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Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?

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Posted on July 29, 2020 at 04:42:02
Feanor
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 We'll see but I'm given to believe that the Freya + is now shipping with Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB's. These are supposedly pretty decent, but I know that tube rolling can make a difference.

So, any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes? I'm not too interest in super pricey NOS tubes but am still interested in options.\

Also the Freya + uses a cathode follower topology, (which they are calling "semi-circlotron follower"). Is it important that the input and follower stages use the same tubes? Is one stage more critical to the sound than the other?

For example: Don Sachs is now loading his well-regarded custom VTA SP-14-based preamps with CV181 tubes in both stages. Thetubestore.com is now selling Natural Sound CV181-T's for Us$120; that would be my very limit and only assuming they made a real difference at one stage.



Dmitri Shostakovich

 

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RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on July 29, 2020 at 05:12:54
B. Scarpia
 I have a pair of RCA's in the output stage of my 76 Pre and like them. More musical than the Tung Sol re-issues that came with the Aikido kit I built years ago. Maybe they're better now but OS and NOS RCA 6SN7 are cheap, rugged, and plentiful.

 

I use expensive tubes in the 'follower' stage of my line stage..., posted on July 29, 2020 at 06:27:05
Ivan303
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 only because the gain an follower are in the same tube.

I'd guess the follower part is the least critical of the two. Way less.




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

I'll keep RCA in mind, posted on July 29, 2020 at 06:27:57
Feanor
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 I see that Vivatubes.com in particular has quite a selection of RCA 6SN7 tubes.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on July 29, 2020 at 06:43:47
Sondek
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 As an aside, with an adapter, you can also use a 6F8G. The 6F8G is identical electrically to the 6SN7 except that it uses a grid wire and grid cap (thus the adapter). The adapters are easily built or bought off the Bay. Having multiple tube types gives you a lot more options.

The usual suspects include: National Union grey glass, TungSol round plate, and the '52 Sylvania.

All of those are also available in a 6F8G format.

The RCA VT231 is a great tube for small/acoustical ensemble, but would not be a good choice for large-scale orchestral music. The Sylvania VT231 might be worth experimenting with too. I'd stay away from KenRad VT231. Overly bass heavy and rather thick and slow sounding.

Have fun rolling, and I hear that Schiit is some good shit.

 

Thanks for info, esp. about the 6F8G to 6SN7 possibility, posted on July 29, 2020 at 07:43:42
Feanor
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 I'll check that out.

Of course my first objective is to thoroughly check out the Tung Sol tubes.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

since your asking, posted on July 29, 2020 at 07:50:21
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10427
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 and will get recommendations - mine is the Sylvania's if they are the older ones. Factory code 312 around WW2 or shortly thereafter before they cheaped out by necessity.

A cleaner, clearer top end than anything else I've ever tried. Close were a few others that had a tendency towards michrophonics but that was in phono preamps. Spending the $ on CF stages is questionable. Any gain stage though will reveal the difference.

Don't sell your soul. Mcshane unfortunately doesn't have any (sponsor pages) that I could see.

Mike Mathews use to be the overlord/importer for just about all the newer Ruski tubes. I would think the Gold Lion if he makes any would be nice.



 

RE: since your asking, posted on July 29, 2020 at 08:53:12
Sondek
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 Feanor's Tung Sol reissues are ala Mike Matthews - ruskies.

I tried the original EH/Sovtek 6SN7 reissue several years ago, that had the Electro Harmonix brand on them at the time, and they were at best sort of okay. If I didn't know there were much better sounding tubes available, I might have talked myself into thinking they were worth keeping. The newer incarnations of that tube I suspect sound no better. Which is to say I'd replace them ASAP with something better.

Correction: I re-read Feanor's OP and it look like he's got some late vintage TS-GTB's, which are NOT the same as the EH/Sovtek TS reissues.

Correction to the correction: Not sure now what Feanor has as I noticed the New Sensor Russian TS reissues are labeled GTB. So, he could be getting either Russian reissues or late vintage real TS GTB's. The real TS GTB's are okay sounding. Really solid bass, but a little strident in the upper ranges.

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on July 29, 2020 at 09:51:41
mrod
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Posts: 146
Location: East Tennessee
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 Since I can longer find Northern Electric tubes, I started using a TJ Full Music 6SN7 tube in my Schiit Saga. It is nothing short of magical. They are not cheap, but not stupid expensive either. Well worth what I paid for it.
enjoy!
mrod.

Nostalgia is history removed of the burdensome weight of reality

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on July 29, 2020 at 10:01:44
Mick Wolfe
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 Mine came with JJ's FWIW. They sounded fine to me, especially thru the break-in process. The Freya+ takes a few weeks to come into its own, so I used the supplied tubes thru break-in. Then I switched to ANOS G.E.'s after roughly 3 weeks. Those have been in the Freya+ ever since.
Maybe others can comment, but I think some of the Psvane or Shuguang 6SN7 variety may be too large near the base to fit the recessed tube sockets of the Freya+.( not without a tube socket extender of some sort) Not 100% sure on this, but I just felt more comfortable going with NOS or ANOS varieties.

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on July 29, 2020 at 10:48:20
mrod
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 The TJ Full Music clears the base recess in my Saga just fine. I would imagine that it Isn't much different in the Freya.
enjoy!
mrod.

Nostalgia is history removed of the burdensome weight of reality

 

Looking for Norther Electric? Check here ..., posted on July 29, 2020 at 13:02:37
Feanor
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 It seems thetubestore.com has some. [Corrected link]


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: Looking for Norther Electric? Check here ..., posted on July 29, 2020 at 13:07:18
immatthewj
 Are the 6SL7s & the 6SN7s interchangeable?

 

RE: Looking for Norther Electric? Check here ..., posted on July 29, 2020 at 13:10:46
Sondek
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 Not really. 6SL7 is much higher gain.

I suspect Feanor just grabbed the wrong link is all.

 

Thanks, I'd heard that the insertion holes were small on the Freya, posted on July 29, 2020 at 13:13:46
Feanor
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 I'll have to measure the Freya + and see if I can find specs for the tubes I might consider.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: Looking for Norther Electric? Check here ..., posted on July 29, 2020 at 13:14:05
immatthewj
 The reason I asked is because I think I am in the market for some 6SL7s.
(L as in Lima, not N as in November.)

 

Yes, sorry, wrong link, here's the right one 6SN7's, posted on July 29, 2020 at 13:48:48
Feanor
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 See link ...


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: Yes, sorry, wrong link, here's the right one 6SN7's, posted on July 29, 2020 at 15:30:16
immatthewj
 It looks like I am in the market for some (among other things) 6SL7s. Are Northern Electrics good tubes & is The Tube Store a good place to buy tubes?

 

Any store that sells tubes is a good store!, posted on July 29, 2020 at 15:59:11
RedM
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Location: midwest
Joined: July 22, 2004
 NT

 

RE: Any store that sells tubes is a good store!, posted on July 29, 2020 at 16:10:04
immatthewj
 Well, okay, I guess, but some seem better than others.

 

RE: Yes, sorry, wrong link, here's the right one 6SN7's, posted on July 29, 2020 at 18:20:27
Sondek
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 I've dealt with them a few times and was always satisfied, and the one time I had a problem they went above and beyond to make it right.

The only consideration is shipping from Canada. That handoff from Canada Post to USPS can get glitchy some times.

 

RE: since your asking, posted on July 29, 2020 at 18:38:45
Jim McShane
Dealer

Posts: 5910
Location: Chicago
Joined: January 13, 2003
 Just to clarify...

1. Although I am a sponsor here and have been for a long time I do not have a sponsor page.

2. Mike Mathews' company New Sensor (based in New York) owns the Saratov, Russia tube plant and New Sensor imports and distributes the Tung-Sol branded tubes. They now own the copyright to the Tung-Sol and a number of other vintage brand names.

3. There are no 6SN7 Genalex/Gold Lion tubes being made at the present time.

BTW - last I heard the Saratov plant was shut down due to Covid-19 issues. I'm not 100% certain if it has reopened as yet or not.

 

RE: Looking for Norther Electric? Check here ..., posted on July 29, 2020 at 19:10:43
mrod
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Location: East Tennessee
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 I'm still waiting for the e-mail from them that they have them back in stock.
enjoy!
mrod.

Nostalgia is history removed of the burdensome weight of reality

 

RE: since your asking, posted on July 30, 2020 at 03:43:14
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10427
Location: NJ
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 click the homepage link below - under audioxpress



 

@ Freanor, posted on July 30, 2020 at 06:56:00
Byrd69
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 Throw me an email.


Your interest may vary but the results will be same. (Byrd 2020)

I can't compete with the dead. (Buck W. 2010)

Cowards can't be heroes. (Byrd 2017)

Why don't catfish have kittens? (Moe Howard 1937)

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on July 30, 2020 at 08:29:13
airtime
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Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
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 Looking forward to reading your impressions of this preamp. You have a good ear and your opinions would be most valuable.

 

RE: Thanks, I'd heard that the insertion holes were small on the Freya, posted on July 30, 2020 at 08:32:01
Mick Wolfe
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 Well, the TJ's mentioned by mrod worked fine in his Saga. This assuming the Saga and Freya have the same diameter tube openings in their respective chassis. Hopefully others will chime in on this one.

 

Yep. Thanks and I'll get around to a review at some point -nt, posted on July 30, 2020 at 17:03:41
Feanor
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 nt


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on July 30, 2020 at 23:31:20
sabihtasoz@gmail.com
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 I like shuguang 6sn7 tubes old production metal base and brown base 6sn7 are sounds really good they are not microphonic on my cyber 222 pre amp.affordable too.
sam yeli

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on July 31, 2020 at 21:52:11
agattu
Audiophile

Posts: 606
Location: NW Washington & Southcentral Alaska
Joined: March 27, 2005
 My Freya+ was shipped with JJ6SN7s. They are a sonic improvement over the Tungsol 6SN7GTB reissue, which is what Schiit and myself agreed. The Tungsols sound rough by comparison, IMO. A lot of the NOS I've bought are unacceptabley noisy. The JJs are very quiet, which is important.

 

Thanks, yes, Schiit does change supplied tubes so ..., posted on August 1, 2020 at 08:06:53
Feanor
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 ... I'll have to wait & see what they ship with mine. According to the Schiit website, they will ship after August 8th.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

Thanks, folks. Lots of suggestions, posted on August 2, 2020 at 05:10:09
Feanor
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 Not much consensus, though, but that's OK. In any case I'll live with whatever Schiits sends for a while.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

I came to love Sylvanias and RCA's . . . , posted on September 1, 2020 at 16:48:17
Billy Wonka
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 in my Saga (one tube!). The problem with the Freya+ is getting matched pairs in good shape. I found the current catalog of new stock N7's to be far less satisfying than old stock. That's the main reason I jumped up to the Freya S because I didn't want to go down the two matched-pairs rabbit hole with a +.

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on September 2, 2020 at 09:53:31
LineSource
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Posts: 145
Location: Iowa
Joined: July 29, 2014
 This post made me really curious about Schiit over all and the Freya+ in particular, so I ended up ordering one. Then I realized they are back ordered unto October 13th. So I guess I have to be patient and wait for it. I do hope that's an accurate date.
LineSource

 

RE: Schiit Freya + ordered: any suggestions for 6SN7 tubes?, posted on September 2, 2020 at 15:50:08
immatthewj
 I am technically a preamp away from setting up a second system. The Freya + looks interesting for the price.

Just out of curiosity, is this replacing your Audio research?

 

I use Electro Harmonix, but it depends on your system, posted on September 3, 2020 at 16:56:02
Jay Buridan
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 Which speakers? Which amps?

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. "
― W.C. Fields

 

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