2 preamp tube schools

ALL212
ALL212 Posts: 1,577
edited November 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
It appears that there are a couple of tube schools for preamps. Those that use the older 6SN7 and 6H30P in the more expensive school and then in the economical schools are the 12xxx and the 6DJ8 revs.

What advantages do the 6SN7 and 6H30P have over the 12xxx's and 6DJ8's?
Aaron
Enabler Extraordinaire
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Comments

  • 55LS70
    55LS70 Posts: 184
    edited November 2012
    I believe the octals (6SN7 types) are more linear.
    Decware CSP3 Preamp, RCA 6DJ8, 2 X Rocket 6N1P-EV's, Cary SLA70B Signature V2 Amplifier: 2 X Mullard GZ32's, 2 X RCA/GE 5691's, 4 X Tung-Sol 6550's

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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2012
    6H30P=long life, very little noise to none at all.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited November 2012
    There is a widely-held sense that the octal triodes are better sounding than the 9-pin miniatures. The 12AX7 is a high-gain tube and is best suited for phono/tape head preamp use (IMO). The 6SN7 has much less gain and is a beautiful sounding tube (probably indeed related to its supreme linearity). The 6SN7 is a member of a large family of interrelated dual triodes and their single triode forbears (e.g., the 76) - I am currently using 6SL7s for voltage amps in my "Simple 2A3" - the 6SL7 is higher gain than the 6SN7 and is "just right" in my application. 6SN7 drivers in the Simple 2A3 amp sound fantastic but don't give me enough gain (using only an autoformer volume control - no active preamp stage for me).

    newamp.jpg

    (EDIT - to be honest, I have no idea which drivers are installed in the amp in this particular photo :-P Just threw the photo in for effect)
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