Film of current production 'KR' brand Czech Audio Valves being made.

[David G4EBT]

Just by chance, I spotted a wonderful short film last night in the 'How it’s Made’ series on channel 38, which featured KR brand high end audio 'vintage style' valves being skilfully made by hand in the Czech Republic. I’ve checked on google to find out more about the valves, and have noted that the video can be watched on the website of Tube Depot – an American Company which might be familiar to some forum members.

You can see the 5-minute ‘How It’s Made’ video of the tubes (valves) being made here:

https://tubedepot.com/t/brands/kr-audio

The sharp eyed may note that the intro on the Tube Depot site refers to the KR brand valves being made in the ‘former Czech Republic’. Errr, no - there’s nothing ‘former’ about the Czech Republic – it’s only been in existence since 1993. After WW2, Czechoslovakia remained under Soviet occupation until the bloodless 1989 ‘Velvet Revolution’, when the communist regime collapsed and a multiparty parliamentary republic was formed. In January 1993, the former Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved, with its constituent states becoming the independent states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

None of which has anything to do with the valves/tubes, so enough of that.

Beneath the video are the prices for matched pairs of these tubes, which range from $775 - $995 (USD) per matched pair. Hardly surprising when you see how labour intensive the manufacture of them is.

Tube Depot’s site is interesting, given the recent discussions in another thread about the price of ECC83 valves, of which they sell quite a variety to suit all pockets. Prices range from the cheapest at $10 – to as much as $550 for a matched pair, which are: “Treated with the BLACK SABLE system, these Mullard ECC83 / 12AX7 are just beautiful. With rich, lush mids and accurate top end”. (Further comment on that is superfluous, and probably wouldn't be tolerated). Interesting that someone appears to have bought the Mullard brand name, because on offer at $16.99 are new Mullard boxed ECC83/12AX7 valves which are: “A faithful reproduction of the Mullard 12AX7.This tube has the chime and lushness you would expect from a Mullard without all the cost”. Again – no comment!

https://tubedepot.com/products/mulla...mp-vacuum-tube $16.99

And new production Mullard EL84’s are $16.44 each (about £10.00). Quote: “The new production Mullard EL84 / 6BQ5 is another re-born classic from New Sensor. With lush mids and punchy bass”…

Well worth checking out the valve amp kits and the chokes, mains & output transformers, which seem reasonably priced. EG: 20 Watt American manufactured Output Transformers at $55. (About £35 GBP). Of course, when considering any of the products on offer, as well as ensuring that the transformers are suitable for 50Hz as well as 60 Hz, the import duty and Post Office collection fee need to be factored in, but even so, still probably not prohibitive.

Encouraging to see the wide range of current production as well as N.O.S valves that are available.

Hope that’s as interesting to others as it is to me.

[GrimJosef]

Originally Posted by David G4EBT

... Interesting that someone appears to have bought the Mullard brand name ...

Quote: “The new production Mullard EL84 / 6BQ5 is another re-born classic from New Sensor ..."

New Sensor Corporation are an American company who 'own', among others, the Mullard, Genalex (and possibly other MOV), Tung-Sol, Electro-Harmonix, Svetlana and Sovtek brands. Their valves are made in Russia. However unpicking the intricate and Byzantine details of which valves are made exactly where and of who exactly owns and who exactly controls which brand in which country has made quite a few lawyers quite rich. See here for just one example http://www.stereophile.com/news/022304svetlana/. I gave up trying to work it all out some time ago.

Cheers,

GJ

[Nuvistor]

When I saw the price of 4 matched EAT KT88's, I knew it was too rich for me.

https://tubedepot.com/products/eat-k...e-matched-quad

An interesting site, I enjoyed looking around, thanks for the links to it.
Frank

I could easily watch an hour or two of that with suitable commentary. Did Mullard do something like that?

[Nuvistor]

Try this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDvF89Bh27Y

Frank

[Pamphonica]

...and the video showed them making new PX25s! But at a few £00s each, out of my range!