During the time when Andy at Vintage Tube Services had no 5AR4s,
I also talked with Brendan Blever at Tube World.
I told him I was running Bendix 6900s in my Modwright linestage
and had recently gotten the tube-rectified power supply upgrade
which came with a stock Sovtek 5AR4.
I had seen that Brendan had run Bendix 6900s (in place of 5687s)
in his Emotive Audio Sira preamp and he had thought they upped
the perfomance substantially.
We discussed all his 5AR4 offerings and then I asked him what 5AR4
would best complement the resolution and dimensionality of the Bendix 6900s.
He recommended the Philips Miniwatt metal base GZ34 NOS 1957.
I went for the cryoed version and received it maybe 10 days ago
and it has replaced the Sovtek in my Modwright ever since.
The Philips metal base GZ34 is a beautiful tube.
It brings more clean, taut bass content,
some midrange bloom but not bloat,
and adds a touch of sweetness and relaxation
to the high frequency energy of the 6900s.
What it brings to the music in terms of resolution
and smoothness goes way beyond the Sovtek to my ears.
I guess really this part should go in a new thread...
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The Amperex Holland GZ34 from Andy at Vintage Tube services arrived today.
It was extremely well-packed, with foam peanuts in each end
of the green and yellow tube box, which was in layers of bubble wrap
nestled in the center of a one foot cube-shaped box filled with more foam peanuts.
This is another beautiful, even "gorgeous" tube!
All the writing looks pristine and there is a graphic
of a personified tube blowing a bugle
(hence nickname of "Bugle Boy," I guess)
Andy's invoice says:
"Perfect New, Old-Style box. MINT!
Only one I have seen like this in 10+ years!"
I will install this one in the Modwright for break-in
and will compare sonics to the Philips metal base.
This one may end up as backup tube for the Philips metal base.
At least I will have an alternative to the Sovtek in hand...
I agree with whoever said the Sovtek was quiet and seemed "balanced,"
but I cannot go back to the Sovtek after hearing what
the cryoed Philips metal base brings to the music
(just as I cannot go back to any 5687s after hearing what the 6900s bring to the music)
rlmacklin