Sovtek 5Y3 vs. JJ

[chuckrock]

It seems like for the past year just about every other Sovtek 5Y3 I've purchased has either been defective or has had some kind of noise issue. I saw that JJ recently released a 5Y3, and was wondering if any of you guys had an opinion on it? Since it appears that JJ & Sovtek are the only companies currently producing these tubes, I wondered how the JJ stacked up. Obviously it would be nice if it dropped voltage similar to the old USA made 5Y3's, but maybe that's just wishful thinking...

Thanks!

[Randy Magee]

The NOS 5Y3GTs haven't gotten real expensive... I'd just get a NOS...

http://www.kcanostubes.com/catalog/17

[Phil_S]

Or cheap used/unknown life on eBait.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CBS-SYLVANIA-RA ... 460497ce55
Hers' a $10 BIN, at that price it's hard to go wrong; this one looks to be GE.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5Y3GT-REALISTIC ... 3cc64cb7df

[cbass]

+1 for NOS they can be easily found for under 20 bucks

[Trout]

Obviously NOS will always be the best choice as long as you are brand specific. Remember, many Raytheon, Realistic, Westinghouse and a few others can often be average to even poor quality re-labeled import tubes.

Out of the very few new production tubes, the JJ 5Y3 is actually a great little tube.
I have a few now approaching 2 years of heavy gig use with none of the typical JJ quirks.

Of the 25 I initially bought the voltage drop was identical to the NOS GE Grey plates I was running out of.

So,
IMO, if you are looking for a 5Y3 tube you can easily replace without hunting around much, The JJ is likely the best choice.

YMMV

[jjman]

The Sovtek "5y3" is not a 5y3. That's why it provides higher voltage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5Y3

I'm thinking that the JJ is made to 5y3 specs but I don't know for sure.