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In Reply to: Re: 6H13C instead of 6AS7G posted by Legendre on October 31, 2004 at 07:42:25:
Bill, would you mind elaborating on your comment: "In our experience, the Svetlana is the preferred device." I've always been curious about why to choose Svetlana versus Sovtek, and I've never heard an explanaton from someone with your experience with these tubes. When I asked Ralph a number of years ago, he didn't seem to have much of an opinion (at least not one he was expressing).
Follow Ups:
Hi Rush,If the Svetlana tube is 'preferred', it's certainly not an issue of sonics. As at least one other poster pointed out, there is no discernable difference in sound between the Svetlana / Reflector plant tubes. Also noted, the tubes appear to be internally identical - I don't doubt that they are made on identical sets of tooling. Assuming the same materials, we are left with the human factor, so..
The preference is mostly related to quality of service. As things have played out over the years, we've just found that we've had better luck with the Svetlana tubes, in terms of resistance to arc-over and shipping damage, etc. Add to this the fact that during the Soviet era, Svetlana was considered the 'premier' tube manufacturer, and the Svetlana devices just seem to come out ahead. The current stock of Svetlana tubes we own has been generally regarded (in-house) as the best we've ever seen.
Hope this helps to clear up the question.
Bill
So you're saying the extra 30% in price (Sovtek @$18 vs. Svetlana @$24 from Atma-Sphere) does not get a tube that sounds better, but one that is just less likely to fail or break?A few months ago I tried to get Svetlanas from a local supplier in Canada who deals with New Sensor. They sent him Sovteks. Apparently there has been a change in distribution. The Svetlana (flying C) distribution does not seem to be importing the 6AS7. So the only supplier of new Svetlana 6SN7 is Atma-Sphere. Does anyone know otherwise?
I was checking a set of tubes for an MA-1 yesterday. These tubes all had the Sovtek name & logo screened on the glass - next to an *etched* Svetlana =C= logo(!) This is the large =C= logo, with 6H13C printed inside the C.But to confirm: our preference for Svetlana tubes is not based on sonics.. just quality of service. We sell Sovtek/Reflector as well, when we have them in stock. Use whichever you like, and as you develop your own opinions on the merits/failings of the two devices, please share them with the rest of us.
Even less reason for paying the extra $6.
Also, I have seen it implied on internet sites that the distributor who once sold Svetlana tubes and still owns the Svetlana name, has put this name on tubes not made by Svetlana.
OK, let's muddy the waters even more! I bought ten or so Svetlana 6AS7's from Ralph about a year ago, and the tubes I received came in yellow and blue boxes marked "made in USSR." The tubes themselves have no logo whatsoever, and say "6AS7G Made in USSR." I paid the Svetlana price, but not sure what I got!
Bill,
Thanks for the screws for my M-60's; I sent a fiver with a note to the adress you provided when I called, (my bill was $3, as you may recall). No word back from them as yet, LOL!
Regards,
Jack
Jack,Glad to hear they got there; hope they help you out. I sent a few extra, as you might have noticed.
.
Sound and reliability are the two issues. When I got my S-30, it came with an extra tube. Sure enough, one of the Sovtek's was questionable and one channel wouldn't bias with it. I picked up a replacement set of Svetlanas along the line and they were all perfect and might sound a tiny, tiny bit better. Construction wise, they do look the same, right down to a sticker that I can't read without my glasses on the top.
I bought svetlana flying =C= from Atma 2 yrs ago and they are EXACTLY down to the last detail the same as the Sovteks that I had already in my used M-60MkII.2's and sounded absolutely the same, just my humble opinion...
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