 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
24.117.206.83
Is there a list somewhere that lists all the vacuum tubes that are no longer available or scarce? I am interested in buying a mono tube int. amp for my shop and don't want to make a mistake. Thanks
Follow Ups:
Perhaps to state great tubes that are still available.
After many years I have limited myself to a few tubes that performed very well as listed below. Also, I have not tested all tubes, but owned up to 5000 tubes. For example I tested many 6DJ8, 6922 & 7308- no thanks, but early 1960s Siemens are ok.
IMO common top-end performers are:
High Gain Preamp
Brimar CV4004 (three verisions exists)
Mullard 12AX7 long plate (NOS is hard to find)
Telefunken D3A (I use triode connected- see Pete Millet's DIY audio site)
Lower Gain and also Good Drivers
Tungsram E80CC
Sylvania 6SN7 early era angled T plate (6SN7GTA)
Tetrode Power Tubes
Early Sylvania 6V6G (somewhat rare) & later GE 6V6GTA (see Eric Kingsbury 'Music Machine')
Sylvania 6BQ5 black plate (SE amps) & GE 6BQ5(PP amps)
Various manufacture 6AQ5 (see Eli's design- uses 12AQ5)
Sylvania 7C5 with somewhat rare oval grey plate (no square shoulder on ends. Can swap with a 6V6 with slightly less screen watts disappation)
Triode Power Tubes.
2A3- all are good. Lower cost 6B4G & 6A3 are ok in PP with AC filaments
45- all are good, but limited power in SE
Rectifiers
Mullard EZ81
Mullard EZ80
Mullard GZ34
Sylvania 5R4GYB (very high internal resistance though)
Tung Sol 5U4GB
When I build an amp I stock up on spares (it is hard to loose money invested in NOS tubes if purchased at good prices). I also much prefer clear & neutral sounding tubes for accurate reproduction of original recordings. Hazy, creamy (sick verbage I see once in a while) & warm sounding is out for me, but not out for everyone! I will also add the disclaimer I know certain tubes can enhance each other and behave differently in different circuits.
FYI, Poinz now prefers the "reissue" TungSol 6V6 made by New Sensor at Saratov, Russia, to NOS. ;> ) IF the will to do so is present, tubes every bit as good as those made in "days of yore" can be manufactured today.
Since you mentioned "El Cheapo", 1 of the early fellows on the bandwagon built with Mullard CV4024s and black plate RCA 12AQ5s, along with Z565 O/P "iron". Yowzuh!! I'm all in favor of NOS, when it can be sourced without surrendering body parts.
Eli D.
~!
The Mind has No Firewall~ U.S. Army War College.
That is a relief to know the new manufacture Tung Sol 6V6 rivals or outperforms NOS.
The 6AQ5 (12AQ5) may make for one the best sounding PP tetrode amps & that is no small statement. Joe Rosen & Jeff always recommended a 6AQ5 over any 6BQ5. I know those Z565 are among the best PP audio transformers manufactured in that impedance range- such a deal. Frankly, 'the el cheapo' is a serious amp that should not be over-looked and nothing will touch it for cost to build.
~!
The Mind has No Firewall~ U.S. Army War College.
~!
The Mind has No Firewall~ U.S. Army War College.
The 6V6 "clan", including the 'AQ5, make nice triodes and are far from shabby run full pentode or ultralinear.
Was a bad sounding "12" W. multi-grid type ever manufactured? Poor sounding variants of several types have been made, but I am unaware of a type that's bad sounding, across the board.
Another nice "12" W. type you might try is the 6CH6/EL821. Mullard made tubes are available at comparatively reasonable expense and Brimar made specimens cost even less.
Eli D.
Better you tell us the tube complement of the target purchase. The list of types that are "unobtainium" goes on and on.
Eli D.
Post a Followup:
| FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
