2. amps-preamps
  3. 1286194112

Best 845 tube out there?

I am running a pair of Cary CAD-211AE monoblocks with the standard no-name Chinese tubes shipped by Cary. Whilst I am happy with the sound, I think I should buy a pair of 845's to keep as backup in case something happens to these tubes.

Because I will need to buy FOUR of them, this rules out any tube that sells for stupid money (e.g. vintage RCA 845 tubes).

The only current production 845's I am aware of are:

- Shuguang 845 "standard"
- Shuguang 845B
- Shuguang 845C
- Shuguang PSVANE 845
- KR Audio 845

I have found reviews of the Shuguang 845B and 845C, but there is virtually no information out there on the new Shuguang "psvane" 845. Has anybody heard this valve, and is it a noticable improvement over the 845B and C? Also, what do people think of the KR?
amfibius

Showing 8 responses by valvulator

valvulator
10 posts
 
Elrog ER-211 sound so good, lots of inner detail and subtle sounds, big elegant and beautiful. I have never experimented such a quality form a chinese tube yet. But they fail too soon and no guarranty. Elrogs betters old General Electrinc and Taylor vt4c by far in my opinion. Is a pitty.
valvulator
10 posts
 
Well I have a pair of Elrog ER-211 for 997 hours use in 10 months. Superb sound in those last hours but now they are dying out of Bias. A pair of them costs as much as many good valve amps ..
valvulator
10 posts
 
Yes, following your comments I'll go for a air of WE211. About the Elrog ones, I'll try to get at least one new valve for replacement. I have a pair of ER-211 hungry for Bias specially one of them already out of parameters.
valvulator
10 posts
 
Somebody knows about the dissipation rate of WE211 ¿?
valvulator
10 posts
 
Since 2006 on I have experimented with all Super TNT (Shuguang) 845 models; B, and all metal: M (then C), True M 100w dissipation and W premium Nobleman model.

845M is the best to my ears, now they are about 3500 hours and still strong. All the rest where fine but all failed at 30 hours or 500 hours except 845B model that I now consider are the true standard for quality and duration. But not the best sounding.

For my 211 mono amps, now I'm thinking on the WE211 to replace my broken Elrogs that costed last may '13, 2100 euros here in Europe.

Tkanks for the review Tcscata.
valvulator
10 posts
 
Elrog failures and not speciffic cases.

Companys like Kondo, Absolare and Voxativ presented their products at the Munich Audio Fest 2012 with these super expensive new tubes, they didn't next year.

Air Tight after presenting Elrogs last year at Munich they still don't trust them to sell their ATM-211 with Elrog's.
valvulator
10 posts
 
We'll I have received a pair of WE211 yesterday, 11 hours use now. I've been told by german distributor that Psvane is offering 12 month guarranty for the Extreme Series so I bought them quick ..
valvulator
10 posts
 
Hi Mikewen,
First impression is visual, we211 is a true replica so it doesn't have a bigger or thicker glass. It's visually very similar to GE. So this is dissaponting when compared to the Elrog bigger, modern and high quality internal structure and really black graphite.

From the point of view of sound is too early to compare, 30 hours running now. Still too much HIFI sound no coherence. But yes they are very quiet. Despite what may seem to what I say i have a good first impression .. I'll let you know !
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