6BQ5/EL84
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Tom Bombadil
AK Member
Many will opine for the glorious tubes of yesterday. But some of the re-issues are well regarded.
Jim McShane likes the Genalex Gold Lion current production. They are a bit pricier. About $30/ea.
The reviews on Upscale Audio and other boards are good for the Mullard reissues.
And while the regards are a bit less glowing for the Tung Sol reissue, in terms of producing a warm EL84 sound, they are very low in noise and microphonics. These can be had for as low as $15/each.
Jim McShane likes the Genalex Gold Lion current production. They are a bit pricier. About $30/ea.
The reviews on Upscale Audio and other boards are good for the Mullard reissues.
And while the regards are a bit less glowing for the Tung Sol reissue, in terms of producing a warm EL84 sound, they are very low in noise and microphonics. These can be had for as low as $15/each.
Shadowdog
Super Member
Depends what amp they're going in as Jim McShane's site warns about some amps running those tubes too
hard and on other forms the EH are in the same boat. I would imagine the reissue TS & Mullard Reissues
as they come from New Sensor also would have the same problems with HV.
The JJ seem to be better and for sure the Russian military types can take it.
Dave Gillespie's EFB mod added to an amp might be the answer if it is cathode biased as it has allowed the
reissue GL's to be used safely in the Dynaco ST/SCA-35.
hard and on other forms the EH are in the same boat. I would imagine the reissue TS & Mullard Reissues
as they come from New Sensor also would have the same problems with HV.
The JJ seem to be better and for sure the Russian military types can take it.
Dave Gillespie's EFB mod added to an amp might be the answer if it is cathode biased as it has allowed the
reissue GL's to be used safely in the Dynaco ST/SCA-35.
Jim Shearer
Active Member
A couple years ago I built a Dynakitparts.com ST-35 w/ fixed bias kit upgrade. I purchased the recommended 'upgrade' tubes: JJ EL-84. The JJs were crap! Two bottles cracked along the pins on insertion. A few weeks later, one of the tubes ran wild & blew up the amp! I probably would have been OK if I had purchased the Electro Harmonics tubes, but who knows? I inquired of Jim McShane what he could sell me that would be better; he recommended (and I purchased) NOS Russian military 6P14P-EB; and the ST-35 has been sounding sweet ever since!
Cheers, Jim
Cheers, Jim
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
I picked up a matched set of TAD EL84STR's a bit back and am lovin' them. Those are a heavy duty version, similar in construction to the 7189 industrial tubes. They'll run fine at "stock" power levels, but you can push more watts if your amp has the iron for the job. That said, if you run them at stock settings, you'll end up with a bit more headroom - never a bad thing. Heavy glass which makes them slightly larger than a standard tube, so keep that in mind if your tubes are piled in tight.
Here's the spec sheet.
https://www.tubesandmore.com/sites/default/files/associated_files/t-el84-tad.pdf
Here's the spec sheet.
https://www.tubesandmore.com/sites/default/files/associated_files/t-el84-tad.pdf
jaymanaa
RIP 1961-2018
Another good one, that probably beats the sovtek in SQ.
Seems normal to me.
300v on plate and screen with a 130 ohm resistor is straight out of the spec manual. The RCA datasheet says 72ma per pair of tubes, so you're right on the money.
The Soviet ones do well, but ideally you want to get them from someone that will match a set for you. I've gotten groups of them direct from the Ukraine before and the performance is all over the map. I read somewhere that the Sovtek EL84M is effectively the same tube, but it seems you can get them more readily from tube vendors that will match them up for you.
FWIW, I'm running those Soviet tubes in a Fisher 600 that calls for 7189 tubes and runs them a bit on the hard side.
The Soviet ones do well, but ideally you want to get them from someone that will match a set for you. I've gotten groups of them direct from the Ukraine before and the performance is all over the map. I read somewhere that the Sovtek EL84M is effectively the same tube, but it seems you can get them more readily from tube vendors that will match them up for you.
FWIW, I'm running those Soviet tubes in a Fisher 600 that calls for 7189 tubes and runs them a bit on the hard side.
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Got a set of (formerly NOS) '60's Sylvania in an amp right now. Mine have got maybe a 100 hours on them. Very tasty. Bit hard to find, but worth the hunt!
ikorman
Active Member
A year or so ago, I was looking for 7189 replacements for my HH Scott amp. Now, 7189 replacements will work in EL84 application, because they are beefier. I purchased a new matched set of 6P14P Russian tubes from eBay, and my amp is running amazingly well, and sounds great. These are harder to get new now, but this place seems to have them:
http://www.tubes-store.com/product_info.php?products_id=20
http://www.tubes-store.com/product_info.php?products_id=20
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
No you did n't ... <G>
And there can be a BIG difference between "safe" and "good"!
