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Tube question: any sonic difference in 6SN7 vs 6H30 vs 6H80 in the amp's signal position?

Tube question: any sonic difference in 6SN7 vs 6H30 vs 6H80 in the amp's signal position?

Reason I ask is I just received a new-to-me BAT VK-55, and it has 6SN7 tubes in the signal positions, which is also what the manual references as the right tube, but the Stereophile review, in the specs page, references 6H80s in the same position, and VK-55SE uses a pair each of 6SN7s and 6H30s.  

BAT output tubes are 6C33C-Bs, so no tube rolling here, as it appears Solvtek is the only manufacturer of this style tube. I am wondering what if anything I can do with the signal tubes to help improve clarity of higher frequencies?
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roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Try Sylvania chrome-dome 6SN7's from the '50s!
lostbears's avatar
lostbears
537 posts
 

 It is a different version of the amp. You can't replace 6SN7 tubes with 6H30 ones. They are not interchangeable. 


atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,566 posts
 
The 6SN7 is a better sounding tube as its easier to find examples that have lower microphonics. IOW the 6SN7 was designed for audio.

BTW the 6C33 power tube has been out of production and the plant that made them dismantled for about 19 years.
hasmarto's avatar
hasmarto
158 posts
 
@atmasphere, I realize this thread is old, but I think folks who use 6C33C tubes must know that those are going to be around for a long time, since now New Sensor is the only company that has a huge tested supply in the US. The information came from Vivatubes, they’re one of their distributors.

BTW, Soviets made billions of them.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,566 posts
 
BTW, Soviets made billions of them.
:) a bit of hyperbole, I'm sure.
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