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

[acousticsguru]

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

Sophia Electric EL34-ST tubes

Sophia Electric EL34-ST tubes

positive-feedback.com

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]

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.

 

[tedwoods]

The box is from the Swedish Army stock. I have several top notch tubes in similar boxes.

 

[marty]

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,

 

[Steve Williams]

Has anyone compared Philips Miniwatt GZ34 Metal Base. to the Shuguang gz480

 

[acousticsguru]

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]

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

 

[acousticsguru]

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]

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

 

[marty]

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

SG GZ480 tube 1pcs

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Dawning electron tube GZ480 high power rectifier tube king temperament straight generation 274B 5U4G

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[adrian cheng]

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

 

[acousticsguru]

This one was made in 1952

Cool! Thanks for providing photo „proof“!

Greetings from Switzerland, David.

 

[adrian cheng]

Cool! Thanks for providing photo „proof“!

Greetings from Switzerland, David.

You're welcome,David
My GZ34

 

[acousticsguru]

You're welcome,David
My GZ34

And I used to think I’m a hoarder…

Seriously, that’s some collection you have right there! WOW!! Congratulations!

Greetings from Switzerland, David.

 

[acousticsguru]

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 anyoneView attachment 86875View attachment 86876

In the meantime, I've compared these many times. The ShuGuang GZ480 seems to give greater treble extension (I'm having a hard time saying about a rectifier that it "sounds" like this or that, despite the often enormous difference they make), which in turn may result in greater perceived soundstage height (although upon closer inspection, it turns out the GZ34 has great treble extension as well, it's just less obvious in this and most other ways). I love it, but can't say it's better than the legendary GZ34 Metal Base which is unique in its overall coherence and smoothness, extended at both ends of the spectrum, body and weight, great bass, and a less in one's face treble that's so free from brittleness that one might think it less extended, when actually it isn't less so, merely so undistorted and clean. I don’t think it would be unfair to say the GZ480 makes for a more obvious, and the GZ34 Metal Base for a more understated (in the positive sense) sound. I do think it's important to realize that these two rectifiers are veritable beasts that'll take up to an 60µF filter cap, and that appear best used in an amplifier, whereas in e.g. Lampizator DACs which draw little current, they sound paradoxically undernourished. What I love about these is they provide a soft start for amplifiers (and hence all the tubes therein), and the GZ34 Metal Base offers probably the longest life span of any tube rectifier I know of.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.