So, I tried the Mullard GZ33 tonight, and I like it a lot! I bought a pair, and both had good getter flashing, full lettering, and tested 100%+ on my tube tester (set to 5V4, 5U4 and 5AR4 settings). Compared to the GE 5AR4, the background is cleaner, the soundstage is more focused (I can tell more easily where the instruments are) and the bass is a bit tighter and deeper. Cymbals are cleaner and have more focus. I swapped the two tubes back and forth twice each (I didn't want to stress the preamp with too many rapid on/off cycles). It just sounded more powerful and focused with the GZ33 than the GE 5AR4 - I'm keeping it in.
Hello,
Good for you! I hope you are posting this as a result of your "own" experiment only and not for the others who have no time to understand what is going on in the circuit to try.
With all due respect, are you saying that the preamp PSU (5V filament supply) rated for 5Y3/5AR4 current draw (2.0 amps) according to the circuit design is good for a GZ33 with current draw of 3.0 amps? Very dangerous situation for those who are not aware of this limitation I would say. Did you check the filament transformer rating of the rectifier supply or noticed any change in heat from the filament transformer? If not the proper rating and noticed an increase in heat from the PT, turning ON/OFF the unit as frequent to avoid stress to the PSU is the last thing I would be concerned of.
Another thing, the 5AR4 drops 17 V at 225 ma, the 5V4 is 25 Volts at 175 mA, the GZ33 being similar to the 5U4 drops 44 V at 225 mA for G/GA and 50 V at 275 mA for the GB. Not really the same (21/27 volts change!) and I bet that is why the change in sound because you are changing the OP of the tubes. A Mullard GZ33 cost a lot. It seems that a 25W aluminum ohmite dropping resistor on the B+ line will work also no?
Do you have a measurements of the B+ from GZ34 to GZ33 and see the difference? Since you are being adventurous, what is the reason why you did not try a 5U4?