2. best-of
  3. 1360706268

Best of current production 845 tubes?

Shuguang introduces the best new 845 since the United Electronics 845 W's, circa 1930's. We deserve it. I know that I rolled in just about everything that fit, in hopes of saving some life on the United's.
The Nature Series, as it is known, features the lowest noise level that I could not hear, in a long time.
At $400 a pair, they are among one of the best buys that I have heard. They are easily worth $1,000 per pair, I do not work for Shuguang, but I call things the way I hear them. Get yourself a pair of these before somebody figures out that they are significantly under priced. My system is custom. An integrated Chinese amplifier heavily modified, I had a custom made Coco-Bolo wood box made to accommodate new capacitors. It's tube compliment:
1 pair of Tung-Sol 6SU7 GTY (a 6SL7 on steroids), 1 pair Raytheon CK-5694 (a gift from heaven), it's first cousin is a 6SN7. Driving phase coherent 4-ways, 86db. Source, a custom Reference Audio Mods CD player, which feature four nines silver output transformers, which allow you to skip an active pre.
128x128ws_trader
jarraa
34 posts
 
How does this compare to the Psvane 845-T and W nobleman?
Thanks!
-assad
brf
1,715 posts
 
Ws trader, what is the name of the Shuguang 845? Do you have a link?
bayreuth
25 posts
 
Any other information on this new Shuguang 845 tube? Interested in information on tube designation and vendors in US?
ws_trader's avatar
ws_trader OP
16 posts
 
You can find these tubes on E-bay. I had a perfectly matched pair shipped directly from the Shuguang factory. They are known as the Nature Series. Tell them that Cary aka WS_trader sent you. They will consider you an adept critical listener.

Be patient, brass instruments start off a little harsh, but mine mellowed out after about 75 hours of break-in time. The proper way to break-in any component is to play a variety of music through it.

As a addicted tube roller, I can tell you that the Raytheon CK-5694s are simply the best 6SN7 GTB variant ever produced.
They are electronically similar to a European ECC32/CV-181,
but this time the American tubes are clearly superior to the European tubes in every single way. I found the Mullards lacking in dynamics with a bloated mid-range, and not much to offer in the bottom end. Fortunately they are relatively easy to re-sell to the uninitiated.

With the Raytheons, it is definitely be careful what you wish for. They reproduce everything on the recording, both good and bad. If you like digital effects, stay away from these tubes. Use a piano passage to be the envy of your friends. These tubes summon you to themselves, once heard, after you convince yourself that you are really hearing what your ears are telling you are hearing, and just as important, not hearing what you don't want to be hearing, you will be addicted. I maintain an interested buyers list and can have both the Shuguang Nature Series 845s and the Raytheon CK-5694s broken in at the same time.

Why did the NOS Raytheons go undiscovered for so long?
They have a non-standard octal pin out, which means using a small and simple adapter, or require a re-wiring of the octal sockets that take these. My 5694s are the first tubes to motivated me to re-wire my sockets. It is also a perfect time to upgrade your sockets. Stay away from new sockets, you want them made out of natural materials, with as little metal as possible.

Happy rolling!
lwin's avatar
lwin
585 posts
 
I just purchased a quad of the Shuguang 300B preimium treasure tubes for my amps to replace the stock tubes and even fresh from the box they sounded much better so when I saw this post, I decided to give these a try also. Again, I had to purchase four but if they are as good as stated I will be happy. I will post my impressions once I get them.
More to discover