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Mullard 6CA7 vs Matsushita 6CA7 Tubes

I was able to contact China-Hi-Fi and they are sending me a free replacement bias board but I have to pay $25 for shipping which I am happy to do, otherwise I would have a dead amplifier.

I also just received another pair of Matsushita 6CA7 tubes. Like the first dozen I ordered a month ago (and which I returned), these tubes were tested by the seller as having high emissions of ~95%. Unfortunately, the measured plate current was again on the low side, 20 and 22 mA. Transconductance also measured on the low side, 4.50 and 4.46.

I can see why the tube reseller I mentioned earlier no longer handles Matsushita tubes, he said the used Matsushita 6CA7 tubes always test low. Maybe because the Matsushita tubes wear out faster? My final pair I ordered is coming in next week, they measured 50 and 54 on a TV7 tester per the seller. A passing measurement would be above 30. It would be interesting to see how these tubes measure up.

In the meantime, I took out my Muzishare X7 and am enjoying it since the Willsenton is out of commission. It has a quad of Psvane KT-88-Z Treasure Tubes (I've tried Gold Lion KT88s, Psvane KT88-T MKII and found the Treasures to be a bit better than the others) with an all Telefunken front end, 5AR4, 12AU7s and 12AX7s or a set of Psvane 12AU7/12AX7 tubes. TBH, the Muzishare sounds better than the Willsenton but I just did not care for the sound of the KT88 tube. It lacked the warmth and smoothness of the EL34. But when I used the Matsushita 6CA7s in the Willsenton, it surpassed the Muzishare. The only other time the Willsenton surpassed the Muzishare was when I used a quad of Mullard XF2 EL34s. The Matsushitas sounded almost as good as the Mullards if not as good.
 
I have often wondered if the "NOS" tubes around now are rejected ones from long ago that never got destroyed. Might explain the inconsistency, and why they weren't sold decades ago.
 
gadget73 said:
I have often wondered if the "NOS" tubes around now are rejected ones from long ago that never got destroyed. Might explain the inconsistency, and why they weren't sold decades ago.
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The "NOS" in "new-old-stock" often has slightly different definitions. I recall a Hi-Fi enthusiast who removed output tubes from a unit he had only used for "a few hours" and sold them as NOS.

I asked him why he pulled them, and he said, "They sounded weak to me." Yet he sold them as high-testing (which they were) NOS tubes.

I'm telling you, tube tester numbers with output tubes should not be the only criteria for buying an "NOS" tube.

Caveat emptor! :thumbsup:
 
NOS is not an ambiguous term. "new old stock" means they havent been used. the misuse of that phrase hasnt changed its meaning. stickin in a tester? doesnt count as used. throwin em in an amp "for a few hours?" nah, that doesnt count. still NOS. a test drive doesnt count.

new cars are driven around the block and still new, new shoes are tried on and walked back n forth...that standard goes for about anything where test usage is too limited to contribte to wear.

ANOS is a bit ambiguous. "used-testing-new" is good n clear. i like that. past coupla years "matched" has been very abused.
 
ceylon said:
NOS is not an ambiguous term. "new old stock" means they havent been used. the misuse of that phrase hasnt changed its meaning. stickin in a tester? doesnt count as used. throwin em in an amp "for a few hours?" nah, that doesnt count. still NOS. a test drive doesnt count.
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In an ideal world. I'm saying some ppl stretch the definition a bit. And the buyers wonder why their NOS tubes don't perform well.

There is no vetting of some sellers' posts.
 
yeah there is also a potential element of dishonesty in all of this. There are also variations in testers, either from malfunction or intentional incorrect calibration, or just flat out lies.

a lot of definitions are used incorrectly. Any time its an old production tube some people call it NOS, even when its obviously been well used.
 
gadget73 said:
yeah there is also a potential element of dishonesty in all of this. There are also variations in testers, either from malfunction or intentional incorrect calibration, or just flat out lies.

a lot of definitions are used incorrectly. Any time its an old production tube some people call it NOS, even when its obviously been well used.
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This is why who is the seller is just as important as numbers from a machine or adjectives on a website.
 
Aargh! I just received a pair of NOS Matsushita 6CA7s that was still sealed in its plastic wrap... Unfortunately, upon opening one of the boxes, one of the tubes was compromised, the silver getter was all white, indicating oxygen had gotten into the vacuum tube... The second tube tests great.

I know that tMatsuhita 6CA7s were known to be unreliable...
IMG_4964.JPG
IMG_4963.JPG
 
Bummer you got a DOA, and sorry to hear it. Thankfully I've never received a NOS tube gassed out; fingers crossed and hopefully you never receive another one like that; I think it would be quite rare if you did get another one.

I've had 16 Matsushita 6CA7's labeled RCA (GT. Britain) "new in factory boxes" from 1974 (no wrapper) all from same case, all have been solid and measured very strong. Admittedly, I've never owned a 6CA7 or ever used one, that was labeled Matsushita.
 
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I ordered five more Matsuhita 6CA7s... Again, very disappointed. Three tubes measured below acceptable levels, one was borderline and one was on the low side... Very disappointed in there measurements but what a glorious sound they provide. Only true Mullards (XF series) beat them...

I'm not going to order any more of these tubes unless they are sealed NOS. But I noticed that the price of the Matushitas have really gone up. nearing the prices of the Mullards. Japan is about the only place you can buy sealed boxed tubes but they are real expensive. In fact, any tube selling in Japan is expensive due to the Japanese tariffs,
 
Jon S said:
I ordered five more Matsuhita 6CA7s... Again, very disappointed. Three tubes measured below acceptable levels, one was borderline and one was on the low side... Very disappointed in there measurements but what a glorious sound they provide. Only true Mullards (XF series) beat them...

I'm not going to order any more of these tubes unless they are sealed NOS. But I noticed that the price of the Matushitas have really gone up. nearing the prices of the Mullards. Japan is about the only place you can buy sealed boxed tubes but they are real expensive. In fact, any tube selling in Japan is expensive due to the Japanese tariffs,
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The quality of Matsushita tubes is no longer a secret. That's why you are getting low-testing "NOS" or "ANOS" one on the market.

Sorry about that. :(
 
Jon S said:
I ordered five more Matsuhita 6CA7s... Again, very disappointed. Three tubes measured below acceptable levels, one was borderline and one was on the low side... Very disappointed in there measurements but what a glorious sound they provide. Only true Mullards (XF series) beat them...

I'm not going to order any more of these tubes unless they are sealed NOS. But I noticed that the price of the Matushitas have really gone up. nearing the prices of the Mullards. Japan is about the only place you can buy sealed boxed tubes but they are real expensive. In fact, any tube selling in Japan is expensive due to the Japanese tariffs,
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Here's the two early Matsushita 6CA7 I've recently brought, supposedly NOS testing, paid less then a quarter the price of Mullards here (UK).

IMG_20260325_034006217.jpg
 
AudioAvarice said:
Only the one is NHK, notice the slightly different getter support, should still be okay to use together though?
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From what I understand, "NHK" labeled tubes pass a stricter testing procedure than consumer-level tubes. They may have the same internal construction, but are better due to the QA tests.

These tubes will work fine in your unit. :)
 
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