Linlai E 6sn7 tubes

The arcing is definitely concerning.  Do you have another amp to verify that problem so you can say it is the amp or the tube?  Regardless, I would contact Dennis Had (or however you purchased) for advice.   Assuming it has a soft start feature, the current behaviour seems contrary to intended design.  I hope you can get this resolved easilly!

Thank you for your impressions on the two suppliers.  With a complete lack of stated selection parameters it is difficult to decide what/if there are differences.  Even if there are differences, we have no credible research data that those differences correlate to sound quality, reliability, length of time in which sound quality is comparable to the 100 hr mark, and so on.  Tubes are gonna fail when they want to, NOS included.  I had 1 fail at @150 hours, Viva Tubes had a matched replacement at my door in 4 days, cross country.  Dealing with out of country can be more complicated and expensive.  I don't think there is anything wrong with deciding what kind of buying experience we want to have.  Recently I bought a oem replacement light for my car from Latvia as those things are tough.  Tubes are fragile, for me Im fine paying for Stateside screening and rapid replacement.  YMMV!

I have a full set of 6 Linlai HiFi black plates on my Cary SLP-05. Enjoying them a lot, but will do impressions and comparison later when I buy a full 6 of the E-6SN7s.

I sourced my Linlai elete 6SL7 tubes from a Chinese seller and have had no problems for over 13,000 hours now.

@tooblue   there is a post in this thread closer to the beginning where the person had a buzzy tube on startup.  The advice relayed was from Brent Jessen who has a procedure to try to resolve a similar problem. Orient a certain way, tap the tube gently on a hard surface 3 times, try in amp again.  Food for thought...

@khloebo yes I have 2 Canary amps that play in my main system and a preamp that also uses the 6SN7 tubes but am afraid to use these arcing/buzzing tubes, feel I might of got away with something so far so have decided to abandon the Shugs all together. The headphone amp is fine and has shown no issues with any NOS or new issues that I have run in it for the 3,000 to 3,500 hours since purchasing the amp new. I will go back and read the post from the beginning looking for the Brent Jessen fix. @invalid I have used several of the suppliers from China and have had great results also have used Viva tubes as well. Thanks all

After approx' 4 years of being a poster within this Thread, and following a period of paucity purchasing of alternate Vintage 6SN7's, over the years since my first contribution, I now also own Linlai Elite 6SN7'.

Today I started out on my investigation to the Value of the LE 7's, and am to run this in parallel with other Vintage 7's as the comparison.

Today it was proven through Testing that my own collection of Vintage 7's are measuring close to Factory Spec' or being notable for measuring above the Spec. All are notable for having no Leakage. Some of these Valves are historically tested and are pretty much as the original recorded measurement.

The Supplied Matched LE '7 are also Tested in relation to Test Info Supplied with the Valves. One Valve being supplied as a 8.5 ( Tested - No Leakage - 8.6 / 8.8) -- One Valve being supplied as a 8.5 ( Tested - No Leakage - 8.8 / 9.5) Both Valves are above LE '7s supplied recorded Values and the actual measurements taken, creep nearer the Original recording of a Factory Optimal Spec' for the 6SN7.

The arrival of the LE '7 has peaked Wider Interest, as my friend who has measured the Valves, has a wide selection of 6SN7's ranging from the early 50's - 60's -- 60' - 70's -- 70's - 80's, etc. Within this collection are Perfect Matched Valves on both Anodes available as Matched Pairs for what is to commence. With my own Vintage 7's and my friends loans of Valves, comparisons could quite easily extend to 10+  Valve Brands being used across the era of Vintage Production. As there is noit an intention to select the better Valve for the circuit selected, but to discover which is perceived as a mimic as a End Sound, all Valves are an option to put to the trials.   

The intention is to give a accurate account, formed from a small group of assessors, who will receive demo's of LE 7's in comparisons to other 7's across a few systems. Where the LE '7 offers a mimic of a Certain Valve Types End Sound and where there is discernible difference noticed, will be reported back on. I don't see where there is room for assessments as being the better Valve was, just where the LE 7's was perceived as a close mimic and unanimously agreed should be more than enough.

The LE 7's will also be loaned out to other systems to bump up the hours on them and check them a few times throughout year one usage to see if the recorded measurements are showing changes. 

Note: This is solely to support this thread and not an attempt to disprove any other reports offered. This thread made me interested in the LE 7 as being a viable option over a Vintage Valve and I hope the upcoming investigations offers a furthering of the information already shared.