5AR4 rectifier tube question


I am sort of shopping for one or more 5AR4s for a Cary SLP05 power supply because I’d like to have at least one spare and because I’d maybe like to roll two or three ad see if I can hear an improvement or vice versa. I make no claims of knowing much about the vacuum tube game; occasionally I get lucky & stumble on something that really works for me. As far as the 5AR4, I did a hit at Uncle Kevin’s site, and there were some that looked interesting (I am thinking of one in particular, it had a Japanese sounding name that started with a ’M’) but when I click on it, all I get is a picture of Uncle Kevin’s screaming face telling me "not to buy tubes" (later, when I finally took time to read, apparently his tube tester is down).

So I started doing hits on Ebay, and oh my gosh! I was inundated with choices and the variation in prices! Which do I stay away from and which should I be interested in? Would a 5AR4 from Bugera also be suitable for what I’d want to use it for? Could a rectifier tube provide a big sonic upgrade if I spent enough money on it? Can I make a sonic upgrade from what I believe (I haven’t opened up the power supply yet) is the stock EH 5AR4 without breaking the bank? I would be totally good with the $50.00 range and picking up 2 or 3 different ones to play with if those with experience thought I could improve the power supply in that range. If I had to I guess I could go more (the $100.00 range) but I probably wouldn’t be buying too many of them, and I was kind of HOPING not to go much over that.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the input; I always consider it part of my education.

immatthewj

@immatthewj -

     It’s hard to go wrong with Amperex, regardless of the context.

     When you receive yours: look for date codes like: F32/B4J1 or: F32/B4H5, etched into the glass.    Also: for a hole in the guide pin.

     Those would indicate that your Amperex was manufactured by Mullard and rebranded.

     Many of the better tube companies rebranded/sold Mullard’s wares.

 

                                            Enjoy the journey!

dutch made amperex are every bit as good as uk made, though heerleen/dutch production volume was earlier and in smaller numbers

uk made gz34’s were sold under many many names - iec, rca, h-p, sylvania, even realistic/radio shack, rogers (canada), siemens, miniwatt and so on...

I have an amperex and it sounds good.  just a bit of a bass peak that can be annoying and slightly ill refined treble.  

the stock sovtek sounded better imho.  

keep an eye out for an f32 mullard or made by mullard.