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5AR4 rectifier tubes - Chinese or Russian?

I'm needing to replace 2 - 5AR4 rectifier tubes in my Primaluna Prologue 3 preamp. Kevin at Upscale Audio has both the Sovtek and Shuguang tubes for $15 bucks each. The next step up is the Japanese tube at $45 each.

The tubes I'm replacing are original so I assume they are the Chinese model and I haven't tried rolling in any others. Should I stick with the Sovtek/Shuguang or step up to the Japanese or other tube replacements?

Eric
tubetan

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tubetan OP
24 posts
 
Having a little trouble locating a matched pair of Mullard NOS or rebranded or even used testing new. I guess I'll be out of tunes for a while, unless I rotate in my old Marantz integrated amp in the meantime.

By the way, it seems that Upscales price on the Japanese tubes is $60 so if I could find Mullards new or used for 85 -100 each that'll be the way I go.

Thanks for everyone's input.

By the way, Kevin Deal said he'd spend his money on the 12AU7s and 12AX7s and not worry about expensive rectifiers,

Eric
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