[Ranger Ron]

I'm officially at the headache level stage. The power supply of the amp I'm looking at has one GZ34/274B rectifier tube.
They sell some at their shop so they could put in following cheaper models:
# Shuguang 5AR4 (GZ34)
# Sovtek 5AR4 (GZ34)
# Tungsol 5AR4 (GZ34)
# Genalex GZ34

and one more expensive:
# Full Music 274B N

so which one would you (experienced) "rollers" use?

my headache stems from looking into:
Birmar, Mullard metal base, 3 types of Psvane, Elrogs, Taks...

Which option would be a good starting point for a beginner? Just get any cheaper option and take time to look into it later on?

My guess is the three Russian made tubes probably have identical construction, so save your money on labeling, it probably won’t make a difference.

 

[tommyc]

I'm officially at the headache level stage. The power supply of the amp I'm looking at has one GZ34/274B rectifier tube.
They sell some at their shop so they could put in following cheaper models:
# Shuguang 5AR4 (GZ34)
# Sovtek 5AR4 (GZ34)
# Tungsol 5AR4 (GZ34)
# Genalex GZ34

and one more expensive:
# Full Music 274B N

so which one would you (experienced) "rollers" use?

my headache stems from looking into:
Birmar, Mullard metal base, 3 types of Psvane, Elrogs, Taks...

Which option would be a good starting point for a beginner? Just get any cheaper option and take time to look into it later on?

If you are here, you know you are not going to settle for 2nd best(to your ear, not $$), I was at your exact situation last month, and I went and acquired a few that's on my short list (we274a, we422a, elrog, brimar 5u4g, tungsram 5z3 and stc4274b ), So far, we274a and elrog are on my amp the most. I keep finding myself switching between these two. The we274a more euphoric and the elrog more analytical. May end up keeping both and selling the rest.

 

[elig63]

Hi guys !
Which of these tubes is better?
https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/5u4g-brimar-orange-print-nos-valve-tube-lc83/
https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/5u4g-brimar-canada-nos-valve-tube-t12b/

 

[gibosi]

Hi guys !
Which of these tubes is better?
https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/5u4g-brimar-orange-print-nos-valve-tube-lc83/
https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/5u4g-brimar-canada-nos-valve-tube-t12b/

Since neither of these were manufactured by Brimar it is necessary to examine the listing closely to see if we can figure out which company actually manufactured them.

The Canadian Westinghouse tube was, in fact, manufactured in Canada, and sold and distributed in British commonwealth countries as a VU-71.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_vu71.html
I think it's a pretty good tube. I like it better than RCA.

The American-made Brimar looks to me like an old Ken-Rad rectifier in my possession, from the mid to late 1930's. My KR has the same vertical mica spacers on top and ribbed plates. And it sounds like a Ken-Rad. with bass-emphasis. But I'm not sure...

Which is better? It depends on your system. Synergy is everything.

 

[MasonStorm]

Black & White photo filter seemed appropriate, since these are both 1942 vintage, Valvo G2504 mesh plate in front, and Valvo G2504 solid plate in back.

Hello BlakeT! These look so cool. Do those adapters allow you to use them in place of a 5U4G?

 

[gibosi]

Hello BlakeT! These look so cool. Do those adapters allow you to use them in place of a 5U4G?

In order to use 4-volt rectifers in an amp designed to run 5-volt rectifiers it is necessary to reduce the voltage to 4 volts, usually with a resister. And it is also necessary to redirect the four pins for use in an octal socket. Most of the adapters on eBay will do this.

The Valvo G4004 and Telefunken RGN4004 are also very nice rectifiers. But the heaters require 4 amps and very few amplifiers designed to run 5-volt rectifiers can provide this much current. So be very careful!!!

A Telefunken RGN4004

 

[BlakeT]

Hello BlakeT! These look so cool. Do those adapters allow you to use them in place of a 5U4G?

Hi, yes, confirmed, as per @gibosi.

I started with Ebay adapters (xulingmrs on Ebay), then moved on to TP adapters from Hungary. TP is Takacs & Pinter Audio. These are exceptionally high quality, bespoke adapters.

7N silver ribbon, NOS Shinkoh resistors, plugs in the back to insert grounding wires if you want (TP makes them as well). First pic is the owner of TP's system, the rest are mine.

 

[BlakeT]

BTW, the Valvo G2504 is the best rectifier I've ever rolled. Sublime.

 

[MasonStorm]

Hi, yes, confirmed, as per @gibosi.

I started with Ebay adapters (xulingmrs on Ebay), then moved on to TP adapters from Hungary. TP is Takacs & Pinter Audio. These are exceptionally high quality, bespoke adapters.

7N silver ribbon, NOS Shinkoh resistors, plugs in the back to insert grounding wires if you want (TP makes them as well). First pic is the owner of TP's system, the rest are mine.

Where can I buy some of these Takacs & Pinter Audio adapters? Googling around isn't leading me to the vendor.....

 

[alvin sawdust]

Yes, very interested in these TP adapters, information please.

 

[BlakeT]

Hi,

For TP adapters, the owner's name is Laszlo. You can pm him here on Headfi @takacs75 , or over at WBF, same name: @takacs75

He makes adapters for all kinds of tubes.

 

[babyoh]

Is there any reason to avoid weaker testing vintage rectifier tube on fleabay if you can have it for a song? Can a barely "good" testing 5U4G do any damage provided it has no short, let's say seller says minimum is 40 and the tube tested 47 / 48?

 

[gibosi]

Is there any reason to avoid weaker testing vintage rectifier tube on fleabay if you can have it for a song? Can a barely "good" testing 5U4G do any damage provided it has no short, let's say seller says minimum is 40 and the tube tested 47 / 48?

I often do this. It allows me to cheaply try a rectifier I don't have. And then, if i like it, I will spend a bit more to get a a higher testing one.

 

[Melting735]

Actually 47/48 (if 40 is the minimum) should last a very long time. Rectifiers have long lifespan.

 

[Designsfx]

Is there any reason to avoid weaker testing vintage rectifier tube on fleabay if you can have it for a song? Can a barely "good" testing 5U4G do any damage provided it has no short, let's say seller says minimum is 40 and the tube tested 47 / 48?

It never hurts to try one out for a small investment as long as you’re comfortable with the spend. I’ve done this in the past just to get a listen to something someone has recommended without having to hunt down a higher priced example.
The thing to be weary of (as always) are the test results provided by some sellers. I’ve had a couple of cases where I was told a rectifier “tested good” only to end up with thing putting on a big light show minutes into the first listen (see below- I took this just before yanking the tube).