Linlai E 6sn7 tubes

Very true, the problem is they are double the price, that's a lot to pay for an assumption.  At least each pair comes with supposed "test certificates"

Who knows.......

invalid

820 posts

02-04-2023 at 09:41am 

The only two advantages I see in buying the global elite tubes instead of the elite tubes directly from China is they might be better matched and if you receive a bad tube you don't have to ship it back to China for a replacement. The whole tube matching thing can be problematic because nobody is matching these tubes at the parameters that they will be used in a piece of audio equipment.

@blkwrxwgn 

Mine is the same that you linked from USAM

That's good to hear, where did you get them?  From reading this thread I was under the impression that the Global Elite from Linlai and Grant had a different base, the ones in the pictures on their sites.

I think that tells me that the only difference between the cheaper versions straight from China and the ones from Linlai is that you might get a better version that's been screened.......but who knows.

evank

181 posts

02-04-2023 at 10:36am 

@blkwrxwgn 

 

Mine is the same that you linked from USAM

Linlai does the same thing with the elite 6sl7 with the global and eastern tubes, they look like the same tube also.

I have purchased 8 LinLai E-6SN7 tubes from various vendors on Aliexpress.  Most recently I took advantage of a special and got a matched quad for $250.  Other than the labeling I am convinced that these are identical to the Grant Fidelity tubes.  Perhaps there is additional testing but it is ridiculous to think they are making a different tube for the Western market.  BTW, the E-6SN7's have performed admirably in every amp I have put them in and currently they are driving my Cary SLP-05 preamp.  I like them better than any of the NOS tubes I have tried.