Sophia Electric 6SN7 tubes

Ern Dog
Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
edited July 2014 in Wanted (WTB) Classifieds
Looking for Class A matched pair of Sophia 6NS7's.

I want to try these out in my Modwright tube Oppo 83. I'm currently using NOS Sylvania 6SN7 GTB's, which sound amazing. I want to see how the Sophia's compare, so I only want to buy a used pair in case I don't like them as much.

Can pay with paypal.
Post edited by Ern Dog on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited August 2011
    What is a class A matched pair?
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    What is a class A matched pair?

    Ditto?
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2011
    cream of the cream perhaps--no disrespect,,but it kinda sounds like a marketing ploy--if I'm wrong please set me straight.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited August 2011
    I got this info from their website: http://www.sophiaelectric.com/pages/se/6sn7.htm

    "Not all tubes are created equal.

    We cherry picked the best tubes from the production for the US market. Our US engineers further tested these selected tubes and classified them into 3 grades:

    Pricing:
    Grade A (top 10%): $100 per tube with 30 days warranty, $18 extra for one year warranty.
    Grade B (top 25%): $80 per tube with 30 days warranty, $18 extra for one year warranty.
    Grade C : $59.99 per tube with 30 days warranty, $18 extra for one year warranty."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    george daniel wrote: »
    ,but it kinda sounds like a marketing ploy--

    Yep, that's pretty much what it is and a way to charge a premium for a top grade.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2011
    when I was tube rolling in the Wright pre,,I tried RCA's,Sylvanias,Chineese,and Russian,and some other American ones,,KenRAd(Kentucky Radio),,of all these the earlier Sylvanias' won,,hands down,,brown plates IIRC,,I got them NOS from a guy who goes by the handle of chowbeardog,,you might want to give him a try,,he tests both sections and does a good job of matching if you desire.Good luck--keep us posted--BTW his pricing is very reasonable.

    here you go

    chowbeardog@sbcglobal.net
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    Just a suggestion, but have you tried RCA 5692's? I use the 5691's (6SL7 equiv.) they are freakin' awesome sounding tubes and built to withstand a nuclear blast.

    Good luck on your tube quest.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited August 2011
    I have tried all sorts of 6SN7 tubes in my preamp and if your are open to something besides Sophia Electric I recommend giving the Treasure CV-191s a try.

    They bested every NOS Black Plate 6SN7 I have tried which were not slouches. Even the RCA 5692s and CBS version.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    The thing is I can tell you Sophia Electric doesn't make their own tubes, so they are re-branded. Find out who they are and try that angle, it will be cheaper. I'm guessing they are a Chinese made tube. Could even be made at the same factory as Treasure tubes.

    Hell, Sophia Electric rebrands all their products which are directly from China.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited August 2011
    Thanks for all the suggestions my fellow tube heads :wink:

    This hobby is insane because I've been totally satisfied with how my cdp sounds with the nos Sylvania tube. I only started this inquiry into Sophia Electric when I read that Dan Wright recommended the Sophia tubes in his gear. So I figured I had to give it a listen.

    I contacted Sophia to ask them if they sell any used tubes and they said they don't, but they did offer me a break on the price. $150 for a matched pair of the grade A tubes. That's $50 off. So, I might jump on that if I don't acquire a used pair. Some of those recommendations above sound fun to try out too.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    Looks like Sophia Electric makes their own tubes. They are a Chinese company based in the US. Their lower end products are made in China.

    I was thinking of another company that goes by just Sophia and redistributes inexpensive Chinese built amps. AFAICT, that is a different company.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited August 2011
    thsmith wrote: »
    I have tried all sorts of 6SN7 tubes in my preamp and if your are open to something besides Sophia Electric I recommend giving the Treasure CV-191s a try.

    You must have meant CV-181's? I can't find any 191's.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited August 2011
    Your right it is 181s. I have them in my preamp and amp.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
    edited August 2011
    thsmith wrote: »
    I have tried all sorts of 6SN7 tubes in my preamp and if your are open to something besides Sophia Electric I recommend giving the Treasure CV-191s a try.

    They bested every NOS Black Plate 6SN7 I have tried which were not slouches. Even the RCA 5692s and CBS version.

    AGREED!!! The Treasures are for real!
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited August 2011
    I see that I'm going to have to have to get the Sophia's and the Treasure CV-181's and do a shoot out between these two highly regarded tubes....

    I also saw the review that thsmith posted on the Treasures awhile back on this forum- now you got me curious!

    Anybody got a used pair of the Treasures for sale? :biggrin:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited August 2011
    Welp, I wasn't able to drum up any business for these tubes on the used market, so today I bit the bullet and bought some new ones. These are the most expensive tubes I've bought- op that's not true, I think I paid more for a nos Mullard rectifier tube.

    The tubes arrive on Sat and I will break it in, estimate is 300 hours. I'll post a review so that others can benefit from my experience with this tube, either good or bad.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited July 2014
    This 3 year old thread brought up good memories. Turned out that the Sophia's were awesome and never left their spot in the Modwright/Oppo.

    Since then, I went into a totally different direction. My front end is now a Salk Stream Player going into a modded MHDT Stockholm tube dac. The Salk music server has 2 TB hard drive inside to hold 2 life times worth of music files. I have all my music stored as Wav files and it takes up about 550 GB. It is a stripped down Linux based platform that is controlled by my ipad. This combo is the most realistic and natural sounding source I've ever had.

    I'm in the middle of demoing an Audion tube preamp and it sounds better than my Placette active preamp in my system. I'd also like to demo a VAC preamp and the Dude preamp, then pick the best synergistic match.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,441
    edited July 2014
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Looks like Sophia Electric makes their own tubes. They are a Chinese company based in the US. Their lower end products are made in China.

    I was thinking of another company that goes by just Sophia and redistributes inexpensive Chinese built amps. AFAICT, that is a different company.

    I do not know for sure one way or another but Brock switched lanes here. I remember reading that Sophia made all there own tubes and that the owner was once a worker in Chinese tube factory and came up with improvements in just about everything for their tubes... Like I said I don't know one way or another heck it could be 100% marketing geekspeak.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter