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RE: Hitachi 6SN7GTB question: Top getter vs bottom getter tube

Posted by Amphead on May 13, 2017 at 10:18:33:
These are indeed Japan made by Hitachi, and also were sold and labeled under the Hit-Ray brand, which was the joint agreement between Hitachi and Raytheon. The label on mine ( Tel-Rad ) was the logo for Telrad International, a communications company based in Richmond, BC Canada. The date code would seem to be 9-8, printed on the tube. Still not certain if it is 1958 or 1968.

I gave these a few hours of warm-up and a 2 hour listening period. My initial impression is they sound somewhat like a cross between Ken-Rad and early Sylvania bottom getter 6sn7's. Very good detail, a bit forward in the mids, excellent deep bass that is not flabby, and extended highs without a hard edge.

However, I would say that the most impressive trait of these tubes is the amazing dynamics and fast transient speed. Almost solid-state fast! Percussion is taunt and punchy, as is the deep bass. Pretty decent soundstage too, although not as much as my Sylvania or Brimar 6SN7.

If your using 6SN7's and your taste leans towards less warmth and better clarity, you might well want to try these. I do know that these bottom getter Hitachi tubes are rare and less common that the top getter versions.