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Whats the verdict?
Any listening difference between the GE 6SN7GT and the GE 6SN7GTA?
I know the GE 6SN7GTB is considered inferior to the GT and the GTA
Rgds Jan
Follow Ups:
GTB has controlled filament, GTA has not. GTB plate dissipation is lower than GTA.
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“If you don't like what you're doing, you can always pick up your needle and move to another groove.” Timothy Leary
I'm not even close to being an expert, but I've come to really enjoy the GE JAN-CG-6SN7GT tubes in my Atma-Sphere amp--when they work. They are not the last word in dynamics, basses are a little mushy, but there is a natural liquidity and clarity in the midrange that happens to appeal to me. These have a bottom rectangular getter, gray ladder plates, top round mica, and they also have the 188-5 code. My problem with these is that I have a hard time finding a matched pair that doesn't behave weirdly in my amp.
I also have the GTAs with side getter, gray plates, shorter bottle. These are more neutral than the GTs in my amp, and I never seem to have issues with them, but IIRC they seem a little gritty and drier sounding.
I also have Ken Rads that appear to have the same structure as the GE 6SN7GTs, but they have black plates instead, are dead silent, and have a different '188' code. These have an overall 'darker' sound signature and seem to lack the midrange transparency of the GE GTs.
That's just what I hear. Finding tubes that I like (and can afford) with this amp has been a PITA.
Hi Regg
Thanks for your response.
I also use Atma-Sphere OTL as my primary amp. Use it in a hi-eff horn + dipole bass loudspeaker system.
I have absolutely no hiss or hum. Maybe you should consider having your AS amps serviced. Call Ralph!
Back to tubes:
The GE 6SN7GT I have come across for sale have been advertised with side getter. And from what I am hearing from you and others the GT`s are supposed to have a square bottom getter. What might be the best sounding...?
Rgds Jan
I don't think the issue I have is with the amp but with the tubes--need a more reliable source!
I've heard the solid D getter, side getter, and still prefer the bottom rectangular getter / top round mica with the '188-5' code.
GE was not a great 6SN7 type manufacturer. The coin base tube is garbage, the exposed filament version was slightly better than garbage, and the GTA version may have been the best for bandwidth, but sacrifices detail and smoothness compared to the better GT versions. Also, it could be that Sylvania manufactured the tube for GE - which would be a good thing! WGTA Sylvanias are articulate, fast and dynamic...not the warmest tube, but a good 6SN7 type.
Paul
The GE 6sn7GT with the bottom getter is a pretty rare bird. I have one but need to find another before I can try it. The grey plates appear identical to the GE 6sn7GTA but the getter is a bottom square as opposed to the GTAs round side getter.
I would bet the two would sound very similar.
Hi Mendel
It was by coincidence I came by some info about the GT / GTA version. Got 3 pairs of the GE 6SN7GTA that I bought recently. Have played with these lately. Quite good sounding actually, Much better than the GTB which I also have some pairs of. Could be fun to try out a pair of the GT`s also.
These tubes are still around at fair prices...
Rgds Jan
As others have mentioned there are manufacturers beside GE which make excellent 6SN7s. Ge is not usually spoken of when discussing the better 6SN7s, why are you only interested in GE? I agree that if you must use GE then the GT is your best bet and they aren't half bad and may deserve some respect.
If I were choosing from only one Manufacturer I would use Sylvania, whose 6SN7s run from good to fantastic. If you want to just buy one pair and forget about rolling, I would recommend the short bottle Sylvania Ws. I say the short bottle only because it will cost you less than the other variants, which you'll hear are better but again will cost more.
Steve
Hi
Thanks for your replies.
My quest for the GE 6SN7`s began with a search on the GE 6SN7GT/A/B in this Asylum and there a 6SN7 expert that stated that the GE 6SN7GT/A was quite good. So that statement generated the interest.
I am not only interested in the GE 6SN7GT/A tubes. Actually I have many different 6SN7`s: Sylvania vt-231 / WGTA NOS and lightly used, RCA gray/clear glass, Kenrad NOS, Brimar, Hytrons, Rogers, Chinese and Russian types.
I like tube rolling.
I like the GE 6SN7GTA but have still not come across of a pair of GE 6SN7GT`s
Rgds Jan
I see the tube rolling disease has got you in its clutches too. I have more 6SN7s than I care to admit having only a couple of places to use them in at the moment.
If you have the Ws as suggested or Brimar GTY CV181 or 1988 with black glass and the brown base then I wouls say your set. If not I recommend trying them if you can find them and have the money to buy them (they aren't cheap). Good luck
Steve
Yes, I think your diagnose is spot on, I have that disease.
I have 7 of 8 pairs of different 6SN7`s in rotation. I only play vinyl and have a number of cartridges, SUTs and turntables in a kind of rotation also.
My interest in the GE 6SN7GT/A is not because I need them. It's because my fingers are itching....
The Brimars I have are with clear glass.
Had a look in my stash and found 6pc of JAN-CHS-6SN7W / Acceptance Date 5/45 NOS in original packing. Also found some NOS Raytheon 6SN7GT, a pair of Mullard ECC35, 6pc of NOS Telrad. There might be more...
Rgds Jan
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