp that used a pair of 6sn7s as driver tubes) and he made me an offer I could not refuse on several pairs of used and slightly used vintage 6sn7s.

The preamp I use 6sn7s in is a Cary SLP05, and since I only have pairs of these vintage tubes, I am running them in the left & right balanced input sockets. The first pair that turned my head were a pair of Tungsol VT231s; after those I sampled a pair of RCA black glass VT231s, and for quite a while after that I was hooked on those. By no means do I possess the golden ear, but the detail and imaging that I heard with those two tubes in those two sockets was incredible and mesmerized me.

A while down the road, my friend did some more house cleaning and sent me several more pairs (some that I haven’t even sampled yet). But the two pair I couldn’t wait to try out were the "Sylvania ’55 Bad Boys" and the National Union 6F8Gs (with adapters). With the "Bad Bots" the presentation struck me as being very up front and direct, and with the National Unions I felt the presentation was laid back and quite smooth.

I ran RCA black plates in my MP3 for a while (until they went noisy) and liked them very much. Nice lively 60’s rock and roll sound, if that’s what you’re into. I believe Tube Depot has them in stock.

I ran RCA black plates in my MP3 for a while (until they went noisy) and liked them very much. Nice lively 60’s rock and roll sound, if that’s what you’re into.

60's rock & roll isn't my thing, but I really did like those tubes in the front of my preamap in my system. However,  I would have to say that I like both the Sylvania "Bad Boys" and the National Unions better,

When I had an mp-3, I thought the best sounding 6SN7 variant was the

Shuguang Treasure CV181Z from Grant Fidelity

@immatthewj  “60's rock & roll isn't my thing”. Beatles, Stones, Zombies, etc., etc., etc.  What’s not to like.  I guess I’m showing my age 🙃.

@hifinut51 I also found that the MP3 benefits nicely by upgrading the 12AU7’s. Like most system components in our hobby, synergy is key and the sum of the parts many times exceed individual components. The RCA black plates 12AU7’s are a good example and when paired with the RCA black plate 6SN7 make a very nice combo.

@elrod did you ever have a problem with the DC offset LED’s staying on when using the Shuguang tubes? I have not tried Shuguang but I have tried other large bottles and in both cases the DC offset LED’s lit up much too much to my liking. Rather than taking a chance I removed them right away, so I don’t know if they might have settled down after a while or if it could have caused a problem.

@marco1 , I didn't say that there was anything wrong with it, just that it is not what I listen to. now.

@immatthewj understood, it was meant to be tongue and cheek. Sorry it didn’t come across that way.

Not in pre, but my amp.

Been using a 6F8G for a month now and like it.

About the same as the Ken Rad but tightened up the bass.

From Don Sachs whose electronics use 6SN7's octal tubes.  He has heard most every variant of the tubes and concludes this:

 "In my gear, I use Linlai e series or the Shuguang WE6SN7plus.  The best tube I have ever heard is the new Ray tubes select 6sn7, which is pricey."  He is believes these Chinese tubes are superior in SQ to a lot of the pricey NOS tubes.  He admits that he has not heard the new WE 300b tubes, which might be better, but are extremely expensive.   

@marco1

No, the cv181z were always real stable. That being said, the tube pins and socket connections are sensitve - you just couldn't push a tube in and let it roll. Sometime it's needed a VERY MINOR tweek of the tube - adding a little twist, little bit of lean, or just a reseat is all it would bring it in  Don't discount the signal tubes either

No sweat, @marco1 , I didn't take anything negative from it, I was just replying in a neutral tone.  But thanks for following up.  

Based upon Don Sach’s recommendation quoted by Whitestix above, I got Ray Reserve 6SN7s for my Valhalla integrated and immediately noticed more detail without any sharpness or glare or the expense of the lushness of tubes. These tubes are expensive and liable to get more expensive if tariffs come to be. There are Ray Select tubes that are about half or less than the Reserve but I haven’t heard them. I found them to be better than the Linlai tubes I had in place.

I don’t have an Atma-Sphere preamp, but I do have four different integrated tube amps that run 6SN7 as signal tube and/or driver tube in preamp section in front of EL34, 6550, 6L6, KT-88, 300b or 845, power tubes depending on the amplifier.  I have amassed a ridiculous (as in $2k)  collection of almost 100 used, NOS, and testing NOS 6SN7s. Here’s how I would rank them in my systems:

1. Sylvania short bottle chrome top 6SN7W from 1945. Best bass, midrange, treble and detail. Simply the best I own. Very rare, very expensive. 

2. Tung-Sol brown base 6SN7WGTA 1962. Detail king, great bass, midrange and treble extension, just not quite as magical as the Sylvania above, but a beautiful sounding tube.

3. Tung-Sol black bottle round plate 6SN7GT. Deep extended bass, lush midrange but treble lacking a bit. Not as detailed as the WGTA above. Also very rare and uber expensive, probably not worth the $ in the end. 

4. tie Sylvania 6SN7GT “bad boy” T plate, 1951; Tung-Sol 6SN7GT T plate construction same as Sylvania bad boy. Tung-Sol has more detail, but both are very linear with excellent bass, midrange and treble extension.  “Sweet” sounding tubes.

5. Raytheon USN brown base 6SN7WGT. A workhorse tube, very clean, linear, detailed tube that sounds like it could live 10,000 hours. Not as magical as those above, but one you could listen to and never tire of. Tight base, balanced midrange and treble.

The rest - RCA grey bottle VT-231, very smooth, sweet non-fatiguing tube, another one you could listen to and never tire of. GE 6SN7GTA from 1955, an underrated bargain, very detailed, excellent bass and treble extension, midrange a bit muted, but still a great sounding driver. Finally, the super bargain Russian Foton 6H8C from the mid-fifties. I paid $32 for two pair. A good all-round tube that doesn’t stand out in any category but doesn’t disappoint either. Musical linearity defined. 

For some reason the moderators took down my previous post so I’ll try this again.

I tried 4 different pairs of different makes and brands of 6SN7 tubes and the synergy with my MICROZOTL MZ3 Headphone Amp / Preamp / Integrated Amp with the Sylvania 6SN7GT Bad Boys and/or Sylvania JAN-CHS-6SN7GT Bad Boys are some of the best sounding tubes I’ve ever heard. So I finally settled on the Bad Boys. These are the key distinguishing features to recognize a Bad Boy tube.

1) 3 hole black T plates

2) Bottom getter flashing 1/3 way up the tube

3) Shiny silver top and bottom rectangular mica. The top mica has three small triangular edges bent down on each side.

4) Copper grid posts

5) Date code of 2xx(or possibly 1xx or 3xx) were 1, 2 or 3 represent 1951, 1952 or 1953 and xx represents the week.

6) Full black bottom base with Sylvania 6SN7GT and/or Sylvania JAN-CHS-6SN7GT in green letters. And yes the Sylvania JAN-CHS-6SN7GT with full black bottom base with green lettering are also Bad Boys. So you’ve actually have two options here.

7) Look for the tall bottle versions only.

‘JAN’ stands for ‘Joint Army-Navy’, and was meant to indicate that the tubes labeled as such were ‘passed’ for military use. However, no additional criteria that were not already fulfilled by the 6SN7GT specification were known to have been imposed. ‘JAN’ labeled tubes are identical to non-JAN tubes of the same vintage and construction.

Sylvania 6SN7GT and the Sylvania JAN-CHS-6SN7GT Bad Boys [3 holes in each plate, copper grid posts, bottom getter, green labels, black base and plates, vertical date code (read from top-down) ‘2xx’ with ‘xx’ representing week #, ’polished’ silvery rectangular mica]

The Sylvania 6SN7-GT and the Sylvania JAN-CHS-6SN7GT Bad Boys was made from late 1951, week 39 ("1/39") to early 1953, week 13 ("3/13"). They have black T-plates -3 holes, Copper grids, Bottom getter, "polished" rectangular mica, green labels on black base.

I haven’t heard any of the Chinese tubes recommended by Don Sachs, though I’m tempted now. ;-) My go-to 6SN7’s for both my Williamson amps and my Aikido preamp, are:

1) GE 6SN7GTA or B. Well-made, non-microphonic, consistent. Open, textured sound. Can be had new or test-like-new for around $50.

2) Sylvania 6SN7WGT, with parallel (not angled) plates. Beautiful midrange. Around $75-100 each now, but people pay a lot more than that for new boutique varieties.

I currently use the GE’s in the amps, as they are a bit more neutral, and the Sylvanias in the preamp. It’s a nice combination.

@tyray , my bad--I referred to those Sylvanias as '55 Bad Boys. I just found the email regarding that batch of 6SN7s that the previous owner sent me, and they are ’52 Bad Boys.

@immatthewj,

Matt no worries, I’m just glad the moderator’s had to good sense to leave my post alone this time. It’s very easy to get a tube you thought is a Bad Boy and it is not, and it’s just as easy to miss out on a Bad Boy because you’re under the impression that only the '52’s are Bad Boys.

The best 6SN7 we've heard so far is the Linlai. There is a globe variant that I don't think will work as well- the globe resonates easily!

Of the NOS tubes the KenRad gets the highest marks.

The 12AU7 should not be ignored- it has the bigger effect in the line stage of the MP-3. The best of the NOS tubes has been the Amperex Bugle Boy 7316. The Amperex Bugle Boy 12AU7 is not slouch either. We have some good comments from customers about the Gold Lion reissue 12AU7 and also the Northern Sound 12AU7.

We have extended the range of the servo circuit in the MP-3, allowing it to work with a wider range of mismatch in the 6SN7 internal sections. It also reduces the DC Offset at the output by a factor of 10 or more, down to a few fractions of a milliVolt.

If you can get them, do so. One of the best in my opinion. They are better than the Sylvania VT-231 and other 2 hole Sylvania tubes as well, to me.

These are killer Sylvania 6SN7GT Bad Boys tubes with bass control beyond any other tube. Nowhere will you get the vocal sparkle these give you, believe the hype, these are performers; and their ability to involve the listener in a 3D soundstage we audiophiles love is unmatched.

These bad boys are an inexpensive way to vastly improve the sound of your system as they are better than the more expensive Sylvania 1940ish 6SN7GT/6SN7W Metal base versions IMHO, a tube rollers dream.

I like Shuguang WE6ns7 Plus the best so far and I bought them at Ali-Express. I have tried and spent a lot of money on several tubes, and these have been the best on my Freya+.so far.

I’ve read good things about the Linlai Elite 6SN7’s can anyone compare them to NOS Sylvania 6SN7 Bad Boys and these tubes I’ve seen on LTA’s website the Ray Tubes 6SN7 RESERVE’s? LTA is the manufacturer of the Microzotl brand audio gear.

I have not had the time to do a direct shootout, but here are my notes. I have an Aric Audio Transcend "Push Pull" EL34 amplifier that uses 3 6SN7s, and also Aric's Motherlode XL preamp which uses 2 6SN7s.

VT-231 JAN CBS Hytron 1952 Black Plate Clear Glass - Glorious top end, shimmer, detail, excellent vocals, with controlled if not powerful bottom end, great soundstage

5692 JAN CBS Hytron brown base, short glass 1950s - Very quiet almost black background, detailed, beautiful, great soundstage, tube that I left in for now

Sylvania 6SN7GT "Bad Boy" 3 hole black plates - Great all around tube, and less expensive than the VT-231s and 5962s. Thoroughly enjoyable, fun, warm but accurate bass, very direct, airy, comfortable, these are excellent in my preamp with my CODA S5.5 SS amp.

Linlai E-6SN7 - More of everything except they are quiet tubes. I held off buying these until mid 2024, because I kept hearing others had held off due to quality issues and lack of longevity. Those issues were probably cleared up earlier than that. They took about 100 hours to open up, and a little longer to really shine. Great detail, quick, vocals/midrange are beautiful, bass is tight and faster than other tubes. More "SS like" if there is such a thing, and don't have some of that tubey comfort, from the above and bad boys.....but damn they are awesome, especially in a tube preamp and amp.

Ray's Tubes - Like all of you, heard great reviews. Not sure I could stomach $500 a pair for a current production tube, especially when for the same money I could buy a Jan 5962 Red Base or 6SN7GT Black Glass Black Oval plates. I may however order a pair of the Ray's Select 6SN7......food for thought

@vthokie83 I would definitely like to hear how the Ray Select tubes are as they are about 1/2 or so of the Reserve. I might replace power tubes with Select tubes if they are still better than most of what is out there. 

dz13,

I'll get a pair ordered, but unfortunately won't be able to test them for a few months at the earliest......much of my tube gear is packed away, waiting for my listening room to be completed

I remember in my Atma Sphere amps this is what I concluded.

1. Melz 6SN7

2. RCA red base VT 231

3 Sylvania 6sn7 chrome dome

4 RCA black plate

5.sophia electric 6sn7

6 Chinese shuguang 6sn7

Have not tried any others.  The Ken Rads get great reviews.  I always wanted to try those...