What is the best 6SN7 driver tube?

Hi,
The following are worth tracking down:
33S30(The absolute best,but almost impossible to find).
Syl. VT-231 metal base
TungSol VT-231 dark glass round plates
KenRad VT-231 dark glass

Good Luck,Raanan
P.S. Try searching the old dejanews groups on the Google Beta feature.

Reylon- Great tube choices! However, I don't believe that Sylvania ever made the metal base VT-231. These were 6SN7A or 6SN7W metal base of the JAN-CHS- variety. Both the Tung-Sol and the KenRad VT-231 dark glass are excellent tubes as well; and though a little hard to find, are certainly less expensive than the metal base Sylv.

The last pair of Ken-Rad's that I tracked on Ebay went to Mr Blume of Coincident fame. He must like them in his setup, unless they were a gift for someone else. Yes, I am a busy body, so don't start.

I've tried Brimars, Sylvania green letter & VT 231, etc. The Ken-Rad JAN matched black glass VT231's that I have gone with in my pre line section are, together with the WE300B, the best tube I've heard overall. About $125/pr...enormously musical, spacious, dark and mysterious with the best bass, bar none. That is,if you can find them... The last Sylvania 6SN7W metal base CHS that I saw went for $300. Ouch.

I just recently upgrade my Supratek Chenin to Supratek Cortese mkII which is much more transparent hence differences between tubes can be easily heard. I tried Ken Rad black glass , big bass, nice presentation but not involving. Long time ago I have bought some NS grey glass 7sn7 - unbelievable what a change, tangibility, aliveness, transparency, huge dynamics, drive, drive. Different league.
After I have tried Sylvania metal base 6sn7W similar in scene, transparency but I have lost tangibility and drive.
Somebody told me that CV2821 is special, I was lucky to be able to find a pair. It do not have drive of NU grey glass I was not tapping my feet, but it have speed, transparency, resolution I never thought is possible with my gear.
If only I could have dynamics, slam of NU grey glass with speed , transparency of CV 2821.