Chinese tubes vs. Russian Tubes, any difference?
- Thread starter dj_AmTraX
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I think the quality of Russian tubes is really very good right now. Personally, if I have the choice of running Russian or NOS power tubes, I'd pick Russian so not to worry about damaging a $$$ part. I don't mind running old/expensive small signal tubes, but I get very nervous with big expensive output tubes.
OK,This is after a lot of tube rollin,12AT7's are all American because no one makes a really great one.My favorits are all vintage RCA's end of story even Telefunken sucks compaired to RCA in this tube.12AX7 Telefunkin made in Berlin only after that Amprex bugal boys but not as much bass next is older Ei 's from Yugoslavia and if you want a little more bass Sovtek LPS pre 05 or late production sounds best 06 was not a good year.I rolled alot of EL84's and am only happy with one and it is the best ever madfe and is current production made for TAD of Germany in China .It is an improved copy of the early 50's RCA with a larger anode and cathrode and gold screen wire and heavyer glass .I am listening to them right now and they are truly the very best and they where made in China.
A lot of hi-fi companies are using Chinese as stock. My experience with McChinese KT88 were bad. Fried the main circut board of my $13K McIntosh MC2000 amp. Luckily, Audio Classics next day a new board to me free. Otherwise I'd be out $500 and a long wait due to no stock at McIntosh.
Anyone else experienced instability with Chinese tubes?
Anyone else experienced instability with Chinese tubes?
similost
Rockin and Rollin....
The way I'm starting to think about it after reading the replies about the Chinese tubes... if they don't care about pet food, and lead in kids toys, why would they want to make any good tubes to send us? I guess I don't need to mention flammable batteries either...
The chinees make good stuff and bad stuff,the bad stuff is cheap as hell here,the good stuff is expencive and well worth every penny.
thedelihaus
Nocturnal transmissions
At another site I visit, sound wasn't much of an issue as reliability- with one fella having his chinese tubes shatter/crack.
I've little knowledge of tube manufacture- is it raw material issues? Or tube machine upkeep?
I'd be interested in hearing more.
FalconEddy
Audio Mastering Engineer
As long as you know those current levels are WAY too low.
If they red plate when set up to idle at 32mA-35mA, you've got other issues. Perhaps as simple as junk JJ's (which, in my experience with JJ's 7591S's and GZ34, wouldn't surprise me in the least.)
I believe that running them down into the mid-twenty mA area would take your amp out of the Class AB rating, probably into Class B.
But, I do recall all the issues you were having at one time.
. . Falcon
Like I said before the Chineese tubes are getting better some are 9th generation improved.YES,they are new to tubes but are gaining ground fast.
The best sounding EL84 I have ever heard is the TAD EL84 STR made for TAD of Germany and tube amp Doctor,These are an 1950's RCA improved with a larger anode and cathrode,heavy glass like the el84m's and gold screen wire and they are made in China.They sound better than NOS Phillips from Holland. The bias changed in the 1st hour of break in then remained stable at 25mv.
These tubes are better than all EL84's I have heard and there built old school strong. I have a couple of chineese preamp tubes the best new stock 12AX7 is still the Sovtek LPS but the 9th gen chineese is getting close as It has a nice midrange .The only livable 12AT7 is the older Electro Harmonics I have 2 very old sleeves but the newer ones can have noise issues.
And no one including Telefunken has made a better 12AT7 than RCA. The West German Telefunken smooth plates are the best 12AX7 in older gear because of its sparkaling atherial sound but can be very bright in modern amps so for some the RCA's and Sovtek LPS might even be a better choice. The vintage euro tubes all have one thing in commen $$$$ and RCA built the best american pre amp tubes with the same great top end and mids but the added bonus of great mid bass missing from so menny euro tubes.
ldatlof
We are all steak
In my experience it depends on the tube. The EH7868 is a very good sounding tube. On the other hand, the Penta Labs KT66 (made in China is a very good tube too). So far I have had no reliability issues with either tube.
I have had a reliability issue with a Svetlana (not the =C= type) EL34. One died within the first 20 hours of use. Other than that they sound very good in triode mode to me.
As for the small signal tubes, I have found so many OS tubes from America and Europe that I don't bother buying newly manufactured tubes. Except, I did buy some EI 6AN8s (GE branded from the 1970s) and they sound just as good as the Sylvanias they replaced.
IMHO, I don't think you generalize about a specific country's tubes. It depends on the tubes and the manufacturer.
I have had a reliability issue with a Svetlana (not the =C= type) EL34. One died within the first 20 hours of use. Other than that they sound very good in triode mode to me.
As for the small signal tubes, I have found so many OS tubes from America and Europe that I don't bother buying newly manufactured tubes. Except, I did buy some EI 6AN8s (GE branded from the 1970s) and they sound just as good as the Sylvanias they replaced.
IMHO, I don't think you generalize about a specific country's tubes. It depends on the tubes and the manufacturer.
Flyquail56
Active Member
dividebytube
Well-Known Member
I like the Chinese EL156, the 12AX7s (9Cs) and (some) of the KT88s
I also like the SED 6550c and 6L6GC. For small signal tubes - the 6N1P and 6N6P are easily some of my favorites of all time (really!)
Other than that, I'm into old tubes - GEC (if I can afford 'em!), RCA, Raytheon, Hitachi, Matsushita, etc.
I also like the SED 6550c and 6L6GC. For small signal tubes - the 6N1P and 6N6P are easily some of my favorites of all time (really!)
Other than that, I'm into old tubes - GEC (if I can afford 'em!), RCA, Raytheon, Hitachi, Matsushita, etc.
Dave C
Super Member
Hey Falcon Eddie,
I'm back to sylvania 7591's and all is fine at 35 mah. I've been enjoying the sound now. I have one pair of JJ's that sound really nice though running them in the upper 20's. If I ever need to use JJ's I will set them up that way and I think they will live, they sure don't like anything more than that!
I'm back to sylvania 7591's and all is fine at 35 mah. I've been enjoying the sound now. I have one pair of JJ's that sound really nice though running them in the upper 20's. If I ever need to use JJ's I will set them up that way and I think they will live, they sure don't like anything more than that!
