Hi, I am resurrected this old thread because of similar reason - the 5ar4 is too expensive. Can u share your experience using 5v4g on the prologue 3? Is it worth the money or should I bite the bullet to buy the 5ar4?
Substitute 5V4G tube for 5AR4 tube
I have mostly PrimaLuna equipment, I.E. Prologue 3, 5, and 8
The diode tubes in the Prologue 3 and 8 are 5AR4 tubes (Chinese). I would like to know what sonic changes others may have found by substituting either 5V4G or 5Y3 in place of the 5AR4 diode tube. The 5V4G tubes I am considering are NOS RCA's. All signal tubes, 12AU7 and 12AX7 are Tungsram.
I have rotated RCA cleartops and BB's and still go back to the Tungsgram tubes, although I recently aquired some 12AU7 Slyvaina Gold Brand triple mica, extra rod, that I am experimenting with. I need more time to see which unit they may sound best in, but I did get as far as pluging them into the cd player and noticed right away a focused, stronger base.
The diode tubes in the Prologue 3 and 8 are 5AR4 tubes (Chinese). I would like to know what sonic changes others may have found by substituting either 5V4G or 5Y3 in place of the 5AR4 diode tube. The 5V4G tubes I am considering are NOS RCA's. All signal tubes, 12AU7 and 12AX7 are Tungsram.
I have rotated RCA cleartops and BB's and still go back to the Tungsgram tubes, although I recently aquired some 12AU7 Slyvaina Gold Brand triple mica, extra rod, that I am experimenting with. I need more time to see which unit they may sound best in, but I did get as far as pluging them into the cd player and noticed right away a focused, stronger base.