Classic Hifi Care

I tested the tubes on the Phonola and one of the 50C5 outputs tested sort of weak , so I figured I would order one to keep on hand....WTH? 40 bucks for a single 50C5?... not more than a couple years ago you could get all you wanted for 5 bucks a piece... I thought transistor prices were nuts ... what is the justification for pricing so high?...these were made by the millions, they can't be as rare as a 1L6....

Where are you shopping? findatube.com has them for $5.

His shipping isn't always the fastest, but my hobbies have no schedule.

How many do you need? I have hundreds. $40 apiece, huh? I'm rich!!!!

Let me know how many you need. I have good, tested, used, I have NOS in white boxes and I have NOS in original boxes. Some brand specifics, not many anymore. I'm sure we can come up with something we can both live with. Send me a PM if I can help.

AES was one of the first tube vendors to raise the price of 35W4's and 50C5's to nosebleed levels. Their bid list, the price THEY pay is like 90 cents apiece.

Seriously, there is no need to pay the big money for common radio and record player tubes when I still have enough to supply everybody on this forum for three lifetimes. 35W4, 35Z5, 35/50L6, 35/50C5, 35/50EH5, 12SA7/12BE6, 12SK7/12BA6, 12AV6/12AT6/12SQ7. No "big" audio tubes such as 6V6, 6BQ5, that stuff. I have lots of auto radio stuff left for some reason. LOTS of OZ4's. Available to members of this forum only. I don't intend to start a mail order business...

Tube depot.... 39.95 for a 50C5, I think I read somewhere that the kids took over the site from the original owner ....I do have some as well , but most are also worn out ... I don't need one that bad ... I can steal one from the multitude of sets I have ...I just was floored by that price, I was searching for a replacement 6M11 which is still a reasonable 8 bucks ...

If you think that's bad be glad you aren't looking for vintage 12ax7s, EL-34s, KT88s and the like. You'll need to take out a second mortgage for those.

The big prices for tubes are paid by the audiophile crowd. Some of them feel like if they overpay for something that makes it better. The more they overpay, the better it becomes. I don't understand that thinking.

hermitcrab wrote: ↑Fri May 05, 2023 7:06 pm Tube depot.... 39.95 for a 50C5, I think I read somewhere that the kids took over the site from the original owner ....I do have some as well , but most are also worn out ... I don't need one that bad ... I can steal one from the multitude of sets I have ...I just was floored by that price, I was searching for a replacement 6M11 which is still a reasonable 8 bucks ...

At $39.95 ea for 50C5, they will be sitting on a huge pile of 50C5s for a loooooong time.

There are very few audiophiles that are seeking the lowly 50C5.

You have to wonder what group of "big spenders" has discovered the 50C5 that encourages tube vendor(s) to ask such prices for them..

Jim at Vacuum Tubes Inc. has NOS 50C5's for 9 bucks each.

Oops. Just noticed they are out of stock at VTI.

Actually it's the guitar crowd that has inflated prices. It's estimated that currently 85-90% of the global tube market is for guitar, and has been for a long time. Just go to their groups online and read the discussions. Audiophile demand is a drop in the bucket.

Firedome wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 3:56 pm If you think that's bad be glad you aren't looking for vintage 12ax7s, EL-34s, KT88s and the like. You'll need to take out a second mortgage for those.

you gotta pay for that square getter....