6SN7 tube GTA vrs GTB

The "best" are the 40's TungSol JAN CTL/6SN7GT round plate, bottom getter and Sylvania JAN CHS/6SN7W(tall bottle, metal or plastic base)- hands down(that's IF you like transparency, dynamics, extension on the top and bottom without glare of tubbiness, imaging, microdynamics, depth and width of sound stage). The price that these tubes command reflects the quality of their sound, and the number of persons that appreciate it(very high demand). Of course: Some enjoy a more colored(warmer, sweeter, tubier, etc.) sound, and may prefer other tubes. The 6SN7WGT is a good tube but not nearly "the best"(though probably the best most have tried). The RCA's have a "warmer/fuller" presentation in most equipment.

Make that: glare OR tubbiness(typo)

Rodmann,
You happen to prefer the most commonly sought after royally expensive 6SN7s. I own three pairs of CTL Tung Sol RPs I really do. I have a few Ws as well. Both of those cost about $400-500 a pair. The market is starved for them. I used them for a while in my preamp and concurr they are superb no arguement there. I think that less coslty alternatives serve me almost as well. I have a very big collection so I change them around from time to time. The only tube I never really sought after was the 5962 I have 2 pairs and gave away 2 more Yes I did. The 52 Bad boys were also produced in late 51 and early 53. Not all Sylvania 52 GTs are bad boys btw. The WGT is a very fast tube that is neutral enough and if you look carefully resemble Ws in their construction. They are all short bottles which are not considered dreadful by the market.
As far as W's go, I have tall and short the tall wins but I wouldn't go so far as to call the shorts to be avoided like the plague. What did you find so aweful about them.
In any event the RCA VT231 in Grey Glass are well liked for their fluid,sweet, some say lush sound. The latter RCAs are all servicable but not outstanding. The Brimar GTs are quite good but a tad to euphonic I am sure for some. I don't have any other Euro N7. The 2 Raytheon types, the Hytron, and CBS, the Ken rads non bad Boy CHS vt231 Sylvanias, the various GTBs. All of them have very characteristic sonic signatures no they are not those Tung Sol GT RPs not as great as the W's.
Those less than great tubes, to certain people, though are not royally expensive and provide plenty of other great tubes to try without resorting to the acklnowledged no brainer top picks of Tung Sol Round Plates.
Yes TS RPs are truly excellent as are the W's. If you can't spend $500 for your N7s the truly smart buyer will find a tube that suites them for less. There is no point to keep pounding at the obvious. It's akin to saying that the best turntable is the Galiber or the Walker -we all know OK. Anybody want the best tubes I have mentioned for free? What's this? everyone who owns a N7 amp wants them, Geeze I would never have guessed. Sorry I don't have enough to go around Oh Well.

One thing that I suggest, is to buy from a tube dealer that will test for microphonics. 6SN7's are prone to be microphonic and noisy ones will obscure detail. The ones you buy on ebay are probably not sorted as to how noisy they are. Vintage Tube Services will have quite tubes as well as some other web based tube venders.

Hello Mr M: I suppose the value of those tubes would have to be judged by one's love for the sound of music. I thought nothing of spending $1300.00 for a pair of Kimber KS-1130s for the transparency they afforded me(two years ago), and $680.00 on upgrading the power supply of my pre-amp for a bit of added dynamic range(last month). The Tungsols(driver) and Sylvanias(phase splitter) in concert yielded an even greater reward in terms of pure resolution, sound staging(width and depth), dynamics and timbre. To me they are a bargain, as is anything that brings me closer to the music. In a system less modest(more resolving) than my own, I'm certain they would provide even greater rewards. You did manage to restate what I said about not losing much by seeking out the lesser(and lower priced) VT-231, 40's, bottom getter Sylvanias and Ken-Rads both of which I have in reserve in quantity. Regarding the short bottle 6SN7W: In direct comparison to the tall bottle, it was much more strident(highs), thin in in the mid-range and dynamics were lessened. It made vocals sound Hi-Fi rather than live(tinny with no immediacy), and cymbal crashes sounded like breaking glass rather than resounding bronze(Sabians and Zildjians). I imagine on a system that was lacking in definition, they could be considered somewhat of an asset. Thank you for qualifying my earlier posts regarding the colorations of the other still great and well-received NOS tubes of this family. The price that "the best" 6SN7 tubes are commanding shows that there are those out there that feel as I do, and value the music more than the money! I don't see any reason to avoid extolling their virtues. Happy listening!