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RE: RCA 5881 command series vs RCA 6189 three mica tubes

tubers, hi. 5881 - meaning, perhaps, 5814? Because there are so many industrial/military four digit tubes it is inevitable that these acquire a mystique. Does it follow that although a four digit tube is uncommon/hard-to-get that it has sonic superiority? Not necessarily. Many of these "special" types had unusual specifications - ie, quick cathode heating, able to tolerate wide heater voltage excursions (battery/mobile), able to take a certain level of physical shock or vibration, longer life via lower B+ & current through the tube, and on and on. These "special" characteristics may have zero to do with sonics per se. Often certain important characteristics (anode dissipation) may be lower than a non-special type. 6SN7GTB versus 5692 comes to mind. It is probably a human characteristic to want that which is rare. With rarity comes performance expectations that often exceed reality. If you are stuck with tube rolling as the only avenue open to sonic exploration you are really stuck at square one.


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