Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[CoGT3]

Originally Posted by BearCityUSA

I understand that Dennis is gearing up to order 24 PSE chassis.

Only 23 left! Made it official earlier this week, my 45 SET will have a new playmate in about 2 weeks. Will be shipping with reissue KT66's, Dennis' suggestion given my affection of the "old man's amp" 45 sound. Will definitely grab a set of KT77's some time down to road to try also, seems like the biggest difference in sound from the KT66, KT88, 6550 variants.

Regarding 6SN7's, i only have 6SL7 variants that I have used on my 45 SET. Any of the PSE owners have a favorite 6SN7 yet?

Analog Addict, one common theme I have seen from you re the PSE, despite the output tubes being used, I usually see a metal base Sylvania 6SN7W in the driver spot from your listening sessions with Dennis. Brent Jessee had some blems at a resonable price, but spoke to him this morning and they are gone. So, given the metal base a try just got a lot more expensive.

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by CoGT3

Only 23 left! Made it official earlier this week, my 45 SET will have a new playmate in about 2 weeks. Will be shipping with reissue KT66's, Dennis' suggestion given my affection of the "old man's amp" 45 sound. Will definitely grab a set of KT77's some time down to road to try also, seems like the biggest difference in sound from the KT66, KT88, 6550 variants.

Regarding 6SN7's, i only have 6SL7 variants that I have used on my 45 SET. Any of the PSE owners have a favorite 6SN7 yet?

Analog Addict, one common theme I have seen from you re the PSE, despite the output tubes being used, I usually see a metal base Sylvania 6SN7W in the driver spot from your listening sessions with Dennis. Brent Jessee had some blems at a resonable price, but spoke to him this morning and they are gone. So, given the metal base a try just got a lot more expensive.

Are you getting the PSE? If so, you can run different tube types like 2 6V6's and 2 KT66's. Lot's of possibilities.

Here is my rant on old production 6SN7's. Don't pay too much. There is a lot of tired inventory out there. End of rant. I prefer the Shuguang and Psvane CV181's. YMMV.

[Analog Addict]

Our favorites so far have been the metal based Sylvania 6SN7W with the Navy anchor or a Sylvania 6SN7 GT with the bottok flashed getter. I also have some WWII vintage VT 231s that need some additional listening time to compare...

[CoGT3]

Originally Posted by Analog Addict

Our favorites so far have been the metal based Sylvania 6SN7W with the Navy anchor or a Sylvania 6SN7 GT with the bottok flashed getter. I also have some WWII vintage VT 231s that need some additional listening time to compare...

Do the 6SN7W and bottom getter 6SN7GTs share enough sonic traits to use the the bottom getter as a trial before jumping in for the metal base? Seems like even the early bottom getters can be had for reasonable prices.

[Comzee]

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Here is my rant on old production 6SN7's. Don't pay too much. There is a lot of tired inventory out there. End of rant. I prefer the Shuguang and Psvane CV181's. YMMV.

I couldn't agree more.
I've been through 15ish NOS 6SN7 variants. Only one (red base 6sn7) has come close to my Psvane grey bottle, and the grey bottle still easily edges it out.

I would stay safe and invest in Psvane black/grey bottle, or Sophia 6sn7.
NOS (IMO) is a waste of $$ ymmv

[x3workshop]

Originally Posted by Comzee

I couldn't agree more.
I've been through 15ish NOS 6SN7 variants. Only one (red base 6sn7) has come close to my Psvane grey bottle, and the grey bottle still easily edges it out.

I would stay safe and invest in Psvane black/grey bottle, or Sophia 6sn7.
NOS (IMO) is a waste of $$ ymmv

It all depends who you buy from and what brand & variant the tube is. Unless you really know the seller and their test equipment/methods, it's a crap shoot. You can still buy good NOS for not a lot of money. Just don't chase the 'holy grail' tubes. They're usually not.

[Bombadil]

I am in New Smyrna Beach FL and came across a surplus store with about a thousand tubes for sale. However the cache had clearly been harvested and had few standard audio tubes except for rectifier tubes and 6SN7 tubes. Found about 20 6SN7s. Was able to test them on a Hickok tester and ended up purchasing 6 of them for $27. When I get home I'll find out if any sound very good. Got 3 old side getter style.

[x3workshop]

Love that kind of stuff!

[Dynamite]

Finally read through the entire thread, good stuff! Glad to see people liking the KT66. That is my tube of choice on my guitar amp.

[CoGT3]

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Are you getting the PSE? If so, you can run different tube types like 2 6V6's and 2 KT66's. Lot's of possibilities.

Here is my rant on old production 6SN7's. Don't pay too much. There is a lot of tired inventory out there. End of rant. I prefer the Shuguang and Psvane CV181's. YMMV.

For the life of me I can't find it looking backwards, but I think at one point you did a quick comparison of the chinese CV181 variants, "UK" 6SN7, Black bottle Shuguang, and grey bottle Psvane CV181.

Anyway you could summarize again (or anybody else), gonna order one to try.