Western Electric 310A Mesh Plates – Matched Pair – Square Getter – AMPLITREX Tested – Made in USA
Description:
Note: One of the two valves has a visible crack on the plastic base (see photo), which does not affect its operation.
This matched pair of Western Electric 310As , Made in USA , is one of the rarest and most historically significant versions of this famous tube.
The construction specification with mesh plates and square getters can be traced back to the first Western Electric productions , which can be placed between the end of the 30s and the beginning of the 40s , a period unanimously considered to be the period of maximum qualitative excellence of the American company.
The valves have been tested with AMPLITREX and show an electrical behaviour like NOS , with very high emission , excellent stability and perfect functionality .
The base is perfectly stable and there are no loose parts inside the tube , a fundamental element on this type of historical construction.
Selecting as Matched Pair ensures operational consistency and uniformity of sound output .
Sound Characteristics
The Western Electric 310A with mesh plates is universally recognized as one of the finest signal tubes ever produced, with an absolute reference sound quality.
Bass
Surprisingly articulate and controlled for a signal tube. The low end is precise, fast, and well-defined, with excellent rhythmic tracking.
Medium
The real strength: extraordinarily natural, three-dimensional, and rich in micro-detail. Voices are alive and present; acoustic and jazz instruments reach a rare level of realism.
High
Extended, silky, and refined. The lack of grain and the elegance of the top end are typical of early Western Electric production, with a perfect balance between detail and sweetness.
Dynamics
Excellent, smooth, and immediate. Transient response is quick but never aggressive, with top-notch microdynamics.
Soundstage
Wide, deep, and perfectly layered. The soundstage is stable, three-dimensional, and incredibly realistic, with reference-level instrument separation.
🎧 Use in Hi-Fi Stereo Amplifiers
Ideal for:
- top-of-the-line preamplifiers
- Input and driver stages in single-ended and push-pull amplifiers
- high-efficiency, ultra-high-resolution hi-fi systems
A definitive choice for those seeking maximum transparency, naturalness and musicality .
🎸 Use in Music Applications
Highly appreciated in:
- studio and broadcast equipment
- vintage circuits and reference designs
- applications where silence, linearity and tonal quality are essential
They offer an extremely controlled, harmonically rich yield free from artificial colouring.
🎯 Note for audiophiles and technicians
This Western Electric 310A Mesh Plates – Square Getter – Matched Pair represents:
- a first historical production (late 30s / early 40s)
- one of the rarest and most sought-after variants of the 310A
- NOS-like test on AMPLITREX
- Western Electric build quality at its best
- extremely high sound and collectible value
A pair intended for reference systems , demanding collectors and enthusiasts who desire the authentic Western Electric sound of the origins .
Test Results:
Valves tested on Amplitrex AT-1000 Tube tester :
-
Test Conditions: Va = 180V, Vg2 = 135V, Vg = -3V
- Average 100% Gm = 1.8 ; Ia = 5.5 mA
Valve #1: Gm = 1.70 ; Ia = 5.8 mA
Valve #2: Gm = 1.66 ; Ia = 5.3 mA
Additional Tests Performed:
-
Microphonics and Noise : Standard. Tested and compliant for hi-fi use.
- Output Quality: Excellent – Very strong and stable output, no fluctuations.
- Short circuits and GAS: Absent.
Conditions:
-
Condition: Vintage tubes - Tested and in perfect working order. Shipped in our custom box for optimal protection.
-
Functionality: Fully functional.
-
Cosmetic condition: Excellent – Excellently preserved lettering, minimal signs of wear. See photos for details.
-
Manufacturing Code: not decipherable – Western Electric USA production, identifiable by construction features, attributable to the first productions, late 1930s / early 1940s.
Find out why our valves are different →
Open here
