{"type_number":"6SN7","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/6SN7","manufacturer":"RCA","tube_type_key":"small_signal_triode","tube_type_display_name":"Small Signal Triode","base_name":"Octal","description":"Medium-mu dual triode; indirect heated octal tube. Developed by RCA circa 1939, widely used as a driver, phase splitter, and voltage amplifier.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["The 6SN7GT was introduced by RCA circa 1939 and became one of the most widely used dual triodes in audio, serving as driver, phase splitter, and voltage amplifier. The GTB version added controlled heater warm-up time and higher max heater-cathode voltage (200V vs 100V for GT).","5692 is the ruggedised/premium version (red base) with tighter parameter matching, 10,000-hour rated life, and lower microphonics. 6180 is the industrial equivalent of the 6SN7WGT.","ECC32 (Mullard) and B65 (STC/Brimar) are European equivalents on the same Octal base with identical pinout. CV1988 is the British military designation for B65.","There are no Soviet analogs to 12AU7/12AT7/12AX7, but the 6N8S (6Н8С) is the direct Soviet equivalent of the 6SN7GT with the same Octal pinout."],"references":["https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6SN7GT.pdf","https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6SN7"],"source_urls":{"r_type":"http://www.r-type.org/exhib/aaa0150.htm","tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6SN7","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6sn7gt.html"},"raw_equivalents":["6SN7GT","6SN7GTA","6SN7GTB","6SN7W","6SN7WGT","6SN7WGTA","12SN7GT","12SN7GTA","12SX7GT","VT-231","5692","6180","CV1986","CV1988","CV925","CV181","B65","B36","ECC32","ECC33","6N8S","6H8C","6N8P"],"equivalents":[{"type_number":"B36","equivalence_type":"direct","notes":null},{"type_number":"ECC32","equivalence_type":"direct","notes":null},{"type_number":"ECC33","equivalence_type":"direct","notes":null}],"similar":[{"type_number":"6BL7-GT","reason":"Octal twin triode but much lower Rp (1300Ω) and higher Gm (7600) — power driver, not signal tube","has_detail_page":false},{"type_number":"6CC10","reason":"Same electricals but B8A base — not Octal compatible","has_detail_page":false},{"type_number":"6CG7","reason":"Same electricals (µ=20, Rp=7.7kΩ, Gm=2600) but Noval base — requires socket adapter","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6F8G","reason":"Same electricals, Octal base, but top-cap grid on one section — different pin topology","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6FQ7","reason":"Same electricals (µ=20, Rp=7.7kΩ, Gm=2600) but Noval base — requires socket adapter","has_detail_page":false},{"type_number":"7AF7","reason":"Similar electricals (Rp=7600, Gm=2100) but Loctal base","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"7N7","reason":"Same electricals (Rp=7700, Gm=2600) but Loctal base — not Octal compatible","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"8CG7","reason":"Same electricals (Rp=7700, Gm=2600) but Noval base and 8.4V heater","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"8FQ7","reason":"Same electricals but Noval base and 8.4V heater","has_detail_page":true}],"pins":[{"pin_number":"1","function":"Control Grid (section 2)","function_code":"g1_2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"2","function":"Anode (section 2)","function_code":"a2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"3","function":"Cathode (section 2)","function_code":"k2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"4","function":"Control Grid (section 1)","function_code":"g1_1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"5","function":"Anode (section 1)","function_code":"a1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"6","function":"Cathode (section 1)","function_code":"k1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"7","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"8","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null}],"specs":[{"key":"Vh","display_name":"Heater Voltage","value":"6.3","numeric_value":"6.3","unit":"V","param_group":"heater"},{"key":"Ah","display_name":"Heater Current","value":"0.6","numeric_value":"0.6","unit":"A","param_group":"heater"}],"sections":[{"section_number":1,"section_label":"Triode (each section)","tube_type_key":"small_signal_triode","specs":[{"key":"Va_max","display_name":"Anode Voltage (max)","value":"450","numeric_value":"450","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Pa_max","display_name":"Anode Dissipation (max)","value":"5","numeric_value":"5","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Ik_max","display_name":"Cathode Current (max)","value":"20","numeric_value":"20","unit":"mA","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Vhk_max","display_name":"Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)","value":"200","numeric_value":"200","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Va","display_name":"Anode Voltage (typical)","value":"250","numeric_value":"250","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Vg","display_name":"Grid 1 Bias Voltage","value":"-8","numeric_value":"-8","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mAa","display_name":"Anode Current","value":"9","numeric_value":"9","unit":"mA","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"ra","display_name":"Anode Resistance","value":"7700","numeric_value":"7700","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"gm","display_name":"Transconductance","value":"2.6","numeric_value":"2.6","unit":"mA/V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mu","display_name":"Amplification Factor (μ)","value":"20","numeric_value":"20","unit":"—","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Cgp","display_name":"Grid-to-Plate Capacitance","value":"3.8","numeric_value":"3.8","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cgk","display_name":"Grid-to-Cathode Capacitance","value":"2.6","numeric_value":"2.6","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cak","display_name":"Anode-to-Cathode Capacitance","value":"0.7","numeric_value":"0.7","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-21T23:07:54.731Z"}