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Newproduction power tubes: Reliablity

There  isa topic going on  concerning power tube issues in his PL amp, 
Some of us have power amps with 4-12 power tubes,,  the higher number of the tubes in a amp means the more demand for  reliability.
The 2 countries making  the most power tubes are china and russsia, So basically we can say this is a Russia vs China shootout.

China has come out with incredible numbers of power tubes, varieties and styles. These are the SET tubes. Russia has a  far superior selection in the push pull category.
IMHO , as i do have a  push pull amp, I favor the russian labs as far as reliability. 
Here is where it counts, As we know, its no fun having a   multiple power tube amp, and hearing 1 or more tubes going bad. 
A  good tech is not cheap, nor so easy to locate.
So in terms of reliability/push pull, I have to side with the russian labs.
The one exception on russian power tube relaibility, is the russian KT150,, its a new tube and we have not yet had long term performance testing. It is  not a tube I am the least bit interested in. 
. 

mozartfan
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
Excellent post, This is very helpful and based on your persoanl experience. 
Yes china makes everything,, with the one exception, automobiles, China can not nor ever will make a  car. 
Everything else they can make. But  by making everything, results in most things have less tahan acceptable standards. 
True, 90% of their power tubes will play wonderful for years,, But its that 10% that will give issues. Whereas russia as we know does not commercialize everything , but the few things , like tubes, guns, they make with a  far superior standard than does china. 
I am only speaking of 1 tube at the monent, The 88/6550, disregarding all others.
Russia's  new production of this tube, is slightly more musical and slightly more relaible. 
So why would you consider buying any chinese made 88??
when you get more bang for the buck with Svetlana's 88/6550?
Beats me. 
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,388 posts
 
@mozartfan,   China does indeed make cars. 
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@stereo5 

haha stereo, you beat me to saying that
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
@mozartfan,   China does indeed make cars.

hard to fathom/believe, If you say so..
A chinese car...something on the level of a  Yugo,Fiat,  Chevy Chevette, Ford's 1980's crap, 
There is a  sort of relation, the more things a  country makes, the less quality in each product. 
Russia does not compete with china on consumer market goods, but the few things russia makes, are built  with reliability, A chinese 88 = is less reliable vs a  russsian 88.
This is my point of this topic.
Who of us can afford a  less than high quality 88 power tube?
I can't.

This is why i say, if you need SET tubes look to china, if you need  push pull, look to russia, This is the purpose of this topic. .

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,883 posts
 
@ mozartfan, My new buick encore, is made in (China). This has been the world plan, 50+ years now. HELLO! :-)
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