Up for sale is a single Western Electric 403A vacuum tube, manufactured in 1963. This is a premium, high-reliability pentode known for its exceptional build quality and longevity with highly coveted "Black Plates."
History & Sound Profile Manufactured during Western Electric’s peak "Military-Industrial" era, the 1952 403A is famous among audiophiles for its legendary Black Plate construction.
The Sound: These are often described as having a "time-machine" quality. They offer a deeper, more authoritative bass response and a more textured, "grain-free" high frequency compared to later 1960s versions.
The Build: Features the rare black plates and the iconic "D-getter" structure of the early 50s. These were built to survive the harshest industrial conditions, resulting in incredibly low microphonics and a black-ink background for your music.
Testing Data (Amplitrex AT1000) Screened for precision on laboratory-grade equipment perfect matched pair:
Tube 1: 3860 Gm (76.0% of NOS spec)
Tube 2 3900 Gm (76.0% of NOS spec)
Target Spec: 5100 Gm Ships with Amplitrex Tested printed results
The Rensselaer Legacy: Curated Western Electric Era Selection
Preserved for decades in the shadow of the historic Western Electric hub in Rensselaer, New York, this archive represents a monumental find of mid-century vacuum technology. From a massive private inventory, we have hand-selected only the most elite units of historic value to the discerning audiophile.
Heritage & Tone
The Rensselaer Provenance: Sourced from the heart of early American tube innovation and Western Electric manufacturing standards.
Golden Age Specification (19501962): Featuring sought-after black plates and D-getters, these tubes offer the signature "warm" harmonic profile that modern replicas cannot match.
Precision Curation: We have bypassed the common stock to present only the elite performers from this vast technical archive.
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