Hi Myles,
That is intersting. I work for a auto company and we end up with the situation all the time. We'll have two cars build on the same line and get completely different quality scores from both internal and external reportingsources.
I liked the sound I got from both and now have a fist full of all sorts of different tubes that all drive me crazy because I like 'em all and I can never decide what flavor I like "today"!
I would be intersted to hear about who actually makes all the different types of tubes that are on the market. I would guess there isn't that many people making tubes these days.
Todd
Well Todd ... since you asked .... here it is cut and pasted from my website:
CURRENT GLASS ELECTRON TUBE MANUFACTURERS
Updated 8/5/05
We currently estimate that the demand for audio tubes is growing 10% to 20% per year. Audio tubes are over a $200+ million
dollar industry in the USA and possibly $500+ million dollars worldwide.
Note: this list shows all the small glass audio tubes believed in production at this time.(not counting exotic devices, such as
photomultipliers and microwave devices)
RUSSIA
Reflector Corp, Saratov
Makes most of the tubes marketed by New Sensor Co. of New York under the "Sovtek" brand name. Some of these are old
Russian types, others are made especially for export. Types in production: 2A3, 300B, 12AX7 (3 variations known), EL34 (3
versions), 6CA7 fat, 5AR4, 5881, 6922, 6EU7, 6L6GB, 6V6GT, 6072A, 6973, 7199, 7591, 7868, EL84 (2 versions), KT66, KT88, KT90,
6P15P. "Sovtek" also markets 5U4G, 5Y3GT, 6SN7, 6SL7, three 12AX7s and a few other types made at other factories. Note:
there is no "Sovtek" factory. "Sovtek" is only an American brand name owned by New Sensor. New Sensor now owns the
Svetlana brand name and is using on tubes manufactured by Reflector. The Electro Harmonix tube are also made by this
plant. In 2005 New Sensor bought the names of Mullard and Tung-Sol and are placing these names on tubes of their New
Sensor banner.
Ryazan Plant of Electronics, Ryazan
Makes power triodes for RF and audio applications. Some are sold outside Russia by Svetlana Electron Devices. Ryazan has
also made large thyratrons and pulse tubes. Types in production: 811A (popular and sold all over the world), 812A, SV811-3,
SV811-10, SV572-3, SV572-10, SV572-30, SV572-160, GM-100, others. SV types and 812A are made especially for Svetlana
Electron Devices.
SED Winged C, St. Petersburg
A major Russian power-tube manufacturer. Formerly a part of the huge Svetlana collective factory, now independent. SED
tubes are now distributed in North America and Europe by PM Components. Types in production: EL34, SV6L6GC, SV6550C,
300B, EL509, EF86, 6BM8, 6AS7, 3CX300A1, 6D22S, GP-5, and a long list of large power types for amateur radio, broadcast and
industrial uses. KT88 and 12AX7 are have been recently introduced.
Ulyanov, Ulyanovsk
Large state-owned factory specializes in military equipment. Also makes tubes for use in military aircraft electronics. Types in
production: GU-50, GU-13/813, 6S33S-V, 6S19P, 6S41P, others. 6S33 is becoming popular in high-end amplifiers in America and
Japan.
Voskhod, Kaluga
Large collective factory, makes many ICs and other semiconductors as well as receiving tubes. Types in production: 6N1P-EV,
6AX7, 12AX7WA and WB, 6SN7, 6SL7 and a few other types sold by various firms outside Russia, such as New Sensor/"Sovtek"
and Svetlana Electron Devices.
CHINA
Shuguang Electrical Factory No. 1
Owned by Korean firm Samsung. Shuguang makes most of the popular audio and guitar types, which are frequently rebranded
by importers and OEMs. Types believed in production: 6L6GC, EL34 (3 types), 6550, KT100, 5AR4, 2A3, 807. Possibly 211,
845--unconfirmed. Shuguang's low-cost tubes are often seen in guitar amps. (Thanks to Chris Beeching for info.)
Liuzhou
Makes many types which are marketed abroad. PM Components, a British firm, has "Golden Dragon" types made by Liuzhou.
(Thanks to Chris Beeching for info.)
O&J Enterprises/Valve Art
Makes the following: 6L6GC, EL34, 6550A, KT88, KT100, 300B, 300B-C60 (graphite plate 60w), 5300B (graphite plate 80w
150mA), and 6300B (graphite plate 80w 180mA), plus possibly other types, at a factory in Changsha, Hunan. (Thanks to Wilfred
ter Borg for type list.)
"Sino" factory in Beijing recently stopped making 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AU7, 6GH8, 6AN8 and other small tubes, due to a poor
market and tough competition from Sovtek/New Sensor. It is said that Sino made the popular, low-cost 211s and 845s often
seen in SE amplifiers; this cannot be confirmed. Sino is apparently no longer making any tubes. There are other tube factories
in China. Most keep a very low profile. Some of these lesser-known factories specialize in transmitting tubes such as the 811A,
812A, 813, 3-500Z,4-400, 100TH, 833 and others. Such transmitting types are often branded with old American/European brands
and sold without notification that they are Chinese-made, as are the audio types.
SLOVAKIA, CZECH REPUBLICS
JJ Electronic, Cadca, Slovakia
A spinoff from now-defunct state factory Tesla factory. Outside of Slovakia, JJ tubes are often sold under the Teslovak or Tesla
brandname. Groove tubes is a major distributor. Types in production: GZ34, KT88S, EL34, E34L, ECC803S, ECC83/12AX7, EL84,
2A3, 6L6GC, 6V6GTS, 300B, 7027A, 7591S. Some of the power pentode types are available in red or blue glass.
AVVT, Prague, Czech Republic
Run by former Vaic Valve Co. founder Alesa Vaic. Manufatures audio power triodes for high-end hi-fi amplifiers. Types in
production: AV300B SL, AV32B SL, AV62B SL, and others.
KR Enterprise, Prague, Czech Republic
Formerly Vaic Valve Co, now operated by Riccardo and Eunice Kron. Manufactures power triodes for high-end audio
amplifiers. Types in production: VV30B, VV300B, VV52B, KR1, a single-plate 2A3 and other types..
YUGOSLAVIA
EI Electronic Industries, Nis, Serbia
Former state-owned factory, makes all types of electrical products, still making tubes using some old Philips production
tooling and equipment. Marketed outside of Serbia by Edicron Electronic Components Ltd, UK. Types in production: 6CA7,
6CG7, 12AT7, 12AX7, 12BH7, 12DW7, EL34, EL519, PL519, KT90, KT99, EL84, EL86, possibly a few others. Latest reports indicate
that the EI factory was not destroyed in the 1999 Kosovo conflict by NATO missles.
UKRAINE
Poljaron, Lvov
Makes 833A and some Russian power types, plus related products such as vacuum capacitors.
USA
Richardson Electronics, LaFox, IL
Makes a 300B, 845 and 50 sold under the Cetron brand for high-end audio, as well as a KT88 sold under the National brand.
Richardson has large quantities of tooling obtained from old American tube factories when they shut down. Also makes some
larger transmitting and high-voltage types. Richardson markets many tubes, obtained from other factories worldwide, under
their own brandnames; such as Cetron, National and Amperex.
Westrex Corporation, Kansas City, MO
Makes the reissued Western Electric 300B for high-end audio. Claims to be developing a KT88, WE308, WE274A and other old
WE types for future manufacture. Corporate and sales offices are located in Atlanta and Chattanooga. Also has sales office
in UK. Tube manufacturing facility was relocated from Kansas City to Huntsville, AL. This firm is independent of AT&T
Corporation and has licensed the brandnames from AT&T.
MU, Oceanside, CA
Small contract factory, makes occasional runs of unusual glass and metal-ceramic tubes for military use. Still makes some of
the old "Bendix Red Bank" tubes, such as the 6094 and 6384, in occasional lots.
Triton Services ETD, Gaithersburg, MD
Makes some Eimac and Litton glass power types, using equipment from the original manufacturers. Recently discontinued
some glass types, such as 4-65A, 4-125A, 250TH, 304TH/TL, etc. (these types are now only available from China).