[jamato8]

There really are far more metal base GZ34's around than some sellers (larger ones) would have you believe. I know of a Euopean supplier, whose main interest is not tubes, has around 1000 nos. The tube is excellent but not in short supply but kept that way in appearance to keep the price up and there isn't much anyone can really do about it since it won't be produced again.

 

[jantze]

It seems that metal base GZ34's are too expensive for me ($419 at ebay, 1955 NOS Philips GZ34).
Any other recommendations? I'm still waiting for my WA6, but I'll probably buy some extra tubes soon.

 

[jamato8]

Yes there are some other rectifiers that do a very fine job. the metal base are too much now. I am glad I have some nos but there are still many nos sitting in storage as people wait on their investment to go up and up. There are thousands in Europe and many is this country.

 

[jantze]

I think I have to buy Sennheiser HD 650/SAA Equinox combo first and then look one of these tubes:
Amperex Bungle Boy GZ34
Mullard GZ34
Mullard GZ32
Brimar 5R4GY

Any other tubes I should consider?

 

[jantze]

Well, i just bought Mullard GZ32. Next up is GZ34.
Which one should I get: Amperex Bungle Boy GZ34, Mullard GZ34 or something else?

 

[takezo]

the amperex bugle boy gz34 is very good and it shouldn't cost you
more than $70 per tube. try to get f31 or f32 versions. these are
acid etched on the tube glass...

you may want to give a 5R4GA a try. it's relatively inexpensive at
around $5 per tube and sounds almost as good as the gz34...

oh, and use the volex 17604 power cord with the wa-6 or wa-6
maxed. at $10 per cord it's very affordable and it pushes the
wa-6 to a higher level of SQ...it synergies better than other more
expensive power cords and is much better than a cheap computer cord...good luck

 

[jamato8]

The above is great advice. Also the Japanese GZ34 most often branded as a Mullard and made in Gt. Britain, is very good and lasts a long time. Some of the rectifiers that sell for 5 to 10 dollars are worth exploring and i agree, with this amp, can be in some ways, as good as the mighty metal base.

 

[JZImages]

I listened to takezo's advice about the power cord, and wow! I wasn't expecting this big of a difference from a power cord (regular computer power cord before).

 

[jantze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by takezo /img/forum/go_quote.gif the amperex bugle boy gz34 is very good and it shouldn't cost you more than $70 per tube. try to get f31 or f32 versions. these are acid etched on the tube glass... you may want to give a 5R4GA a try. it's relatively inexpensive at around $5 per tube and sounds almost as good as the gz34... oh, and use the volex 17604 power cord with the wa-6 or wa-6 maxed. at $10 per cord it's very affordable and it pushes the wa-6 to a higher level of SQ...it synergies better than other more expensive power cords and is much better than a cheap computer cord...good luck

Have you tried out Mullard GZ34 (60's)? Is Amperex bugle boy GZ34 even better?

I have Signal Cable Magic Power & Video Reference power cords waiting for my WA6, so I hope one of those will do.

 

[jamato8]

there were different Bugle Boys. Some of the early ones are very nice but the etched code tells when they were made and knowing the way they printed the bugle boy also helps.

 

[takezo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jantze /img/forum/go_quote.gif Have you tried out Mullard GZ34 (60's)? Is Amperex bugle boy GZ34 even better?

yes, i have a mullard made gz34 from the 60's and it's a fine tube...the gz34
made from the late 50's/early 60's are the best exhibiting creamy smooth
mids and fine dynamic punch...same applies to the amperex bugle boys. the
earlier versions, f31, seem to exhibit smoother mids than the later 60's/early
70's version, f33...but i'm nit-picking, really...just avoid the chinese and russian
made gz34...the japanese version "international", as well as "mullard" as jamato8
mentioned above, are the exception and equivalent in SQ to the f32
and relatively cheaper at around $20-$40 per tube...

amperex and mullard really sound very similar...but the amperex seems to
exhibit a very slight higher treble extension than the mullard whereas the
mullards are very consistent in the mid region where it excels...this is what
i hear with the wa-6 maxed...

my favorite gz34 version is the brown fat base mullard made in the late 50's
it has the best mids and bass extension along with a refined treble that
out does a round-plate tungsol 6sn7gt...but it's fairly hard to find nowadays.
the black fat base is nothing special and sounds similar to the standard
sized base...the metal is the most dynamic and i think that takes away a little
from the beautiful mids that is characteristic of the non-metal base types,
but it makes up for it with exceptional resolution and impact...very expensive
though...

 

[jamato8]

So how do you like the maxed out version of the 6?

 

[takezo]

i was planning on selling the maxed wa-6 if the mpx3 slam se was
substantially better, but gotta say, the difference is minimal...at best.
i'm very surprised to say the least...i've been using a 5r4gy
with fat bottle 6ew7 for the wa-6 and a 396a with 6bx7gta on
the mpx3 slam se.

i'm gonna keep the wa-6 maxed in order to roll the decoupling caps,
which is really easy to do in this amp...really want to try
the new aura-teflon caps that came out
late last year...

 

[jantze]

Thank you both, very helpful responses!

Now I'm even more confused what should I buy/look for, but I guess this is the way to go with tubes

I have one Mullard GZ34 (60's, 300h used) (if I'm lucky) tube waiting for me here in Finland. Price is a bit steep, but all of 'em seem to be pricey.

I'll try HD650 & D2000 with Mullard GZ32 and go from there.

Please don't go ballistic, but I'm looking for new set at the office. It will be iPod -> AMP -> Phones.

Edit:
I think I'll go with with iPod -> WA6 + D2000, but let's see what I hear with different tubes..

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by takezo /img/forum/go_quote.gif i was planning on selling the maxed wa-6 if the mpx3 slam se was substantially better, but gotta say, the difference is minimal...at best. i'm very surprised to say the least...i've been using a 5r4gy with fat bottle 6ew7 for the wa-6 and a 396a with 6bx7gta on the mpx3 slam se. i'm gonna keep the wa-6 maxed in order to roll the decoupling caps, which is really easy to do in this amp...really want to try the new aura-teflon caps that came out late last year...

What caps are those? You have the V caps right now don't you? Go with some Audio Note UK silver.