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In Reply to: RE: RCA RED BASE 5692 posted by PMC0607 on June 11, 2015 at 23:08:16
WOW I did a search on the web about RCA Red Base tubes and found another forum were they did not talk very nice about this tubes, the sound they describe is completely different from what I'm hearing.
Quote: Also, and this is very important and backed up with much listening from me and friends who know what they are talking about, the tube is not that great and I do not even consider it a good 6SN7 type. There is just much hype that has gone with it. This is not true of the 6SL7 version in the red base as it is a good sounding tube (5691) but the 5692 is lackluster, overly ripe and poor bass. I wouldn't give 5 dollars for one unless it would be to resell it, which is why I own some in NOS. Some people just want the most expensive and the 5692 can't touch the good sylvanias, Tung-sols or even the Tung-sol B version.
Follow Ups:
There are many tubes that may sound "better" to you. What kind of budget are you considering. A matched quad of NIB Sylvania 6SN7 Ws with the metal base do appear from time to time but the asking price of about $800 +/- reflects the demand and relative scarcity. There aren't many regular dealers who carry these they show up on eBay. The 1950s bottom getter Sylvania 6SN7 GT sometime as the "Bad Boy" are a good tube to get the sense of what Sylvania GTs sound like. If you want bass heavy then go with Ken Rad if you want quick and clean think Hytrons. Another expensive but I think very good 6SN7 is the Brimar CV1988 6SN7GTY. Although you have RCA, the non 5692s that RCA makes sound quite differently and they are not very expensive, the clear glass GT is the one I would suggest- grey glass is described as lush whatever that means.
Almost anything you try (Raytheon, Nat Union, GE, Japanese tubes, GTAs GTBs etc..),will sound differently then your red base tubes to be honest, you might just ask a good dealer for a matched quad and see what they come up with. Good luck
Steve
Thank You all for your input, I happen to have a good friend that has an extensive collection of tubes 1000's uppon 1000s and then some, he does not regularly sell tubes, but I can get whatever tubes I want. That's how I acquire my match sets of telefunken for the phono and the Red Base RCA, He has lots of 6SN7 tubes I just did not know witch ones to try next. now I have an idea of what to ask for. The other thing I was going to try is a set of Teles 12AT7 insted of the 12AU7 to see how much more gain I will get on my Ares phono, currently using a pair of 12AX7 & 12AU7.
If your friend has them, one of the most sought after 6SN7s are the Tung Sol Round Plates , which are in black glass bottles. People love them for all sorts of reasons, I suggest you ask for those.
I used to roll tubes like you want to now with your 12AU7s to 12AT7s. Bear in mind that there is more than just gain differences and it may not be in your phono stage's best interest to make that switch. If the manufacturer say it is OK then by all means. but I would ask around and see if anyone else has done that. The pin out, will likely tolerate it but it is hard to know if it stresses the amp in some way, just saying. I don't know why I have become this conservative, I used to try any tube that would work even if just a little bit. I am using a one tube headphone amp which came with a 12AU7 (Shuguang) which I rolled with an Amperex 7316. Your courage with the 12AU7 to AT7 has me thinking.....
Steve
Your characterization of the sound of those you mentioned is spot-on with my personal experience too. I used 6SN7's for years as drivers in my old Counterpoint amp. No longer have the Counterpoint, but my trio of "as good as it gets", at least for me, was the 52' Syl, NU GG's, and the TSRP. If forced to pick only one of the three, I think it'd be the NU GG. It was the most top to bottom balanced of the three in my amp. The only real stinker for me of those you mentioned was the KenRad. Fat, slow, bloated, boring is the way I'd describe them. But then one mans meat is anothers poison.
What we prefer regarding tubes depends on the circuit and the rest of the system. You may have found the sweet spot with the 5692 in your rig.
5692 MAX RATINGS: (taken from RCA Manual November 10th, 1947)
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Vplate max per triode section = 275V
Vplate B+ Supply Voltage max = 330V
Iplate max = 15ma
Plate dissipation max = 1.75W per section
As long as the above ratings are respected, the 5692 is a wonderful tube.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten
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