Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

[cpcat]

Wow, nice descriptions and what a great selection you have to choose from!

I think I lean towards “harmonic” in my preference, and the NU vt244/5u4G has more of that quality for me than the USAF 596 which aligns with what you are describing.

The stock 5u3c Svetlana seems a little flat and less vibrant sounding. It makes me wonder if there is any correlation at all with what I am measuring as it is also the quietest one I have.

I need to find an ST shaped RCA 5u4G to try.

 

[highstream]

I also find the 596 more to the accurate side, which I’ve discovered does reasonably well in countering the slightly overly warm (“colored”) bent of the otherwise excellent Sophia EL-34 I've been trying out in my TRP. However, which adapter are you using? I’ve found a noticeable difference between the pricey Woo Audio version and at least one of the cheap brown bakelite ones (edgy voices) available on eBay.

 

[K3RMIT]

I think the chosen stock tubes per model are good
and as we roll what we are doing is tuning to
our setup or likes.
Any system is a complete symphony of sound. Once we move from stock it comes with we should try and I say try to adapt our system to them
take note in a journal. So going back is easy. trouble is most including me fail at this method. So while we move towards what we think is better tubes or sound. And It maybe in the end. but there is a shorter path with less turns Then tube rolling.
No tube fits perfect and then other adjustments are needed. In doing so it’s Apparent of how many turns maybe be needed. just my thoughts on this.
And yes I have boxes and boxes of tubes

 

[K3RMIT]

I also find the 596 more to the accurate side, which I’ve discovered does well in countering the slightly overly romantic (“colored”) bent of the otherwise excellent Sophia EL-34 I've been trying out in my TRP. However, what adapter are you using? I’ve found a noticeable difference between the pricey Woo Audio version and at least one of the cheap brown bakelite ones available on eBay (edgy voices).

I have never tried to interpret socket sounds
while I’m agreeing there maybe. I own woo and stock ones as well. Woo looks amazing and this keeps from do the said compare. imagine the stock sounds better I can’t handle that in thoughts. Frankie as some call the 596 is I feel a very honest tube in sound. but if one wants more air or more staging it’s not the master.

 

[K3RMIT]

The RK 5u4g was my fav Recti in the PAC , but pole position has been now taken by the Takatsuki 274b , vastly more refined and a much higher resolution, works great for me alongside the RK242s

As it should be for its multiple cost ouch.

 

[cpcat]

I also find the 596 more to the accurate side, which I’ve discovered does reasonably well in countering the slightly overly warm (“colored”) bent of the otherwise excellent Sophia EL-34 I've been trying out in my TRP. However, which adapter are you using? I’ve found a noticeable difference between the pricey Woo Audio version and at least one of the cheap brown bakelite ones (edgy voices) available on eBay.

I use the Woo Audio adapter with the 596. I use the “cheaper” adapters with my 101fa’s though. So far, so good, with both.

 

[K3RMIT]

Another nice recti for me- National Union JAN/vt244/5u4g

Interesting that the NU is actually quieter for me than the USAF 596 -by a fair margin of at least 5db -measuring background hum at full volume. Gain measures the same. I thought the increased noise level might be due to a gain difference at the output between the two different rectis but that isn’t the case.View attachment 80900

Have you tried putting a hand or metal grounded mesh over the 596.

 

[highstream]

I have two 596's and they do not sound alike using the Woo adapter in the TRP. The one with a date 6117 and JAN-COU marking has plenty of air but is "too accurate" in the sense of being mesmerizing a lot of the time, but then sufficiently edgy in its accuracy at others to get me to turn down the volume. The other, dated 7-01 (1947 or 57?), sounded edgy with the bakelite adapter but with the Woo finds that mixture of accuracy and sweetness to be quite enjoyable. It is more straightforward in its sound, without much air or quite the same dynamics of the other. My guess is the one mentioned earlier is more like the latter. In any case, I must have chosen the wrong Chinese bakelite seller.

 

[Bobofei86]

If we're back on rectifiers I have found that basically no matter which output tubes I am using, and I have many, I always veer back to my Westinghouse VU71.

They are also fairly cheap. I'd be curious to see what others think about it. Recommended by me, definitely.

That said I just can't bring myself to spend much on rectifiers. Output tubes yes, rectifiers, no.

Will post a pic of one later.

Got the Vu71 already and it sounds awesome and give another favor to my GG2, its more 'analog' like but didn't scarify the details and sounds like the 'Vinyl' feeling to me, if i prefer to listen a more modern/analytical sounds i will use RK5U4G or the best rectifier GZ480, but if i play those Vintage Jazz record this VU71 is a very good match for those tunes, i think it's much better than the Mullard GZ34 which emphasis too much in mid range or the pricy Cossor 53KU with less dynamic and details

This tube is on my top 3 list now and happy listening
Thanks so much User211

 

[Zero000]

Yeah it's a really easy going rectifier. That's why I like it so much. It avoids sounding overly detailed without losing detail IMHO.

Not sure how it manages to do it but it seems to It calms down my mid range / treble region which can be intensely analytical with the wrong tube set up.

Enjoy

 

[cpcat]

Did you ever post a pic of the VU 71?

seems similar to the NU 5u4G/vt244 from what I can tell -did Westinghouse actually make these?

 

[highstream]

Who actually made what during the two war periods, which the VT inventory numbers typically refer to, is sometimes hard to figure out. Companies helped each other meeting production demands and whose name ended up on the tube was not necessarily who designed it. I seem to recall trying to figure out what Westinghouse did and did not produce themselves, and coming to the conclusion that most of what's on their label is truly theirs.

 

[Zero000]

Did you ever post a pic of the VU 71?

seems similar to the NU 5u4G/vt244 from what I can tell -did Westinghouse actually make these?

Nope to the pic.

You should know if it is the same as Bob's(?) description of its sonics is bang on, unprompted from me.

His are marked 5U4G but they vary. Some say 5U4G on the glass and some VU71. I am sure they are the same. The construction is plain and seems nothing special.

Bob's are in better visual condition than mine. Mind you I paid much less - £50 for two. One has its base glued. The one in the photo measures on spec on my tester.

They are fairly dead to the tap. Not a reasonant mess like many EML and KR tubes (dig).

 

[heihei]

What's the consensus for the best 300B's for the Pacific? Looking at getting a pair as an alternative to KR242's. Options are Elrog, Psvane ACME, WE new issue, and Takatsuki.

 

[dminches]

What's the consensus for the best 300B's for the Pacific? Looking at getting a pair as an alternative to KR242's. Options are Elrog, Psvane ACME, WE new issue, and Takatsuki.

Consensus? You must be new around here!

I have tried the Elrogs, Takatsuki and WE reissue and the WE reissue is my favorite of the 3.

 

[Bobofei86]

What's the consensus for the best 300B's for the Pacific? Looking at getting a pair as an alternative to KR242's. Options are Elrog, Psvane ACME, WE new issue, and Takatsuki.

Please Forget about ACME, I purchased both ACME 300b and also 274b after I got my GG2, spent more than 200 hours on the 300b and it’s totally lack of dynamic and sounds too laidback, it’s very boring and I sold them immediate, surprisingly a low cost option shuguang 300b98 sounds very good and much better than ACME, I’m keeping it as the 2nd option if I want to change from 242

 

[K3RMIT]

A 300b anyone is less then a 242 tube but adjusting the tone brings back speed and dynamics
over all the recti has a much larger effect on output tubes. so it is as important.
You want a recti to project air this gives dynamics and perceived speed.
a nos we 274b was a good one. the tak is too but more weighted.
there is a tube by shaguan the GZ480. it has a sparkle top end and plenty of air too. try this tube before you continue your search.
also mesh tubes seem to have more air in output tubes. A 300b mesh is also a direction.

313.5US $ |Shuguang Tube Gz480 Replaces 274b/5u4g High-power Rectifier Vacuum Tube, One Year Warranty - Home Theater Amplifiers - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

also this tube needs a min 40 hours to sound well. No fast judgments

 

[cpcat]

I have been revisiting the TJ globe mesh 300b-they have broken in some and using the stock Svetlana Recti right now.

These have taken a long time to break in. I would say more detailed, holographic, bigger soundstage than the we101fa‘s I have been using. I am still evaluating - I need them to be non fatiguing long term -we101fa’s check that box for me.

When I first got the TJs I thought they were fatiguing but I think that was a combination of the B7 still breaking in and the TJs needing break in -and that seems to be no longer an issue.

I can’t say how they would compare to the other 300bs mentioned above, but I think they are better than the stock Shuguang 300b-98 and they don’t cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Bobofei86]

A 300b anyone is less then a 242 tube but adjusting the tone brings back speed and dynamics
over all the recti has a much larger effect on output tubes. so it is as important.
You want a recti to project air this gives dynamics and perceived speed.
a nos we 274b was a good one. the tak is too but more weighted.
there is a tube by shaguan the GZ480. it has a sparkle top end and plenty of air too. try this tube before you continue your search.
also mesh tubes seem to have more air in output tubes. A 300b mesh is also a direction.

313.5US $ |Shuguang Tube Gz480 Replaces 274b/5u4g High-power Rectifier Vacuum Tube, One Year Warranty - Home Theater Amplifiers - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

also this tube needs a min 40 hours to sound well. No fast judgments

Strongly Agreed that rectifier tube makes a lot of difference and i love GZ480 too, but as my understanding there's no stock available in Taobao or Tmall which is the major market store in china, i spent a lot of time to search locally in Hong kong and China but they are all gone...

I found a few stores so call claimed they have stocks but when i further check their source, they usually linked to a taobao or tmall store in china which sold out already, please be careful to make any payment first until you get the money back guarantee

 

[K3RMIT]

Strongly Agreed that rectifier tube makes a lot of difference and i love GZ480 too, but as my understanding there's no stock available in Taobao or Tmall which is the major market store in china, i spent a lot of time to search locally in Hong kong and China but they are all gone...

I found a few stores so call claimed they have stocks but when i further check their source, they usually linked to a taobao or tmall store in china which sold out already, please be careful to make any payment first until you get the money back guarantee

Wow a while back it seemed to be getting scarce so I sourced and bought 4 PCs. Guess I’m lucky
it’s playing in my pac now