WA5-LE tube choices

[number1sixerfan]

Keep commenting on the sound of the treasures plz! They seem like they are a good buy, but I'm just not sure. How much would you say they improve upon the stock tubes? Right now, I'm set on the stock tubes, but if they bring the amp to another level so to speak, then I think I couldn't say no.

[fkclo]

Just spot a NOS pair of old WE 274B. The seller is asking for US$1,600 for the pair.

Just wonder (a) if this price is reasonable given the rareness of WE274B, and (b) any one can shed light on how the WE 274B sounds compared to the Sophia on the WA5 / WA5-LE ?

Thanks in advance.
F. Lo

[Rob N]

I presume you can use the Mullard ECC32 (if it fits) in the WA5 as you can use the treasure CV181 which has similar heater current draw

ECC33 as well?

[takezo]

i believe so. if the cv181 can be used as the driver on the wa5, which has a
current draw of .95A then the ECC32 should be fine as well. the ECC33 has a
smaller current draw of .40A which is safe to use but may not sound as nice...
ECC31 has a draw of .80A so should work. the ECC34 also has a draw of .95A.
asking jack what the current draw limit for the drive position is best.

[shellylh]

Yep, this is what Jack told me about the WA5 LE when I asked him a while back:

"ECC32/33 can be used as a sub of 6SN7 on this amp."

Originally Posted by Rob N

I presume you can use the Mullard ECC32 (if it fits) in the WA5 as you can use the treasure CV181 which has similar heater current draw

ECC33 as well?

[Skylab]

You cannot use a ECC31 in the WA5. The both sections of a ECC31 share a common cathode. I wouldn't use the ECC34, either. It draws twice the current, but has a lower plate resistance than the 6SN7, and almost half the grid voltage, so it will have a much lower amplification factor than the 6SN7GT. So you draw more current and get less from it - seem pretty silly, especially since the ECC34 isn't cheap.

I am a bog fan of the ECC32 - I think it's a very nice sounding tube. But at least with it, you get more gain from it for your extra current draw

[takezo]

Originally Posted by Skylab

You cannot use a ECC31 in the WA5. The both sections of a ECC31 share a common cathode. I wouldn't use the ECC34, either. It draws twice the current, but has a lower plate resistance than the 6SN7, and almost half the grid voltage, so it will have a much lower amplification factor than the 6SN7GT. So you draw more current and get less from it - seem pretty silly, especially since the ECC34 isn't cheap.

I am a bog fan of the ECC32 - I think it's a very nice sounding tube. But at least with it, you get more gain from it for your extra current draw

thanks for the clarification, skylab. the ecc31 is for push-pull class amps only...

[Spareribs]

Since we're on the topic of tube choices for the big Woo amp, I just got a pair of the Sophia 274B and I highly recommend these outstanding tubes!

[Skylab]

Nice pic! Yup the Princess 274B is a super-nice tube.

[Rob N]

Has anyone tried the Sophia 6SN7?

http://www.sophiaelectric.com/pages/se/6sn7.htm

Those 274B's look really nice

[Skylab]

Very interesting! That doesn't look like any 6SN7 I have ever seen - it doesn't look like any ECC32 or CV181 I have seen either, although it does have ST-shaped glass like a ECC32 and seems to be about the same style.

I wonder if those are also Shuguang-made, an off-shoot of the new (and excellent) Shuguang Treasure CV181?

$100 each, though, puts it in competition with the very best 6SN7's. You can get Sylvania, Raytheon, and Tung-Sol 6SN7WGT's for less than $100 each, often less than $100/pair, and so these would have to be VERY good tubes to be worth the money for the "A Grade" versions.

[shellylh]

I guess these just came out? Edit: I see that they say "new" on the front page of Sophia Electric.

Originally Posted by Rob N

Has anyone tried the Sophia 6SN7?

http://www.sophiaelectric.com/pages/se/6sn7.htm

Those 274B's look really nice

[Skylab]

Yup. No one on tubes asylum has tried them yet either.

[rental_magica]

so we can use ECC83 for the Woo WA5. is ECC83=12AX7 Mullard??

Note: I got my answer. It turns out that i need an adaptor for it

[Rob N]

Are there any problems running something like the AVVT 32B's in the WA5?