In this article, I review the PSVANE Horizon CV181-AT (6SN7) tubes. Horizon is a new series of entry-level tubes from this well-established Chinese tube manufacturer. CV181-AT is priced at $109 for a matched pair.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided by PSVANE for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.
PSVANE Horizon CV181-AT (6SN7) Review
Sound
These audio tubes deliver exactly what audiophiles love: a touch of warmth and richness. This is achieved through intentional harmonic distortion, a technique that adds a pleasing fullness to the sound. The result is music that’s incredibly engaging and sounds truly alive and dynamic.
Furthermore, these tubes excel in smoothness, making them a perfect match for genres like jazz, blues, and classical. They boast a strong midrange presence, ensuring upfront vocals and instruments are clear and detailed.
There’s also a touch of euphonic colouration, a subtle enhancement that adds a pleasing quality to the sound, even if it strays slightly from pure sonic accuracy. This colouration, however, contributes to the overall enjoyment of the listening experience.
As a final benefit, these tubes create a spacious soundstage with precise and lifelike imaging. This expanded sound field allows you to pinpoint the location of every instrument and vocalist within the mix, adding to the realism and engagement of your music.
Comparisons
PSVANE UK-6SN7
To my ears, the UK6NS7 is not as ‘tubey’ – It doesn’t inject as much warmth or Euphonics but might be more suitable for certain music genres like rock and metal. The Horizon enriches the sound more without sacrificing any detail or spaciousness in the soundstage. In addition, I found the imaging to provide a more precise placement of vocals and instruments.
APOS Ray 6SN7
When it comes to sound, the Ray and Horizon have a similar tone and saturation, but the Ray is just a tiny bit ahead in technicalities. Whether or not it’s worth paying the extra cost will be different for everyone – even the colour of the base might be a determining factor if people have a distinct vision for how they want their amp to look, let alone sound.