Comrades...going to test some Russian tubes

ohbythebay

ohbythebay

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so comrades, my main amp uses 8 (yes 8) output tubes...some sweet 1961 GE 6L6GC's. They were pricey (for me) to get and I realized the hours I was putting on them. So I thought maybe try some others for while. I want to maintain SQ but don't want these GE's to go poof .

So trying two sets of inexpensive 6PN3 (Russian 6L6GC equivalent) ...One set from Foton, one from the Reflektor plant.

I considered the Winged C tubes but heck, an Octet of them is almost as much as my GE's...so...lets see how these work out.

Picture 1 is Foton, Picture 2 is Reflektor type - set of 8 cost me about $75 a set including shipping. My GE's cost $760 plus shipping so....worth the try. Last picture is what the GE's look like



Russian tube one.jpgRussian tube two.jpg

ge6l6.jpg
 
Nastrovia my friend. Nothing wrong with Russian tubes. They've been making them for many years now. How about some nice Tung-Sol 6l6G's, you know the coke bottle shape? I really like their EL34's, even think they sound better than SED's. If things don't pan out you could always go with some nice black plate RCA's at about $200 a pop!
I actually think new production power tubes are getting closer and closer to NOS tubes myself. Of course preamp tubes are a different story...


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ohbythebay said:
so comrades, my main amp uses 8 (yes 8) output tubes...some sweet 1961 GE 6L6GC's. They were pricey (for me) to get and I realized the hours I was putting on them. So I thought maybe try some others for while. I want to maintain SQ but don't want these GE's to go poof .

So trying two sets of inexpensive 6PN3 (Russian 6L6GC equivalent) ...One set from Foton, one from the Reflektor plant.

I considered the Winged C tubes but heck, an Octet of them is almost as much as my GE's...so...lets see how these work out.

Picture 1 is Foton, Picture 2 is Reflektor type - set of 8 cost me about $75 a set including shipping. My GE's cost $760 plus shipping so....worth the try. Last picture is what the GE's look like



View attachment 5148View attachment 5149

View attachment 5150
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nice i just purchased a pair of MELZ 6sn7's from the tube maze. your buddy nikolai after i told him all the tubes in my system suggested them. they are 1950's USSR. when they were serious out there.lmao!!! hopefully they work out. to roll as a mix of those and the brimars.
2dd13621c9ec51448b76d3edf2750876.image.90x120.JPG
 
As to the Russian tubes...turns out I WONT be using them. There is an issue with using 6P3S (which I ordered) vs 6P3S-E in place of my 6L6GC's..even for fun.

MAAX Plate voltage on my 6L6GC's is 475V - and is fed 415V

Max Plate voltage on the 6P3S is 250 volts...YIKES...so they would redplate on me - :(
 
ohbythebay said:
As to the Russian tubes...turns out I WONT be using them. There is an issue with using 6P3S (which I ordered) vs 6P3S-E in place of my 6L6GC's..even for fun.

MAAX Plate voltage on my 6L6GC's is 475V - and is fed 415V

Max Plate voltage on the 6P3S is 250 volts...YIKES...so they would redplate on me - :(
Click to expand...

I bet they'd burn with a nice red glow. :)
 
Petro85 said:
nice i just purchased a pair of MELZ 6sn7's from the tube maze. your buddy nikolai after i told him all the tubes in my system suggested them. they are 1950's USSR. when they were serious out there.lmao!!! hopefully they work out. to roll as a mix of those and the brimars.
2dd13621c9ec51448b76d3edf2750876.image.90x120.JPG
Click to expand...

Congrats Steve. Nothing like using some tubes from when they really knew how to make them. Nikolay's recommendations are always spot on. :woot:
 
Petro85 said:
nice i just purchased a pair of MELZ 6sn7's from the tube maze. your buddy nikolai after i told him all the tubes in my system suggested them. they are 1950's USSR. when they were serious out there.lmao!!! hopefully they work out. to roll as a mix of those and the brimars.
2dd13621c9ec51448b76d3edf2750876.image.90x120.JPG
Click to expand...

Sweet!! I can't wait to hear them!;)
 
There are some great examples of how tubes should be made that came from USSR - good old days :)

There are gems like 1578 (6sn7 type)
6H8C (6sn7 type) from 50/60s - later production was crap
6P14P-EV, ER (EL84/7189 type)- they can take 500v on a plate - I tested that! - no red plating and they last 5,000/10,000 hours
6H23P-EV (6922/6DJ8 type) these are just great
and above all 6H30P-DR - drooling can commence :)

But then there are 6PN3, 6P14P - sorry these are not good - sound is very brittle - it's like tank-on-tank contact :D

Other things to look for 6C4C (6B4G type), GS14 (titanium and silicon) one of the best sounding triodes.
 
tubemaze said:
There are some great examples of how tubes should be made that came from USSR - good old days :)

There are gems like 1578 (6sn7 type)
6H8C (6sn7 type) from 50/60s - later production was crap
6P14P-EV, ER (EL84/7189 type)- they can take 500v on a plate - I tested that! - no red plating and they last 5,000/10,000 hours
6H23P-EV (6922/6DJ8 type) these are just great
and above all 6H30P-DR - drooling can commence :)

But then there are 6PN3, 6P14P - sorry these are not good - sound is very brittle - it's like tank-on-tank contact :D

Other things to look for 6C4C (6B4G type), GS14 (titanium and silicon) one fo the best sounding triodes.
Click to expand...

Or perhaps what Pres. Putin will be doing to the Russian Hockey coaches. :mad:

Thanks for the info. Nikolay.
 
tubemaze said:
There are some great examples of how tubes should be made that came from USSR - good old days :)

There are gems like 1578 (6sn7 type)
6H8C (6sn7 type) from 50/60s - later production was crap
6P14P-EV, ER (EL84/7189 type)- they can take 500v on a plate - I tested that! - no red plating and they last 5,000/10,000 hours
6H23P-EV (6922/6DJ8 type) these are just great
and above all 6H30P-DR - drooling can commence :)

But then there are 6PN3, 6P14P - sorry these are not good - sound is very brittle - it's like tank-on-tank contact :D

Other things to look for 6C4C (6B4G type), GS14 (titanium and silicon) one fo the best sounding triodes.
Click to expand...
yes you have all this tube info, you need to come around more often. lol.
 
tubemaze said:
There are some great examples of how tubes should be made that came from USSR - good old days :)

There are gems like 1578 (6sn7 type)
6H8C (6sn7 type) from 50/60s - later production was crap
6P14P-EV, ER (EL84/7189 type)- they can take 500v on a plate - I tested that! - no red plating and they last 5,000/10,000 hours
6H23P-EV (6922/6DJ8 type) these are just great
and above all 6H30P-DR - drooling can commence :)

But then there are 6PN3, 6P14P - sorry these are not good - sound is very brittle - it's like tank-on-tank contact :D

Other things to look for 6C4C (6B4G type), GS14 (titanium and silicon) one fo the best sounding triodes.
Click to expand...

Nikolay !!! You joined....!!! Very cool...where were you when I was ordering Russian tubes that wont work for me !!! LOL

Glad you are here...Rob Arco
 
Hey guys, yeah, I try to check out the threads as time permits - now have a bit more time relaxing with my broken ankle :) The cast looks really cool all in black fiberglass! I need my daughter to draw a tube on it LOL

I've been listening to Russian news and boy, they are upset! Stupid rules! Who follows the rules anyways?!
 
what rules are they breaking ? Loving my last tubes btw...I may take you up on those Tung Sols...I have to stop spending for a while though...well at least a day or so...LOL
 
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