WHAT ARE SOVTEK TUBES?

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To me it was always a bit vague, what is the marketing strategy behind Sovtek. It is not a factory, but a trade brand, owned by New Sensor, New York. What do you get when you buy Sovtek? This is the vague part. Either these are Russian NOS tubes, simply rebranded. Or, these were new made tubes from the REFLECTOR FACTORY in Saratov, Russia. There is not, and there never was a tube factory, with the name "SOVTEK" on it. It's mostly REFLEKTOR, or otherwise some East European NOS.

6SL7-GT
Order number
111-083-48

6SN7-GT
Order number
111-084-49

6SL7-GT / 6SN7-GT

These are NOS tubes, re marketed by Sovtek. They feature the GT option, which means higher power per system. These have the older, inner glass construction which at those days was hand-made! These are not new made, which is not needed, because in Russia, these can eb found dead easily for low prices.

SOVTEK
12AX7-WA
Order number
111-085-91

12AX7WA / 7025

The Sovtek 12AX7WA is said to be from Russian Military stock. This is probably the only tube of this kind that is available just normally. It has is beautiful black boxed plates. Construction and mechanical quality are absolutely outstanding, so this is the tube of choice by several Japanese amplifier companies at the moment. The boxed construction gives it the appearance oft the famous -holy grail- Telefunken ECC803S.


SOVTEK
12AX7-LP
Order number
111-088-58

Sovtek 12AX7-LP

This is a tube from new production. On Par with many historical European ECC83 tubes.


SOVTEK
12AX7-LPS
Order number
111-089-56

Sovtek 12AX7-LPS

This is a close copy of the Telefunken 12AX7 (ECC83), featuring the spiral heaters. This makes is very suited for low hum applications.

Click in the images to see the details. You can see the ribbed plates, dimensions are the same, also the double mica in the top. Function is this is, to tighten cathode better, and reduce microphonics.

0B2 105Volt reference tube

Though it can be seen (and used) as a small version of OC3, it is not the same. The OB2 is a voltage reference or regulator, whereas OC 3 is a regulator tube only. A reference tube will give amazing voltage stability at exactly the current it needs for that. Get the right value from the datasheet, but it is around 10mA. Alternatively you can use it as a small regulator tube as well (Same principle as a Zener diode).

A reference tube will outdo a Zener diode by far!Zener diodes have a MAJAR problem, and that is temperate dependence is terrible. They have higher noise, and even the high voltage Zener diodes are not very reliable. So a complete circuit with some power electronics may fail, just because the Zener diode breaks down. So even today a gas reference tube is the best you can buy. It was know well in industry, and in many equipment from the past you find OB2, wheras solid state devices would have been available as well at that time. Clickherefor a compare between a Solid State Zener diodes, and the "old" equivalent OC3. Also here is a nicearticleabout gas reference tubes

0C3 - VR105 / 105Volt /40mA regulator tube

This is a regulator tube, no reference tube. The 0C3regulator tube is optimized for not changing the voltage over a wide range of current. When you go above the specified maximum current, this is even possible, when you do not expect the perfect regulation from it, that you have below 40mA. One of the best voltage regulators ever made - and still available. 50x more stabile than a Zener diode. Gas filled tube, without filaments. Has just two connections, and is used like a Zener diode. Can be used as transient suppressor, or stabilizer device. Can be serialized to get the required voltage. Just put four in series and get 420 Volt / 40mA. The American types are lighting pink. The Russian types use Neon gas, and lights up bright orange. Clickherefor a detailed image. Clickherefor a compare between a Solid State 120V Zener diodes, and the "old" equivalent 0C3. Nicearticleabout gas tubes