[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