6L6 Tube Reviews Chart

**6L6 comparison at a glance**

Rated 0 - 5 where 0 is Poor and 5 is Excellent

Rows in **gray** are tubes used for reference
Manufacturer	Model	Noise / Microphonics	Detail	Harmonics	Comments
Tung-Sol	5881	4	5	5	Fat when the amp starts to break up, but at moderate levels is very clean.
Tung-Sol Re-issue	5881	5	4	5	The overdriven tone is thick but articulate and just gets fatter the harder they are driven.
JAN-Philips	6L6WGB	4	4	5	Price considered, it's the best available NOS of this type; it's all there. Champagne tone with a beer price.
JJ Electronic	5881	5	4	4	The tone is very balanced with no notable weighting in the response.
JJ Electronic	6L6GC	4.5	5	4	Sparkling highs, warm mids, and controlled bass response.
Mullard	6L6GC	4.5	4.5	4.5	Lots of punch and some really nice bluesy sound.
Preferred Series	6L6GC	5	5	4.5	Versatile and can sound great in many amplifiers. It is well balanced from top to bottom.
Sylvania	6L6GC	2	4	4	Microphonics derailed the overall results
Sovtek	5881WXT	4	3	3	Good enough for most of the major amp makers, but lacking the harmonic complexity of the others in this class.
Sovtek	6L6WXT+	5	4	4	Good all around tube. Low noise and microphonics.
Sovtek	KT66	5	5	4	Killer tone. Very similar to their 6L6WXT+.
Svetlana	6L6GC	4.5	4	4	Very smooth and balanced frequency response.
SED / Winged"C"	6L6GC	4	5	5	Unequaled clarity and complex harmonics, plenty of sustain and depth.
Tube Amp Doctor	6L6GC-STR	5	5	4.5	They have powerful deep bass and a clear, airy top end.
Tube Amp Doctor	6L6WGC-STR	5	5	4.5	The complex midrange and sweet highs are outstanding.
Tung-Sol	6L6-G	3.5	4	4.5	Has a clean, warm sound, that overdrives nicely. Be sure you have the space for its large bottle.
Tung-Sol	6L6GC-STR	5	4.5	4.5	Has a clean, warm sound, that overdrives nicely.
Tung-Sol Tung-Sol	7581A	4.5	5	4.5	Balanced, detailed, rich and responsive.

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6L6 Tube Reviews Chart

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