Philips Miniwatt GZ34 Metal Base made in Holland with a Erik Akerlund & Ruben Rausing box

acousticsguru

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Feb 17, 2014
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FYI(scroll down to see the rectifier comparison): https://jeffsplace.positive-feedbac...-san-alan-sans-gec-px25-monaural-sets-part-2/

Needless to say, when I said top three above I meant for Lampizator DACs. The Marconi is wonderful, as is WE 274b and 422. It doesn’t make much sense to refer to a single one of these very finest as “Holy Grail“ for two reasons: synergy plus the fact some literally cannot be used in some gear e.g. because filter capacitor values.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
 

acousticsguru

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Feb 17, 2014
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Anyone willing to pay the cost of a metal base GZ34 should look for a U52 instead. Prices are similar but the U52 superior to the metal base GZ34 in all significant parameters.
See, that is what I meant above: an NOS U52 (maximum reservoir capacitor 16µF) would have an extremely short life in e.g. a Decware amp. If there was a “Holy Grail” rectifier, it would have to be “fits all applications”.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
 
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tedwoods

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Dec 14, 2021
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The box is from the Swedish Army stock. I have several top notch tubes in similar boxes.
 
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marty

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I've been using a NOS Amperex GZ34 in my Lampi GG2 for a few weeks. It is outstanding. I never would have thought such incredible sound could come from this mighty little rectifier. Highly recommended. FWIW, it takes 2-3 days to break-in and show its stuff. By 7 days, it was singing,
 

acousticsguru

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Feb 17, 2014
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Has anyone compared Philips Miniwatt GZ34 Metal Base. to the Shuguang gz480
Norman has, but his GZ34 Metal Base didn't sound anything like a couple of others we tried. Having said that, isn't the GZ480 out of production?

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Norman has, but his GZ34 Metal Base didn't sound anything like a couple of others we tried. Having said that, isn't the GZ480 out of production?

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
It is temporarily as I heard there was a fire at the Shuguang factory but I obtained a brand new one from a dealer in China. I love this tube and was interested in a comparison from anyone 459-98f504eb0ae638e2d7f5b79494915e58.jpg 460-1db8f6afbf6745dcff8d1bab634c914b.jpg
 

acousticsguru

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Feb 17, 2014
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It is temporarily as I heard there was a fire at the Shuguang factory but I obtained a brand new one from a dealer in China. I love this tube and was interested in a comparison from anyone
Christoph and I have been looking for GZ480, but not luck. I know Norman is quite enthusiastic about it.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
as I said I did a search and found a dealer in China who advertised the tube but said "out of stock" I emailed them and asked when they might expect the tube. He replied immediately and said "out of stock does not mean unavailable". He got me a brand new one and I received it in under a week
 
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marty

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Christoph and I have been looking for GZ480, but not luck. I know Norman is quite enthusiastic about it.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
FWIW- big difference in price between these 3 sources



 

adrian cheng

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Mar 2, 2022
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As far as I know, the famous Metal Base was only made in The Netherlands from 1954-57 (should mention I've read 1951-58 more than once, but have come to doubt this is correct, as I've never seen one outside the aforementioned 4-year span), regardless of what the rebranding on them might say, and that includes the Mullard, which clearly state "Made in Holland" on them. Some of the later bakelite base GZ34s, the earliest of those being the so-called "Fat Base" (straight bottle), were made in the Blackburn factory.

View attachment 78314

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
This one was made in 1952
 

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