Roots n Culture Forum - Mr Eddie, valve amp builder

About Valves

It is hard to find another subject about which so many words had been written .

Valves are beautiful and there is something about their organic simplicity that makes people concerned. Behind the technical background of course, technical specification, sonic signature, data sheets and personal preference, there’ s more than just appearance.

Those who fall in love with valves, like myself, treats it with this kind of forgiveness and are not trying to peel them out of a mystery. We accept their charm as it is, as well as their imperfections, as we can live with that. Just trying to get more experience with , to understand it better. As time goes by our precious NOS valves are sadly starting to get more and more expensive, hence it is useful to get some knowledge about what we can replace them with. Current production bulbs remain the same in the case of appearance and same as NOS, but their sonic qualities might be very different. After new market established itself many things changed. Like NOS ,the new stock seems to have good and bad years too, like with wines. And like wines different tastes, depending on where the ingredients are grown. I thought then that would be useful to set up a little guide to help the novice as well as to share the knowledge between those who simply knows a bit more than the others and will be happy to write about that here. Thanks to Hansen Chew who originally grouped all valves we are most often dealing with ,and then expanded his article to closer analyze of the current market ,I got a chance to make it happen. I really appreciate the authors permission to use his text to build it up and hope that it will grow to bring even more information to all those who will be reading it. I will try to maintain this chapter as good as time allows me, adding pictures, updates and anything what will makes it richer and I deeply encourage everyone who wants to participate to do the same. Gentlemen, thanks to Hansen – have a good read ;]

Chapter 1 : Kind of tubes

Introduction
The following information I have gathered while shopping around after I got bitten by the glowy amp bug. As I shopped I started gathering all kinds of information about electron tubes and was left with a lot more questions. All of this information is researched, as opposed to personal experience, and I thought it would be fun to put it up for discussion Smile

The most popular current production electron tubes generally focus on supplying new tube based products with a constant supply of tubes, providing an alternative to the rising prices of NOS tubes and supply to the Chinese & Russian domestic market.

Tubes used in new instrument amps (particularly guitar and bass amps): The 6L6GC, 6V6GT, EL84 power tubes & 12AT7, 12AX7 preamp tubes are particularly favoured for this application. The EL34, 6550, KT66, KT77, 12AU7, 12AY7, 5AR4, 5U4G, 5Y3S tubes are also occasionally used usually in premium models.
Tubes used for new hifi amps, preamps and buffers: The most popularly used tubes for hifi include the 2A3 & 300B triodes, KT66 & KT88 beam tetrodes, EL34 & EL84 pentodes, 5AR4, 5U4G & 274B rectifiers, as well as the 211, 805 & 845 transmitting triodes for power amplification; and the 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AX7, 6DJ8, 6SL7 & 6SN7 for buffers, drivers and pre amplification. However, just about any suitable glass electron tube has been used in hifi at some point of time; less often used, but well regarded tubes include the 12BH7, 101D, 205D, 274B, 350B, 5881, 807, PX-4 & PX-25; and the Chinese/Soviet 6C33C-Б, 6H30Π, 6N1/6Н1П, 6N2/6Н2П, 6P3P/6Π3C, 6P6P/6Π6C, FU-50/ГУ-50 & ГМ-70.
Tubes used for new studio gear: The 12AT7 & 12AX7 are currently the most used in tube studio preamps, mixers, buffers and processors. Smaller studios tend to use active speakers and power amplifiers are less common and generally use hifi or prosumer amps.
NOS replacements: NOS tubes, especially the tubes made in the 50s & 60s (the golden age of the electron tube) are particularly prized, in particular American and West European made tubes as well as some Australian and Japanese ones. All electron tubes, especially power and transmitting tubes in vintage radios, guitar amps, hifi amps all need to be replaced regularly and in many cases popular NOS tubes have inflated to extremely high prices. NOS prices for the best 274A, 274B, 300B, 350B, KT88, 6DJ8 & 12AX7 are pretty insane these days and EL34, EL84, KT66, KT77, 2A3, 211, 5AR4, 5U4G, 6SL7, 6SN7, 12AT7, 12AU7, 572B, 805, 845, 6146B & 50CA10 prices are rising due to scarcity.
Chinese & Russian domestic market: While I’m not too sure about the Russians, the Chinese have a huge cottage industry in cheap and cheerful tube hifi, much of which is produced for the domestic market (ie. 220 Volt mains, domestic distribution only, no international warranty, only Chinese manuals or datasheets, etc). Tubes commonly used in these amps are the Chinese 5Z2P, 5Z3P, 6E2, 6F1, 6J1, 6J4, 6N1, 6N2, 6N3, 6N4, 6P1, 6N7P, 6N8P, 6N9P, 6P3P, 6P6P, 6P14, FU-7, FU-50 and their Soviet equivalents (NOS Soviet tubes can be cheaper than Chinese in some cases), as well as cheap western tubes made in China such as the EL34. Established Chinese tube gear manufacturers will occasionally use these too.

The following list is a model count of the most popularly made current manufactured tubes (only counting tubes made by manufacturers and outsources, but not re badgers).

Rectifiers: 274B (12), 274A (6), 5AR4 (6), 5U4G (6), 5Y3 (3)
Dual Triode: 12AX7 (33 including similar tubes), 12AT7 (14), 12AU7 (14), 6DJ8/6922 (7), 6SN7 (12), 6SL7 (5), 12BH7 (5)
Power triodes: 300B (51 including similar tubes), 2A3 (23 including similar tubes), 845 (15), 211 (9), 805 (9), 572B (7), 811 (5), 45 (5)
Beam Power & Pentodes: KT88 (41 including similar tubes), 6L6GC (29 including similar tubes), EL34 (25 including similar tubes), EL84 (13), 6V6GT (6 including similar tubes)

__________________
Hansen Chew

Chapter 2 : Suppliers

Electron Tube Brands

The number of electron tube brands in the market today fluctuates wildly with new brands popping up and older ones disappearing. All current production electron tube brands are owned by companies using one (or more) of the following business models:

Manufacturer:

The brand owner maintains the plant or factory where the tubes are made and also owns or has production & marketing rights to the design of the manufactured the tubes.

Outsourcer:

The brand owner also owns the design, and contacts a manufacturer to manufacture the tubes at their plant. Some parts may or may not be made by brand owner, but the final assembly of the tubes is always done by the manufacturer. Distribution and marketing is left solely to the brand owner. The manufacturer may or may not be allowed to sell tubes with this design under their own brand.

Rebadger:

The brand owner simply sticks their brand on to tubes they distribute or sell. This type of brand is usually a manufacturer who uses electron tubes as a part, such as a hifi or guitar manufacturer, or a tube re-seller who buys tubes from several brands, badges tubes they recommend.

Current production manufacturers of glass electron tubes.
This is a list of manufacturers who currently make AC rectifying, receiving, voltage amplifying, low frequency amplifying, glass transmitting electron tubes (ie the tubes normally used in hifi). This is not a list of brands but a list of manufacturers.

The Big Three
These three companies make and sell the most current production tubes currently. Numerous amp makers, both guitar and hifi, offer their tubes as stock and many rebadgers pick their recommended tubes from almost exclusively from their tubes.

New Sensor Corp (US owned, made in Russian)
http://www.svetlana.com/" rel="nofollow - - http://www.tube.com.cn/
Brands & trademarks
Shuguang (export): Stylized circular “”SG” (looks somewhat like a bird?) in white
曙光 (domestic): “曙光” above 5 point star and orbit in red
Shuguang is one of the older tube manufacturers and originated as the 770 Chinese state-owned factory in Changsha, China in founded in 1958. They manufacture most of the Chinese exported tubes, either under their own brand or rebadged by others (it seems if you place a large enough order, they will happily silk screen whatever you want on the tube). They also produce tubes for the Chinese domestic market.
Shuguang produces both very cheap tubes (I believe they make cheapest current productions), but also some very premium tubes so it is difficult to generalize their tubes. Their cheaper tubes have a reputation for poor consistent quality which seems to have been improving with recent years. Their premium tubes are among the priciest Chinese tubes and have been well received by the audiophile/high-end community. Shuguang’s sonic signature has been associated with being lushness and warmth with increasing detail in more premium models and well regarded by amp manufacturers and tube rebadgers looking to impart a slightly vintage signature in their products. Specifically, their rectifiers and power tubes are generally well liked, while their 12A-something-7 series do not receive a much favor.
Unique tubes: Various Chinese tubes with and without western equivalents – 5Z4P, 6E2, 6N1, 6N2, 6P1, 6P12P, 6P13P, 807/FU-7, 811/FU-811, 813/FU-13, KT94; and some unusual older tubes 6BK4C, 50CA10, 7092/6T50, 350B, EL156, 6SA7GT

JJ Electronic (Slovakia)
http://www.jj-electronic.com/" rel="nofollow -

Chapter 3 : Manufactures

Hifi Specialists
These manufacturers primarily or solely manufacture tubes for hifi use generally favoring triodes to other types of tubes. These manufacturers do not make budget tubes and their prices range from premium priced to very high priced.

Tianjin Electron (China)
http://www.tube-fullmusic.com/" rel="nofollow - - http://www.emissionlabs.com/
Brands & trademarks
Emission Labs: 9 Red dots arranged in a stylized “+” sign
The story of Emission Labs begins in 1998 after Anton Schönfeld left AVVT when it left Prague for Roznov pod Radhostem, and was compensated with some production machinery. In 2000, he began working with Jac van de Walle of JAC-music Mülheim as distributor for his tubes, and in 2001 helped developed high power triodes for Ayon Audio. In 2002, Anton Schönfeld & Jac van de Walle decided to create a brand for Anton’s tubes and Emission Labs was born.
Emission Labs are pricey, compared to Chinese high end competitors, but more affordable than their Czech competitors. Emission Labs tubes like other European tubes have a sonic signature described as extended, linear and dynamic, and are well favored by audiophiles.
Unique tubes:*5Z3, 80, AZ4, AD1, 1605, 20A, 20B, 30A

Psvane Tube (China)
http://psvanetube.com/" rel="nofollow - - http://www.sedtubes.com/
Brands & trademarks
SED: “C” or “S” in a winged circle
Svetlana JSC in St. Petersburg is one of the oldest companies that currently makes audio tubes. Я. М. Айваз was founded in 1889 by Yankev Ayvaz, and first used the “Svetlana” brand for their light bulbs in 1914 and by 1929 also became associated with the factory and the electron tubes they produced. During the Soviet era, Svetlana was a research and development center, many tubes were initially developed in Svetlana before production was moved to other factories for logistical reasons. In the post Soviet era, Svetlana entered a lengthy period of co-operation with New Sensor but have now messily broken up the relationship. In the wake of the break up they currently only produce 4 audio tubes while restructuring their distribution network.
Production range: KT88, EL34, 6550C, 6L6G

KR Enterprises s.r.o. (Czech Republic)
http://www.kraudio.com/" rel="nofollow - - http://www.euroaudioteam.com/
Brands & trademarks
EAT: Stylized “EAT” in green
Jozefina Krahulcova initially began distributing EAT branded tubes produced by Anton Schönfeld & Tesla Vršovice in 2002(3?). In 2006, EAT became a full manufacturer after purchasing the tube production facilities in Prague from Tesla Vršovice. Sonic signature of EAT tubes have been described as uncoloured, extended and dynamic, these very high priced tubes is strongly recommended by audiophiles with deep pockets.
Production range: KT88, 300B, ECC803S (premium 12AX7), ECC88 (6DJ8)

Elrog GMBH (Germany)
http://www.elrog.com/index.html" rel="nofollow - - http://www.ayonaudio.com/
Brands & trademarks
Ayon: Italic “ayon” in red & triode symbol
In 2001 Gerhard Hirt consolidated his Italian Viac amplifier brand and newly acquired Prague based vacuum tube facilities from AVVT to form Ayon Audio, based in Gratkorn. Anton Schönfeld from the Czech Republic helped develop Ayon’s high power tubes, and these are still being produced in Prague to this day. Production quantities are very low and the AA-62B is exclusively available as stock or upgrade tubes on Ayon amplifiers.
Production range: AA-32BS, AA-52BS, AA-62B

Takatsuki Denki (Japan)
http://www.takatsuki-denki.co.jp/" rel="nofollow - - http://www.westernelectric.com/
Brands & trademarks
Western Electric: Yellow “Western Electric” in trademark font
Westrex produces Western Electric 300B reissues and seems to have plans for other WE tubes. Westrex is currently moving or are doing some sort of reshuffling and is currently not producing tubes; production is promised to restart in 2013.

__________________
Hansen Chew

Chapter 4 : Industrial Tube Manufacturer

Industrial Tube Manufacturer

These manufacturers do not make any (more) tubes specifically for audio amplifications but at least some of their tubes (usually high power transmitting tubes) have been used to make monster tube amp on a commercial or DIY level. Vacuum Components (OOO Вакуумные компоненты) (Russia)
http://www.vaco.ryazan.ru/" rel="nofollow - - http://www.sanle.com/
Sanle still makes among other high power triode the FU-33/833A, used by Wavac for several 150W single ended class A amplifiers and Win Analog for a 65W single ended class A amplifier. Its also popular with DIYers, one of whom decided to make a guitar amp using this tube.Penta Labs (USA)
http://www.pentalabs.com/" rel="nofollow - - http://www.pmcomponents.co.uk/
Brands & trademarks
Golden Dragon: Gold Asian dragon
PM Tubes: Blue “PM” above blue squiggle
Golden Dragon tubes are outsourced or rebadged from Shuguang, SED and formerly from EI. Unsure about their transmitting tubes. PM Tubes are rebadged Shuguang & SED tubes picked for guitar amps.
Production range: Too large to list, check out their website in the link above.Valve Audio Connexion (China)
http://www.valve-audio-connexion.com/" rel="nofollow - - http://www.md-create.hk/cn/
Brands & trademarks
Create: Cursive “è” in a circle
Liu Ningsheng’s Create Audio tubes are manufactured by Shuguang and distributed out of Hong Kong. The gold or luxury series was their inital series launched around 2009(?), and they have recently created the silver and standard series 12AT7, 12AU7 & 12AX7 targeting lower price points.
The gold series at least seeks to emulate the European sonic signature and does it very well at a lower price.
Production range: Gold series only: 5AR4, 300B, 845, 6SN7, KT88, EL34, EL84; Gold, Silver and Standard series: 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AX7Hanshare Electronics (China)
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Hanshare-Electronics/Canada-Fuller-/_i.html?_nkw=quads&_fsub=1512951011" rel="nofollow - - http://www.meixingaudio.com/
Brands & trademarks
Jinvina: Block “Jinvina” on white bar on a circle with a ST tube
Mingda: Styled ‘M” with “铭” & “达” left and right respectively
Meixing commissioned a batch of unusual looking tubes from Shuguang and Guiguang (I believe in 2011). Used in many of their 2011 and later amplifiers.
The only description I have found of these tubes is that they sound very dark.
Production range: 805ASE, 805BSE, 845BS, KT90, 6SN7, 2A3, KT88, EL34

taken from here http://gpoint-audio.com/about-valves/" rel="nofollow - http://gpoint-audio.com/about-valves/

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Produce a killer sound. Take no prisoners.