Eico or HH scott?

[NYListens]

Nothing, 'specially now that decent new production is available and prices of NOS have consequently abated.

It's just that every 7591 (and 7868, which is the same tube in a different bottle) amp/receiver I've heard sounds good, but lacks that ultimate spark of real life. Conversely, I think that every EL84/7189 amp (even push-pull, pentode-mode) I've heard has it. The HF-81 has it in spades. Even the modest Dyna SCA-35 has wonderful midrange and decent everything else.

Yeah, I own some 7591 amps and receivers, too... I even used to have a single-ended 7591 stereo "integrated" amp from a Westinghouse hifi (which I passed on to Markus). I am not ant-7591; I just prefer other output tubes based on experience.

Interesting thoughts. I have a Fisher 500-S with 7189s and I love it (its actually my favorite). I also have a Fisher 500-B with 7591s and I love its sound too. Unfortunately, my 500-S isn't powerful enough to drive my Apogee speakers, but my 500-B is. I had a Fisher TA 600 and didn't care for its sound at all, even though I was using the same components and 7189 output tubes as in the 500-S. :scratch2:

 

[GordonW]

Nothing, 'specially now that decent new production is available and prices of NOS have consequently abated.

It's just that every 7591 (and 7868, which is the same tube in a different bottle) amp/receiver I've heard sounds good, but lacks that ultimate spark of real life. Conversely, I think that every EL84/7189 amp (even push-pull, pentode-mode) I've heard has it. The HF-81 has it in spades. Even the modest Dyna SCA-35 has wonderful midrange and decent everything else.

Yeah, I own some 7591 amps and receivers, too... I even used to have a single-ended 7591 stereo "integrated" amp from a Westinghouse hifi (which I passed on to Markus). I am not ant-7591; I just prefer other output tubes based on experience.

I dunno about that. IMHO, the Sherwood S5000-II I just finished restoring (with a new set of EH 7868 outputs) just plain LAYS TO WASTE every EL84 amp I've heard, other than the Manley Stingray. Just plainly more life-like dynamics.

I have no idea why those Sherwoods sound so good... the output iron is not especially hefty looking (not wimpy, just not giant)... but the thing just DELIVERS...

Regards,
Gordon.