What is the 805 vacuum tube?

The 805 is a triode vacuum tube designed for transmitting applications. Large transmitting. Massive headroom..

What is a 805 substitute or equivalent?

Direct equivalents to the 805 include VT-167. These share the same pinout and operating envelope, so they can usually be swapped without circuit changes — though batch-to-batch variations between manufacturers (NOS vs current production) may shift the sonic character noticeably.

What are the key specifications of the 805?

Amplification factor μ ≈ 50, transconductance gm ≈ 4.8 mA/V, plate resistance rp ≈ 10.0 kΩ, max plate voltage 1500 V, max plate dissipation 125 W, heater 10 V / 3.25 A.

Is the 805 still in production?

Production status varies by year and manufacturer. The current Amperatubes catalog classifies the 805 as Moderate availability. NOS (new-old-stock) examples from RCA, Mullard, Tung-Sol, GE, Sylvania and Telefunken trade among collectors; modern production where it exists comes mostly from JJ Electronic, Electro-Harmonix, Tung-Sol (New Sensor), Genalex, and a handful of small-batch makers.

What does the 805 sound like?

Large transmitting. Massive headroom.. Sonic character also depends heavily on the circuit operating point, the surrounding tubes in the stage, and the output transformer when present — use the interactive loadline calculator on this page to explore the trade-offs.

805 Triode Vacuum Tube

Also known as VT-167

Power triode delivering 125W for push-pull and SET designs

TriodeHeater 10 V · 3.25 AUX-4 + Top CapRCA·GE 1934

Plate dissipation: 125W
Max plate voltage: 1500V
Transconductance: 4.8mA/V

805

Characteristics

Datasheet values, once each. Every value cites its sheet.

HeaterDirectly heated

Specifications of 805 — Heater
Heater voltageVh	10 V
Heater currentIh	3.25 A

Limiting valuesDatasheet maximum ratings — not to be exceeded

Specifications of 805 — Limiting values
Plate voltageVa max	1500 V
Plate dissipationPa max	125 W

Mechanical

Specifications of 805 — Mechanical
Base	UX-4 + Top Cap
Rarity	Moderate
Pinout

Small signalDatasheet parameters at the reference operating point — not limits

Specifications of 805 — Small signal
Transconductance	4.8 mA/V
Plate resistance	10 kΩ
Amplification factor	50

Capacitances

Specifications of 805 — Capacitances
Grid–cathode	6.5 pF
Grid–plate	6.5 pF
Plate–cathode	1.5 pF

Charactereditorial reading, not a measurement

Specifications of 805 — Character
Gain	50%
Power	100%
Drive	90%
Linearity	75%

datasheet cited · model or editorial reading · catalogue value, no citation attached yet · nothing invented

Using this tube

Applications

SET output
Push-pull output

Generic triode transmitting stage

PA/public address

Replace or compare

Sources

By Jean-Michel Falligan DevergneReviewed May 29, 2026Source : RCA 805 datasheet (frank/pocnet) · cap audit 2026-05-09Active model : Norman Koren

Manufacturer datasheets

2 manufacturer datasheets cross-checked for 8052 verified

805 DatasheetLocal mirror · PDF

SPICE models

Revision and verification status

Source: RCA 805 datasheet (frank/pocnet) · cap audit 2026-05-09
Reviewed: 2026-05-29
Status: DataModelCalc
Model: Norman Koren

Context

The 805 is a transmitting power triode similar in concept to the 211 and 845, with a thoriated-tungsten filament operating at high plate voltages (typically 1000-1500V). It was designed as an RF oscillator and modulator tube but has found application in high-power audio amplifiers delivering 30-50W in Class A or AB. The 805 has a higher plate dissipation rating than the 211/845, making it suitable for designs that push beyond the typical SET power envelope. Its sound tends toward the dynamic and authoritative, with excellent macro-dynamics and bass control.

History

Introduced: 1934
Manufacturer: RCA·GE
Era: Pre-War

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