tubes? valves?...juz' rollin'...

2008.08.30 After a late night short stint with the quartet RCA JAN-CRC-6SN7 VT-231, KenRad JAN-CKR-2A3 VT-95 and RCA JAN-CRC-5U4G VT-244...excellent relay of sweeter high frequencies, resolution and ambience...what's more to ask for? aren't you in sonic paradise?...Yes almost, just give me a tiny bit more...BASS...I needed the lower frequencies, punch & slam for rock tracks.

Constantly falling back on them when other combinations are deficient, the retired dynamic 3 nothwithstandingly current productions...Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB, ShuGuang 2A3C, OTK 5U4G=5C3S=5U3C. They convey dynamics, punch, drive and bass slam, efficiently delivers every rock tracks for daily musical doses though rougher and lacks refinement. Positively they do every genre well from FIMSACD052 The Four Seasons (SACD Stereo), Doug McLeod's Come To Find, Natalie Merchant's Tigerlily to Steely Dan's Aja...I need refinement...

You can get The Four Seasons at Amazon, Doug McLeod at Amazon, Natalie Merchant at Amazon and Steely Dan at Amazon (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

TUNG-SOL 6SN7 GTB current production

Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB...super linearity, low noise, and full performance ratings make this one of the best 6SN7 tubes ever made. The sound signature is on par with 5692 types. Excellent driver tube in high-end audio applications...you'll get the highs, mids, bass and details...an all-rounder preamp designed to simulate the rare NOS Tung-Sol VT231. Bettered my EH6SN7s both standard and gold versions as well as the Sovtek 6SN7s. Are there any more current productions? Definitely...the ShuGuang 6SN7 and a whole bunch of other chinese made which I haven't a chance to lay my hands on them yet.

You can get the Tung-Sols at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

SHUGUANG 2A3C

2A3C

Chinese ShuGuang 2A3C revered in Audio Asylum has taken the NOS by storm...this acclaimed 2A3 substitute with its 2A3 monoplate internal structure and 300B external glass enclosure is next to nothing at its price. Read its technical specifications here. I wouldn't missed the world for it, 2A3C is extremely affordable compare to NOS and other famed new productions of Emission Labs EML meshplates, AVVT, KR, EAT, JJ 2A3-40, Sophia 2A3 mesh plate globe and TJ meshplate. Competitively priced against EH2A3 Gold and Sovtek 2A3, it's a real bargain. Yamamoto Sound Craft now carry EML meshplates at attractive pricing.

You can get the ShuGuangs 2A3C at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

5U3C

5U3C

5U3C

OTK 5U4G has pretty good dynamics. An equivalent to 5C3S and 5U3C russian made. Parallel black plates with springs on top, similar structure to the Sovtek 5U4G but rebranded OTK. Apparently Sovtek has ceased their 5U4G production, I wonder why...I quite like the Sovteks and the ShuGuang's 5U4G brown base 4pins.

For the longest time, these tubes when plugged-in are the most enjoyable combination. As new productions, what's lacking are the high-end bits: refinement. And for this reason, I'm constantly evoke to hunt for other substitutions with preference for new current productions than NOS...$$$...and very rare. Though enjoyable but it's really the high-end bits we audiophools want.

You can get OTK 5U4G at Ebay, Sovtek 5U4G at Ebay and ShuGuang 5U4G at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

NOS Brimar 6SN7GTY CV1988

NOS Brimar 6SN7GTY CV1988 is a rare and sought after tube. They are refined, detailed with full bandwidth.

It's strengths are its super soundstage - very wide open sound, it's a very musical tube, good midrange detail and high-end extension, bass ok but not thunderous.

Compared with RCA JAN-CRC-6SN7 VT-231 gray phosphor coated glass, brimar is warm, lush and full-bodied ideal for a thin sounding system, it'll balance things up...good for vocals, it's so smooth, detailed, transparent, and fills the room with sound.

Compared with Sylvania VT-231 their highs are more remote, and the bass is much lower and more prominent. They give an excellent and very lifelike presentation of orchestral works. Very dynamic overall performer!

The brimars were fabricated with several outlook, black base 1970's, brown base 1972's, metal base, clear glass and so on.

You can get the Brimars at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

RCA 5U4G

RCA JAN-CRC-5U4G VT-244...parallel black plates...clarity especially to the low frequencies and an all-rounder, does everything extremely well...takes away muddy bass and adds all the necessary details. Guess I'm hanging on to the current combo Brimar + ShuGuang + RCA...for a while.

You can get the RCAs VT244 at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

RCA VT244

RCA VT244

RCA VT244