You are serious that the 6N1P is almost 1:1 with the 6SN7?
The TO asked for opinions on different brands/makes of 6SN7; when you prefer the 6N1P over the 6SN7 judged on sonics, OK that's your personal subjective opinion, but when the TO would have asked for opinions on 6SN7 and "somewhat" comparable tubes in terms of mu the whole bunch of tubes like 5687, ECC99, E182CC, ECC82, 6H30 would show up here....
When military wanted smaller 6N8S and 6N9S (6SN7 and 6SL7) they got 6N1P and 6N2P. Well, not exact copies, of course, but usable for similar applications. Later they demanded even smaller versions, and got 6N16B and 6N17B. I heard about "Golden Audiophile 6SL7". One gentleman asked my friend to find a replacement. What he found inside, was 6N17B soldered to octal socket, inside of empty bulb painted golden. 😉
That's the point.
The 6SN7 has over 5 times the max plate dissipation of the 6H16.
Unless application permits this is not "comparable".
A bit off topic in the meantime....
Diamond stamp? You mean the OTK stamp? I know, love them. But even without an OTK stamp, a working 6N6P will kill EVERY other tube on this planet soundwise of course, IMO.
Yeah, why use an "elderly home" tube like 6SN7. There are so much better choices especially the Soviet ones.
No, I mean diamond, rhombus. OTK means Department of Technical Control, like QC. Civil production had OTK stamps as well.
Like on the picture (blue ink)
6N8S = 6SN7 = good
Here's the Russian 6N8S that I like. Notice the ROUND holes in the plates with metal base. These are the military versions made for the Russian military by Melz and will all have the OTK stamp on them. These sound super good as does the Sylvania 6SN7GTB vintage with the green or yellow lettering.
Sylvania GTBs are getting a tad pricey but you can still get them for a song if you are patient. The Sylvania are my choice as they are decent price and good performance. Those Russian tubes are pricey but do sound good. I chased down a few sets in the past as well as the RCA 5692 (triple mica) .
I would rate them this way:
1: Sylvania 6SN7GTB - price with performance
2: Russian 6H8S - sound good BUT $$
3: RCA 5692 red or brown base - sound good but not for the money these days. I think these are rated 10,000 hr tubes.
Cheers,
Bob
Tubes below are:
6H8S - Sylvania 6SN7GTB - Sylvania 6SN7GTB - 5692
Here's the Russian 6N8S that I like. Notice the ROUND holes in the plates with metal base. These are the military versions made for the Russian military by Melz and will all have the OTK stamp on them. These sound super good as does the Sylvania 6SN7GTB vintage with the green or yellow lettering.
Sylvania GTBs are getting a tad pricey but you can still get them for a song if you are patient. The Sylvania are my choice as they are decent price and good performance. Those Russian tubes are pricey but do sound good. I chased down a few sets in the past as well as the RCA 5692 (triple mica) .
I would rate them this way:
1: Sylvania 6SN7GTB - price with performance
2: Russian 6H8S - sound good BUT $$
3: RCA 5692 red or brown base - sound good but not for the money these days. I think these are rated 10,000 hr tubes.
Cheers,
Bob
Tubes below are:
6H8S - Sylvania 6SN7GTB - Sylvania 6SN7GTB - 5692
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RCA 5692 - yes. RCA 6SN7 - NO! They sound sloooow, whooly and dark like most of the US 6SN7's except Sylvania of course.
BTW, the Sylvania 5U4G is a great sounding rectifier - S-P-A-C-E and speed are top notch.
BTW, the Sylvania 5U4G is a great sounding rectifier - S-P-A-C-E and speed are top notch.
Hello,
Do you know this tube?
I believe it is the entry level version of the 6H8C. I bought a couple of dozen for fun. The tubes have “ IX 71” stamped on them below the number. I do not need top of the line, but I do want them to act like or near 6SN7’s. I am breadboarding input, and driver stages for a Push Pull amplifier.
Where does this tube fit in the order of things? Will it throw off my building/testing of 6SN7 circuits?
DT
All just for fun!
Do you know this tube?
I believe it is the entry level version of the 6H8C. I bought a couple of dozen for fun. The tubes have “ IX 71” stamped on them below the number. I do not need top of the line, but I do want them to act like or near 6SN7’s. I am breadboarding input, and driver stages for a Push Pull amplifier.
Where does this tube fit in the order of things? Will it throw off my building/testing of 6SN7 circuits?
DT
All just for fun!
Attachments
![6H8C[1].jpg](/community/data/attachments/217/217784-c29ff1bbff27b39d4ea8ccb2dc48cb89.jpg?hash=wp_xu_8ns5)
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Those are Reflektor 6N8S, come from Saratov, a big port city on Volga. Its the same factory that changed hands to New Sensor. Best is MELZ from Moscow (something like ''Bendix'' grade construction), next best is arguably Foton from Tashkent. They are all NOS and adhere to the American 6SN7 spec very well electrically in my experience. You may get some weak or hissy ones if they are pull outs.
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Hello Salas,
Nice photo of the city and river taken with a long lens.
From your description the Reflektor 6H8C follows the 6SN7 specification closely, good news. The two other versions you mention being manufactured at other locations are higher quality and more expensive. The Reflektor 6H8C will be just right for playing with long tailed pair splitters and drivers for Push Pull 1625’s
The project I have in mind will be called the U.S. Signal Corps Amplifier for my father. Ron repaired radios and press cameras in WWII France. I have a stash of NOS JAN 12SN7’s and 1625’s.
All just for fun!
Nice photo of the city and river taken with a long lens.
From your description the Reflektor 6H8C follows the 6SN7 specification closely, good news. The two other versions you mention being manufactured at other locations are higher quality and more expensive. The Reflektor 6H8C will be just right for playing with long tailed pair splitters and drivers for Push Pull 1625’s
The project I have in mind will be called the U.S. Signal Corps Amplifier for my father. Ron repaired radios and press cameras in WWII France. I have a stash of NOS JAN 12SN7’s and 1625’s.
All just for fun!
Ive some tiny glass and wire-ended tubes that compare favourably with 6SN7/6J5, although they are single triodes and plate rated I think for only 2.5W
--So no way an 'Equivalent' !!
Think they made by 'MELZ' (Circle containing an 'M')
These are 6C3b-B, They sound absolutely brilliant when rigged up in a '6SN7/6J5' type circuit, with no value changes, providing that the plate diss is kept below the 2.5W...
Just thought I would add this one, although NOT a 6SN7 in any way, Two certainly work well in place of 6SN7...
--So no way an 'Equivalent' !!
Think they made by 'MELZ' (Circle containing an 'M')
These are 6C3b-B, They sound absolutely brilliant when rigged up in a '6SN7/6J5' type circuit, with no value changes, providing that the plate diss is kept below the 2.5W...
Just thought I would add this one, although NOT a 6SN7 in any way, Two certainly work well in place of 6SN7...
I have a bunch of these tubes, and while not my favorite they are pretty decent sounding. (You can do far worse with quite a lot of American made NOS in fact.)
I too prefer the Sylvania 6SN7GTB to most others, and find the red, yellow and green lettered versions to be consistently good, late blue ones are usually OK, but seem less consistent from batch to batch.
The Electric company used to have RCA 5692 that they exchanged on 1000hr base i got loads of those with 9000hrs left that´s my favorite low cost high quality !! The funds for any expensive tubes are to be found at the end of the rainbow. The russian military stocks are a good resource for high quality tubes.
RCA 5692 is my favorite for long last and stability. BUT the Russian 6H8C (Merz) with the ROUND holes on the grids have the best sound but they are pricey. The Sylvania 6SN7GTB mentioned above are mighty fine too. RCA 5692 get the nod for me but that is more due to longevity and high standard. The Sylvania tubes are very good sounding, but they are now in the radar and commanding high prices. To the OP, I'd try the Sylvania tubes as mentioned.
Cheers,
Bob
I *really* like the Sylvania "Chrome Dome" 6sn7 in my hifi setup. Very deep rich bass with these, and the sound is all together more... rounded? Not really sure how to describe it other than overall richer feeling.
The Sylvanias look like this (the two tubes right up front):
PS: Yes, I know the chinese KT88's are junk, one of my Teslas blew and I slapped these back in until I get new ones.... okay so that was a year ago... so sue me 🙂
Charles.
The Sylvanias look like this (the two tubes right up front):
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
PS: Yes, I know the chinese KT88's are junk, one of my Teslas blew and I slapped these back in until I get new ones.... okay so that was a year ago... so sue me 🙂
Charles.
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