Anybody know where to get 845 tubes?????

The Chinese 845 is really a good tube. I would not be afraid to buy it and run it in your Bel Canto.

If you want better, you must buy NOS American or British tubes such as Cetron, RCA, GEC and GE. The least expensive of all of these will be more than $300.00 each as new old stock. The most precious will be in excess of $500.00.

I personally would not even consider putting that kind of money into a single tube. If you want extra performance, the Chinese tube cryogenically treated will perform 75% or 80% of maximum possible in your amp, and for a fraction of the expense.

I don't think GEC ever made an 845. Agreed on the prices for NOS ones. I've looked long and hard and have been able to scratch up a few. Amperex also made 845s. Honestly the Chinese ones sound *quite* good, much better than any other chinese tubes I've heard. Save the $ and put it into the front end tubes, I'd say. That said, the NOS ones *are* better, but the price vs. value is something you have consider yourself. They occasionally come up on Ebay, I Think there are a couple there now. Prices there have averaged around $300-350 for the last half dozen that went through there. Www.tubeworld.com/tubes.html has some - but be prepared to bend over... and bring a big wallet. ;-)

-Ed

I used to be able to pick up NOS Amperex 845's for about $60- at K-Mart until they went Chap. 11. Of course, I'm just kidding! However, the man that you want to speak with is Andy Bowman at Vintage Tube Services. (www.vintagetubeservices.com. Tel. # is 616-454-3467). You'll definitely be impressed. Since he is a one man operation, it's best to CALL, not email, but definitely check out the website! I've used other so called "tube gurus" who fall way short when compared with Andy. Happy Tunes!

Chazzbo- The Sino 845 is fine as has been pointed out already. In a really tweaked system, there is really no comparison with good NOS 845 though. The Sino tubes sounds thin and harmonically lean compared to the United 845. In my system, there simply was no choice. I had to have NOS 845 once I tried them. As previously stated, you will likely pay 300 to 500 per tube. However, considering the fact that a pair of NOS 845 tubes will likely outlast your ownership of the amplifier, I'm not sure if I would consider the money unwisely spent. Just one man's opinion. Good luck.