[Hallicrafters] 5U4 Rectifier Tube

[David C. Hallam]

I understand that there must be more than one person willing to pay that
kind of money for the bid price to be that high, but why?  After all a
rectifier is a rectifier, is a rectifier, is a rectifier.  Or did I cut my
electronics class on the day the professor explained the difference?

I've sold $1 flea market find 12AU7's on eBay for $30-$50 when they are the
ones prized for audio.  My Hallicrafters and Johnson rigs certainly don't
know the difference between them and JAN tubes.

David
KC2JD

-----Original Message-----
From: jeff [mailto:jeffv at op.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 10:56 AM
To: dhallam at rapidsys.com
Cc: Hallicrafters at Mailman. Qth. Net
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] 5U4 Rectifier Tube


On Sun, 2006-05-28 at 10:41 -0400, David C. Hallam wrote:
> There is currently on eBay an auction 9731847290 for a pair of NOS Genalex
> 5U4 rectifier tubes.  The current bid price for the pair is $327.  Can
> anyone give me a rational explanation why these tubes should go for that
> much money?  I understand about the audiophooles and all of that, but,
> seriously, why should they be worth that much money to anyone?

because someone's willing to pay that?


I can see paying a few bucks more for something that's actually in the
audio path - I've done it.  My general electronics (in)experience has
not yet told me how a Genelex 5U4 sounds $320 better than a Sovtek 5U4,
but perhaps there's somebody here who can enlighten me.

I know the Genelex will be constructed much better and last longer.

If you want to watch some *real* fur fly, find a pair of Genelex KT66's
or KT88's and put them up for auction.


I also have a `magic' 12AX7 that GE made in about 1961.  This thing is
rock solid and has considerably more gain than any other I've tried.
I'd gladly pay a lot for more of them.  Anything I put it in sounds
better.