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6SL7
July 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The 6SL7 is a high-mu twin triode in an octal based glass package. To my knowledge, there were not any metal shell versions made. Each triode section operates as a class-A amplifier. This tube has much higher mu than it's cousin, the 6SN7. It's factor is 70, whereas the 6SN7 is only 20, therefore these two tubes are not interchangeable. There is still a good population of hi-fi and musical instrument amps using this tube in the preamp stage out there, and these tubes are still available. The 6SL7 was never as popular as the 6SN7---due to the 6SN7's widespread use in television chassis design---so this tube does not turn up as often whenever vintage tubes are being sold. It is, in the proper circuit, a wonderful sounding tube, and audiophiles would do well to try the NOS vintage 6SL7 tubes before buying anything currently made today.
