Hi, I just registered. Wondering if anyone has an opinion on the fairly new Ruby EL34BSTR's for use in ST70's. Thanks
4 posters
tube choices
mattst3- Posts : 4
Join date : 2010-03-05
Location : Pennsylvania
Bob Latino- Admin
- Posts : 3276
Join date : 2008-11-26
Location : Massachusetts
mattst3 wrote:Hi, I just registered. Wondering if anyone has an opinion on the fairly new Ruby EL34BSTR's for use in ST70's. Thanks
Hi,
Those Ruby EL34STR's are made by Shuguang in China and are a great value for the money. Shuguang also sells the same tube under their own name and the Valve Art name. They are the same tube and are fine sounding tubes for not a whole lot of cash. The Chinese have come a long way in the past 5 years in making tubes that are more reliable and better sounding. The Ruby GZ34 rectifier tube (also a Chinese tube) IMHO is a better and longer lasting GZ34 rectifier than either the JJ or Sovtek version of the same tube.
Bob
mattst3- Posts : 4
Join date : 2010-03-05
Location : Pennsylvania
Thanks Bob, Do tubes like this have a "burn in time"? Do they get better after time and if so how long and what happens in that time?
Bob Latino- Admin
- Posts : 3276
Join date : 2008-11-26
Location : Massachusetts
mattst3 wrote:Thanks Bob, Do tubes like this have a "burn in time"? Do they get better after time and if so how long and what happens in that time?
Hi,
All tubes seem to have a burn in time until they reach their full audio potential. I would say 100 to 200 hours of play time should do it. From what I understand, metallurgic changes occur in the filaments, plates, screens and cathodes of almost any tube so that the electrons pass in a more linear manner from their source to their destination.
Bob
Tube Nube- Posts : 707
Join date : 2008-12-06
Age : 61
Location : Calgary, AB
I was looking for a the Ruby or Shugang rectifier tube on line. Several times, in fact, with not success.
Does anyone have a source for these?
Brenton
Does anyone have a source for these?
Brenton
Bob Latino- Admin
- Posts : 3276
Join date : 2008-11-26
Location : Massachusetts
Hi Brenton,
Antique Electronic Supply sells the Ruby GZ34. Check the link below which goes to Antique Electronic Supply. The click on "Vacuum Tubes " and then "Ruby". The Ruby GZ34 is $11.90 + shipping.
Antique Electronic Supply
Bob
Antique Electronic Supply sells the Ruby GZ34. Check the link below which goes to Antique Electronic Supply. The click on "Vacuum Tubes " and then "Ruby". The Ruby GZ34 is $11.90 + shipping.
Antique Electronic Supply
Bob
Tube Nube- Posts : 707
Join date : 2008-12-06
Age : 61
Location : Calgary, AB
Thanks Bob!
-Brenton
-Brenton
xlr8- Posts : 68
Join date : 2010-02-09
From what I understand, metallurgic changes occur in the filaments, plates, screens and cathodes of almost any tube so that the electrons pass in a more linear manner from their source to their destination.
Bob
Just to add my 2 cents to what bob said, the same is true for just about any other piece of equipment in the world that runs on electricity. Most manufacturers of televisions, cameras, video recording equipment etc. put their products through at least some type of burn in process before they ever go out the door. A friend of mine used to work at a company formerly known as DVT sensor here in GA. They manufactured digital cameras for use in mechanized manufacturing processes (robots). They had a burn in station that all of their cameras were to sit in while powered up and running their software for at least 24hrs before they were allowed to leave. Believe it or not, the camera's specified resolution actually increased after this process. I was told that it was due to electrical flow smoothing out the electrons in the metal wires and chips. I guess sort of like passing one of those little magnetizers down the shaft of a screw driver and turning it into a magnet. I guess the same basic principal anyway?