I bought my Belcanto seti 40 with 3 pairs of Shuguang 845's- regular aluminum base graphite electrode, type B's, and a pair of metal plates.
The aluminum ones were noisy within an hour or so of use, the B's were "OK", and the metal plates were ethereal! Unfortunately the metal plates didn't last forever, the actual metal electrode plates overheated, flared and came loose with time, they did last for 2 yrs though. I am currently using B's, but have ordered 2 pairs of metal plate 845's from "chinesetubes.com", I have read that if the metal plates test out ok for 30-40 hrs they are likely to last "the distance". Chinesetubes.com have a 60 day return policy so at just under $200 for a pair I'm willing to give them a try, until hopefully Shuguang change their policy and make more Noblemen type tubes. In short,if your amp can handle them, the best non NOS 845's are the metal plate Shuguangs.
The aluminum ones were noisy within an hour or so of use, the B's were "OK", and the metal plates were ethereal! Unfortunately the metal plates didn't last forever, the actual metal electrode plates overheated, flared and came loose with time, they did last for 2 yrs though. I am currently using B's, but have ordered 2 pairs of metal plate 845's from "chinesetubes.com", I have read that if the metal plates test out ok for 30-40 hrs they are likely to last "the distance". Chinesetubes.com have a 60 day return policy so at just under $200 for a pair I'm willing to give them a try, until hopefully Shuguang change their policy and make more Noblemen type tubes. In short,if your amp can handle them, the best non NOS 845's are the metal plate Shuguangs.