Qeustion of Sylvania 6SN7W
Grover Gardner
> Hi!
>
> I just obtain for myself a pair of Sylvania made 6SN7W tubes, or so the
> labelling on the tube says.
> I have read from various sources that the 6SN7W are suppose to have a
> metal base. My pair, however has a plastic (or some similar material)
> base.
> The lettering of the tube says 6SN7W. The tube has a "chrome dome" that
> covers half the tube. And the top of the tube clearly prints 6SN7W.
> Is this really a 6SN7W? If it is, how does it compare with the metal
> base version? Similar quality?
> Any input will be greatly desired.
I have never seen a metal base 6SN7, though they may exist. I'm sure you
have geniune 6SN7s. There are many varieties of this tube, but none with
a metal base that I know of.
--
Grover Gardner
tommy
on the metal. They are taller than most 6SN7's I've seen.They came out of
an old church PA system.
Chris
Grover Gardner <gro...@postoffice.att.net> wrote in article
<groverg-2409...@49.arlington-02.va.dial-access.att.net>...
George R. Gonzalez
Christopher Chong wrote in message <37EBB611...@singnet.com.sg>...
>Hi!
>
>I just obtain for myself a pair of Sylvania made 6SN7W tubes, or so the
>labelling on the tube says.
>I have read from various sources that the 6SN7W are suppose to have a
>metal base. My pair, however has a plastic (or some similar material)
>base.
The "W" tubes are I think usually the ruggedized military spec kind.
The base is often a brown plastic that is is a bit better performing
than the plain bakelite.
Metal based octals are, with many exceptions,
usually the "GT" bantam kind, with a glass top,
a bakelite base, and a metal band in between.
Christopher Chong
I just obtain for myself a pair of Sylvania made 6SN7W tubes, or so the
labelling on the tube says.
I have read from various sources that the 6SN7W are suppose to have a
metal base. My pair, however has a plastic (or some similar material)
base.
The lettering of the tube says 6SN7W. The tube has a "chrome dome" that
covers half the tube. And the top of the tube clearly prints 6SN7W.
Is this really a 6SN7W? If it is, how does it compare with the metal
base version? Similar quality?
Any input will be greatly desired.
Thanx.
Regards,
Chris
JLSEM
I have several NOS Sylvania 6SN7W tubes from ca. 1945, and they are as you
describe. I have never seen a comparison between them and the metal base
variety. Since both types were manufactured during the same period and
assuming the only difference is the metal band around the base, they should
sound similar. BTW, these are the earliest tubes I've seen with the "W"
ruggedized designation; has anyone ever seen any dated before 1945?
John
tcw
glass and a 6SN7W on the metal-base".
tcw wrote:
> Hi,
> There are Sylvania 6SN7W and 6SN7A and both have metal-bases. Sometimes one
> even has a "6SN7A" on top of the glass and "6SN7A" on metal-base. These are
> the best-sounding ones among more than 10 other types that I've tried, at least
> among of the best, and they are better than both tall-glass and short-glass
> Sylvania 6SN7W black-bases.
> tcw
>
tcw
There are Sylvania 6SN7W and 6SN7A and both have metal-bases. Sometimes one
even has a "6SN7A" on top of the glass and "6SN7A" on metal-base. These are
the best-sounding ones among more than 10 other types that I've tried, at least
among of the best, and they are better than both tall-glass and short-glass
Sylvania 6SN7W black-bases.
tcw
Knoot
one of the many various types of the Syl 6SN7W tube.
The famous metal base Sylvania 6SN7W to which you refer was manufactured around
1942-43 and obviously for miliatary use -- hence the 6SN7"W" name. The 6SN7W
is typically printed on the top of the tube and also on the metal base. This
exact same tube was also labeled by Sylvania as 6SN7"A" either on top, on the
base or both locations for no apparent reason as it was the same tube and also
designated for military use.
The metal base Syl 6SN7W is justly famous as it is an incredible sounding
variation of the 6SN7 family -- certainly among the best available, and
possibly the best. Vacuum Tube Valley (get that magazine if you can) did a
6SN7 comparison recently with many types and the metal base Syl 6SN7W was
chosen best, along with a Mullard CV-181. The CV-181, however, is electrically
slightly different than a 6SN7 and may not be a drop in replacement in all
applications. That leaves the Syl metal base 6SN7W as the best true 6SN7 in
their test.
Back to your tubes -- as mentioned, I am sure they are authentic but it is
simply a different type of Syl 6SN7W that I was discussing above. For example,
I also have Syl 6SN7W that are short bottle with black bases and tall bottle
with black bases -- these tubes sound different than the metal base type -- not
radically different, but different. To my ears, the metal base is the best,
followed by the tall bottle then the short bottle. Bottom line, however, is
that these are all very fine 6SN7.
Sylvania also made fine military-use 6SN7 types with brown micanol bases that
are 6SN7WGT or 6SN7WGTA labeled, manufactured in the 50's, and very clean and
direct sounding. I recommend these as well.
The Syl 6SN7W metal base is very, very rare -- there simply aren't many, if
any, available. If you ever have an opportunity to purchase them, by all means
jump at it.
Best regards, Paul
tommy
tube says 6SN7A, and the metal base says 6SN7GT. Glad to hear I lucked
into some excellent tubes. Kooky.
Chris
Knoot <kn...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19990930013104...@ng-bh1.aol.com>...