I’m a big fan of the New Old Stock Russian 6n3cE vacuum tubes and have been using them in my Leben CS-600 integrated amplifier and Leben CS-660P power amplifier since I bought them several years ago. The 6n3cE is all about tone, color, musicality, and is very evenly balanced top to bottom frequency wise. It also has great  detail recovery, and imaging & soundstaging properties as a bonus. I have found the 6n3cE to be very rugged as well and thequad in my Leben CS-600 have shown no signs of deterioration after continuous use since I installed them in December of 2006, and if anything they’ve just improved sonically over time.

Those of you who frequent the Tube Asylum know all about Jim McShane being one of the true-blue good guys of audio. Jim is known for the magic he works on Citation amplifiers and the great selection of quality vacuum tubes that he offers through his website.

Jim currently has the 6n3cE tubes in stock. Single tubes are $11.75, matched pairs are $24.50, and matched quads are $49.50. That’s an incredible bargain for such a fine tube, so if you can use this 6L6 type tubes I recommend you give them a whirl - you will not be sorry. They will work as a direct substitute in most amps that can use 6L6GC, KT66, KT88, 350B, and so forth. If you’re unsure if they will work in your amp run it by Jim for a recommendation.

Jim carefully inspects the 6n3cE tubes for damage or construction issues, cleans the tube pins with a wire brush and wipes them down with Caig DeOxit. Jim tests the tubes both before and after matching for shorts and gas/grid current, and matches them for cathode current and transconductance to the same standards he uses for the 6L6GC. Jim also applies a matching label to the box so you can see the matching specs.

Tell Jim that Jeff sent you!

Jim’s website: http://www.mcshanedesign.net/tubes.htm

Jim’s e-mail addy: [email protected]