[auricgoldfinger]

 
There was a blacker background using the Glenn adapter on the WA22.  The WE 274a and 274b is superior though.

 
I go back and forth between the 422a and WE 274b on my Stratus.  Both are excellent tubes.  They are far and away my 2 favorite rectifiers.

 

[jhljhl]

   
I go back and forth between the 422a and WE 274b on my Stratus.  Both are excellent tubes.  They are far and away my 2 favorite rectifiers.

I agree but the WE 274 is richer and has more depth in the WA5LE.

 

[auricgoldfinger]

 
I agree but the WE 274 is richer and has more depth in the WA5LE.

 
Have you ever heard a Takatsuki TA-274B?

 

[attmci]

Have three black base GZ34 in my collection.

Philips Miniwatt: GZ34, f31 X9C (X= Sittard; 9: 1959, C: March) (This GZ34 is the f31 series, early in the GZ34 series after the metal base GZ34 / 5AR4)

Tungsram GZ34, B2D1 (B = Mullard Blackburn, U.K.; 2: 1962?; D: April, 1: 1st week)

IEC Mullard, GZ34/5AR4 f32 B6J1 (B = Mullard Blackburn, U.K.; 6: 1966?; J: Oct.; 1: 1st week)

Tungsram and IEC Mullard are identical in structures. Philips Miniwatt has slight different plate.

 

[Seamaster]

N

Right. It is reasonable to think that tubes manufactured at different times will sound different, even if manufactured in the same factory. After all, new materials and technologies, as well as feed back from the field, often resulted in assembly line changes over time. But not all assembly changes are audible. For example, replacing a square getter with a halo getter. So a U52 manufactured in 1950 may or may not sound different than one manufactured in 1965.

Now, I have both GEC brown and black base U52, to my surprise, I like the black base better, differences are there, but unless AB them, it is very hard to tell.

 

[abvolt]

Have three black base GZ34 in my collection.

Philips Miniwatt: GZ34, f31 X9C (X= Sittard; 9: 1959, C: March) (This GZ34 is the f31 series, the first in the GZ34 series after the metal base GZ34 / 5AR4)

Tungsram GZ34, B2D1 (B = Mullard Blackburn, U.K.; 2: 1962?; D: April, 1: 1st week)

IEC Mullard, GZ34/5AR4 f32 B6J1 (B = Mullard Blackburn, U.K.; 6: 1966?; J: Oct.; 1: 1st week)

Tungsram and IEC Mullard are identical in structures. Philips Miniwatt has slight different plate.

Very cool I also have 2 mullard gz34's I enjoy them much, What amp are you using them in ?..enjoy

 

[attmci]

Very cool I also have 2 mullard gz34's I enjoy them much, What amp are you using them in ?..enjoy

It can be used in all kinds of amps.

Attached is a short video of more gz34.

And the The GZ34 Gallery:

http://www.tube-classics.de/TC/Tubes/Valvo GZ34/GZ34.htm

 

[matthewhypolite]

Hi Guys,

I've recently gotten the WA33 EE, and have been doing some tube research.

I'm looking at these options:

Power Tubes: RCA or KR HP
Rectifier : Elrog, KR, Takatsuki, or WE274B (if i can find one)
Drivers: RCA, Electro Harmonic, Wester Electric

Can anyone shed some light on this or share whatever opinions / experience they may have.
Eventually i'll get a few different kits to try, but im looking at what should be my first jump up from stock.

Thanks.

 

[Seamaster]

U52 or GZ37 fat bottle are the best and accessible IMO, never had WE274B. EML 5U4G is nice but lacks a little bit of NOS magic

 

[spyder1]

I've recently gotten the WA33 EE, and have been doing some tube research.

The Russian NOS 5U3C is an excellent Rectifier tube! IMO. I purchased 4 60's era 5U3C's for use in my WA6 in years to come. Lampizator uses them in all its equipment designs. If you can find Russian NOS equivalents, for the WA33, they would be a great choice. IMO.

**Note: I use Voskhod 6N23P tubes w/ adapters in my WA6.

 

[alvin sawdust]

I am inclined to agree. The Winged C black plate rectifiers are a great value and the grey plates aren't too far behind either.

 

[attmci]

Philips Miniwatt: GZ34, f31 X9C (X= Sittard; 9: 1959, C: March) (This GZ34 is the f31 series, early in the GZ34 series after the metal base GZ34 / 5AR4)

This is a very nice tube. We'll see how it competes with a much more expensive metal-base one.

 

[gibosi]

Actually, the first black base version of the GZ34 was f30. This one was manufactured in November, 1957.

 

[attmci]

Actually, the first black base version of the GZ34 was f30. This one was manufactured in November, 1957.

True. Changes made.

 

[Nicholasheadfi2]

I recently acquired the mullard gz34 metal base 1957 i have been critically listening to it for the past
few days and was generally comparing it to the fat base gz34 .
in comparison i thought the metal base sounded cold and did not have that magic warmth that the
fat black base has , dynamics are amazing on the metal base but just thought it was missing something
couldn't quite put my finger on it but all i can say is that i prefer the fat black base over the metal base
it just did not hit the sweet spot for me and i could not see what all the hype is about , the metal base
is over rated imho.