Is the Shuguang 5AR4 any good?


I am probably getting carried away here, as I now have three 5AR4s on hand (which includes the one installed in my power supply) and one in the mail and bids in on 3 more (which I highly doubt that I will be successful on), but I just got an offer on a couple of Shuguang and I like having spares and I kind of have a hard time resisting a bargain.

So does anyone have any experience with this particular brand of 5AR4?

immatthewj

For 5AR4 tubes, I have had success with 5R4 RCA and Sylvania purchased on eBay for under $30 per tube.  This are the coke bottle looking tubes not the straight glass.  I find the coke bottle tubes are better sounding in my system.  The RCA is a typical sweeter in the mid-range and softer in the bass regions.  The Sylvania more forward, clearer, better balanced sound top to bottom.  While the GZ-34 JJs are nice sounding tubes, they just do not have the magic of the others we have tried.  We have about 5 more to test like the Westinghouse, etc., just for giggles.

OP:

Sent you a PM via the A’Gon system with a few personal insights regarding your query.

It can be accessed by clicking on your account, going to "dashboard" and then to "messages".

Considering the current "frenzy" currently going on regarding purchasing tubes I felt it best to keep the advice (good/bad) private and such does not involve selling items (just advice based upon past experience).

PS:

Forgot to mention the (48) vacuum packed 6oz bricks of our favorite espresso coffee I purchased early last year (codes dates good for the end of 2023) and the 21+ pairs of the original Columbia ROC trousers I purchased on closeout in 2011/2012 (still have 6+ new in the original packaging and I'm hard on clothing).

Just took a coffee inventory and we have 19 bricks left.

 

DeKay

@dekay

thank you and I just shot you a reply thanking you for the advice. If you don’t get it, it is not because I am impolite when someone takes time to educate me, but for some reason it triggered a message warning me "Conversation added to Moderation Queue for Review by Support." Which I completely don’t understand, but so be it, and thank you again for adding to my education on NOS tubes.

And good deal on the coffee!  I can relate to that.  Maybe not on the coffee, but there are other things. . . .

 

Here's an old thread on your pre -w- supposed advice from Cary in regard to what/what not rectifier type to use (5R4 is not recommended).

 

 

DeKay