Which Preamp Tube is most consequential: Input or Gain


I've just gotten a pair of 1950s Tung-Sols for my Schiit Freya to replace two of the stock Russian NOS 6SN7. I will try them in both positions, but is there a typical position of more impact in terms of rolling preamp tubes in the input vs. gain positions? Thanks for any experience you'd like to share.
peterf6

Showing 9 responses by peterf6

Thank you @ghasley . It's been hard to A/B test when I have to let the tubes cool, switch and try to remember what I heard! And @bigshutterbug per Schiit, L vs. R pairs of tubes on Freya are Input vs. Cathode follower.
Thanks @rickytickytwo . @ghasley The impact of the Tung-Sols on the right was much richer bass, on the left the bass seemed good but more in balance and everything else got nice and airy with good soundstage. So while rolling better tubes might not shift things much, stepping up from the stock 6Sn8s did. I guess I'll eventually pick up another pair and replace the remaining 2 stock tubes.Thanks for the vendor recommendations!

Thanks, @lowrider57 , the Freya has two tubes per channel. Forward and rear are L/R channels; while the two left tubes are Input and two rights are Cathode follower. So I've been changing the two inputs or the two outputs to keep the channels the same.
@atmasphere and @lowrider57 Thanks for that. I know zilch about preamp design despite having tube gear for 40+ years. Isn't the input side a balancing and follower for gain? Why is the input the place to start? I'm seeing it play out in my roll, but curious...
Hi @ghasley I got my info from tech support at Schiit (quote):L/R on the Freya is actually input/cathode follower and top/bottom is l/r.

I’ll try to confirm, but so that means you were suggesting going with the input side -- which if the tech is right is where they sound best in my experiment.
@rodman99999 Thank you for sending the link! I actually found that list embedded in another forum discussion. It’s why I picked the Tung Sols Halo Getters! I read the paragraph you mentioned; so interesting. And to think I stumbled upon it just to save some cash ’-) Actually reading it more closely it's different from the similar list I read. In case you’re interested in the other info in that post: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-reference-6sn7-thread.117677/
Update (on which tube is which)
I asked Schiit to confirm the left - right pairs issue and the answer is the opposite of the previous:
FROM: Grover N (Schiit Audio)
Jul 20, 00:53 PDT

Peter,

Right side is the input tubes. Front is right rear is left.