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45 Lovers - what are your favorite tubes?

The "300B lovers" thread includes some passing discussions about 45 tubes that I found informative. Being relatively late to the "45 game" I only have a couple of pairs of ST 45s for use in my Alan Eaton monoblocks. 

Glow in the Dark audio has some wonderfully written and informative info about the 45 tube, but I thought I'd invite other 45 lovers to share their thoughts here about what tubes they are using, enjoying, preferring and saving. 

Thanks, in advance, for any information you can share.

128x128markusthenaimnut

Showing 4 responses by carlsbad2

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,396 posts
 

I have one set (my amp uses 45, 2A3, or 300b).  I bought a pair of kenrads on ebay just to have a set.  They sounded good.  I settled on some 2.5V 300B mesh from sophia but I've been meaning to put the 45s back in.  I'll try to remember to do that tonight.

Looking forward to reading this thread.

Jerry

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,396 posts
 

As promised, I put the 45s back in tonight. Sound great. I’ll leave them in a few days and change back to see if I can choose which I prefer. First thought is bass is tighter with the 45s. Links are to my google photos page.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZTcTcCyqRkA3SrSV9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DBBAga2hAPvepAk58

Jerry

 

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,396 posts
 

Well, I have to embarrassingly admit that I misidentified my 45 tubes above.  I pulled them out and they are national union.  

Listened to them for a while last night and bass was good but midranges were not as good as my sophia so I'm back to listening to sophia mesh 300b 2.5V for now.

thanks,

Jerry

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,396 posts
 

Charles,

I would certainly like it if someone loaned me a pair of EML mesh plates. I’m probably not going to put money into more tubes for this amp as my new amp will replace it in June. here is a photo of the Sophia Mesh plates.

with manual bias adjust I can always keep dissipation below 25 watts.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bGa2donCbzAfcv6C6

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