[jhljhl]

For those interested, I have Western Electric 274A tubes for sale in the classifieds (includes 274b adapters).

 

[lumdicks]

Just got this Marconi U52 from a local seller but the look deviates from what I search online. Would anyone please take a look for me and advise whether it is faked one?

 

[Monsterzero]

Just got this Marconi U52 from a local seller but the look deviates from what I search online. Would anyone please take a look for me and advise whether it is faked one?

I'm sorry to say, but im pretty sure that is a Russian fake. I believe only Russian tubes have the saucer shaped getter, which you can see in the bottom photo, but im certainly not an expert.

 

[RobertSM]

Just got this Marconi U52 from a local seller but the look deviates from what I search online. Would anyone please take a look for me and advise whether it is faked one?

A bunch of differences. Look at the plate shape and structure.

 

[spyder1]

Just got this Marconi U52 from a local seller but the look deviates from what I search online. Would anyone please take a look for me and advise whether it is faked one?

Study the tube structure! IMO, you have a Marconi U52 labeled Russian 5U3C.

 

[gibosi]

Just got this Marconi U52 from a local seller but the look deviates from what I search online. Would anyone please take a look for me and advise whether it is faked one?

I wouldn't call it a "fake". Yes, it was manufactured in Russia, but back in the day, it was very common for one company to source tubes from another company, put their name on it, and sell it. If it truly was a "fake" the seller would have spent considerable time and energy to make it look like the real thing.

So as others have said, you can't trust the text and graphics printed on the tube. You will have to spend some time comparing a real Marconi U52 to a Russian Svetlana 5Ц3С and the differences will become very obvious.

Good luck!

 

[UntilThen]

Russian Svetlana 5Ц3С

That's what it is. When Tomas make Odyssey for me, he tested it with a 5Ц3С which I think is a 5U4G equivalent. I should buy one and try it.

 

[lumdicks]

Thanks all for the advices.

 

[Ranger Ron]

Thanks all for the advices.

I think for the price those Ruskie rectifiers can be had they are decent value. In my modified Dynaco amps they do a great job.

 

[gibosi]

That's what it is. When Tomas make Odyssey for me, he tested it with a 5Ц3С which I think is a 5U4G equivalent. I should buy one and try it.

And I agree with @Ranger Ron . It's a decent rectifier. And it's a bit dark so you might want to use it in a brighter system.

 

[lumdicks]

And I agree with @Ranger Ron . It's a decent rectifier. And it's a bit dark so you might want to use it in a brighter system.

Exactly what I found that this tube has a dark signature with very low noise. Resolution and imaging are fair but it sounds decently in a system with synergy.

 

[gkg2k]

This should be a genuine black plate / brown base GEC U52, made in England. In my system it's second (by a large margin though) to the black plate / black base Cossor 53KU only.

Gianluca

 

[gkg2k]

Just got this Marconi U52 from a local seller but the look deviates from what I search online. Would anyone please take a look for me and advise whether it is faked one?

IMHO this tube shows features that are compatible with a definition of fake. Why to label it U52? It's totally different.

 

[lumdicks]

Just got a top quality NOS WE274A at a reasonable (comparative) price. Still need a bit time to burn it but out of the box the sound is out of this world. Tonality is perfect with sweet but not lush mid, smooth and extended high and amazing bass. It outperforms my Sylvania and KR Audio 274B with a great margin, and I have a great difficulty to swap it with other tube again.

Amp: Woo Audio WA22 SE
Rectifier: Western Electric 274A
Drivers: Mullard ECC32
Power: Western Electric 421A

 

[gkg2k]

Just got a top quality NOS WE274A at a reasonable (comparative) price. Still need a bit time to burn it but out of the box the sound is out of this world. Tonality is perfect with sweet but not lush mid, smooth and extended high and amazing bass. It outperforms my Sylvania and KR Audio 274B with a great margin, and I have a great difficulty to swap it with other tube again.

Amp: Woo Audio WA22 SE
Rectifier: Western Electric 274A
Drivers: Mullard ECC32
Power: Western Electric 421A

Congratulations! I've never had the luck to listen to it...