2A3C Mono plate: Shuguang Or Sovtek?

[levelfive]

Hey guys!

I've been around this forum for a few weeks, having got interested in a good sounded 2A3 pair for my SET.

The choice is: 2A3C Mono plate Shuguang Or 2A3 Monoplate Sovtek.
I would like to know which 2A3 would you propose?

Does anyone have experiences with this tubes?

Thanks for the advice!

[azazello]

Try better with 2A3 RCA....Very good sound and noiseless work
with 2 volt AC PS.

[robot]

I've both of them, Shuguang is big bulky tube, but contrary has a pretty light sound as some would expect by its size,very detailed; Sovtek is a nice sounding tube, especially for the price is a bargain. Sound is solid, with nice mids, and "warm" sounding in comparision with Chinese tube. RCA is hard to compare with previous tubes, but for the price I would rather choose Sovtek. Try also EH. Driver tube is also very important for the overal sound of the amplifier.

[kevinkr]

Another option might be the JJ version of the 2A3 which is basically a 300B with 2.5V filaments.

I've used the Sovtek 2A3 monoplate and while not quite a match for a good set of Kenrad dual box plate 2A3 it is surprisingly good for the money.

If you can afford it a pair of Kenrad box plate 2A3 off of eBay would be my first choice. (Black internal coated glass 1940's vintage)

[robot]

@levelfive, as I recognize properly a flag of your country, you live in tubes Mecca, Russia. When you walk around fleemarkets, if you notice smal, fat glass bottle with markings 2C4C Svetlana, catch it quickly. This tube is fantastic, practicaly equal to a NOS american tubes. If you found another pair please, notice me and I will destroy tham in my pair of UX4 sockets...

[levelfive]

Originally posted by azazello
Try better with 2A3 RCA....Very good sound and noiseless work
with 2 volt AC PS.

Thanks for the tip, but RCA are not in my budget

[levelfive]

Originally posted by kevinkr

I've used the Sovtek 2A3 monoplate and while not quite a match for a good set of Kenrad dual box plate 2A3 it is surprisingly good for the money.

Kevin, thank you for you experience!

[levelfive]

Originally posted by robot
I've both of them, Shuguang is big bulky tube, but contrary has a pretty light sound as some would expect by its size,very detailed;

Ok, interesting.
What i found on audiokarma forum:

Midrange is a little closed in (at least in comparison to the RCA’s) and treble extension a touch soft but these are the areas where they seem to be improving the most so I’m not drawing any conclusions yet. The biggest surprise is in the bass – these seem to go deeper, tighter and with more power

PS: about fleemarkets here. a big chance to buy junk (at one's own risk) and the gain in price is not too big. I preffer the matched pair from German/UK/US onlineshop, so that to save the time and money
The NOS 2C4C Svetlana is very hard to find here.

[kevinkr]

The Kenrads generally go for less than the RCA 2A3 and I prefer them, however I don't know whether or not they would be affordable.

I have heard good things about the Svetlana 2C4C, and IIRC might have heard a pair at one point. They aren't very easy to find anywhere I guess.

Pretty much the same at flea markets here, however at radio shows good bargains are still to be had if you get there early and look carefully. You don't have any radio collectors clubs in Russia that sponsor such shows?

[levelfive]

Originally posted by kevinkr
You don't have any radio collectors clubs in Russia that sponsor such shows?

I dont now about clubs of such nature - by us the slump is in the full bloom