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Re: 2A3 amp question

The confusion is that there are both the original 1930's single plate type and the current Sovtek single plate type.

The original single plate (1930's) tube was a very complex design with a "harp" of filament wires and a single flat plate. Beautiful tube, rather uncommon and very nice sounding. This was the basis of the original 2A3 spec's.

The common NOS 2A3 was a biplate design, using a more conventional filament. It was much tougher, but the orignal specs were never "uprated".

Sovtek's 2A3 uses a single plate that is a downsized 300B plate design, with a conventional filament. The confusion is that it is a very tough tube, and not at all similar to the original single plate design.

Both the Biplate (NOS or Chinese) and Sovtek designs are capable of substantially higher ratings than the original 2A3 spec's which were based on the earlier single plate design.

There are other 2A3 versions including a rare Raytheon 2A3H (an indirectly heated cathode type), a military 5930 (with straight sided bulb and a pair of flat plates) etc.



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  • Re: 2A3 amp question - Gary Kaufman 03/25/0309:58:09 03/25/03 (0)


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