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RCA 5691 worth the price?

Posted by dandaroy (A) on June 21, 2021 at 13:23:59

I bought a tube integrated amp with GL KT88 tubes and stock 6SN7s and 6SL7s. While the KT88 sounded very good it had an extra bite in the midrange especially with close-mic vocals and blues guitar which is probably more accurate, but coming from EL34 land I found it a bit much for my ears. I swapped the KT88 with JJ KT77s (the amp can take both EL34s and KT88s) and found the results more pleasant with no appreciable loss in sound quality. I also swapped the stock 6SN7s with Tungsol reissues and did not notice a substantial improvement. I then dropped in a pair of Kenrad black glass VT231s WWII era that I had for many years and it created significant improvement in smoothness and presence.

So that got me thinking if I should replace the stock 6SL7s with a top quality NOS and not a current production. I found out that RCA red base 5691s are well coveted, but cost a pretty penny too. A trustworthy seller is selling a NOS low microphonics pair for $200. Is this a fair price? Is there any other kind that will do just as good? I am looking for the same goodness I found when I dropped the Kenrads. Lush and smooth, but still increased presence. I do not want bright or emphsized mids.
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I. Dandaroy

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