EL34 Questions/Suggestions

[Tim 700]

Picked up an EL34 based amp (EAR 534), can also use 6L6 or KT66 output tubes.

I guess the amp is about 10 years old and same with the tubes. The manual says the tubes last 3-5 years.



I'm open to any and all suggestions on your experience with EL34, 6L6 and KT66

Amp Valves List:
2 (ECC83)
2(ECC85)
8(El34)

Pre Amp Valves List:
1(ECC82)
4(ECC83)

 

[mikejennings]

I recently re-tubed my Jolida 302B with Gold Lion KT77s [direct replacement] from Jim McShane… Liked the amp a lot before… Love it now.
Mike

 

[whoaru99]

Picked up an EL34 based amp (EAR 534), can also use 6L6 or KT66 output tubes.

I guess the amp is about 10 years old and same with the tubes. The manual says the tubes last 3-5 years.

I'm finding the sound over all very good, however lacking some bass and warmth. Perhaps this is just the nature of El34's?

I'm open to any and all suggestions on your experience with EL34, 6L6 and KT66

Amp Valves List:
2 (ECC83)
2(ECC85)
8(El34)

Pre Amp Valves List:
1(ECC82)
4(ECC83)

I don't have a lot of experience rolling power tubes. However, by the accounts/descriptions I've read, I would expect the EL34 to be the more laid back tube of the bunch you listed.

 

[Destructor]

I Built the AES Superamp some years ago, it can take KT88, KT66, 6l6, 5881, 6V6, or EL34’s. I settled on EL34’s running in triode mode. I’m using fraudulent Russian Mullards that I pulled out of my ST70. They sound very good as well as the EH EL34’s before that. The only two types I have used are the Russian EL34’s and the RFT’s that originally came with my ST70. They also sounded very good. I don’t think the Russian Mullards sound any better than EH. I am curious about the newer Chinese EL34’s. A lot of guitar people seem to like them and it appears they have a better reputation than they used to have, they are cheap enough.

 

[Tom Bavis]

Amp may be 10 years old but you don't know how many hours they have. Testing all of them would be best. Mismatched output tubes will cause loss of bass, possibly some hum (depending on how much power supply filtering there is), and will reduce maximum power. If you hear a difference between channels then tubes may be one suspect (they seldom age at exactly the same rate).

 

[Tube Sound]

I'm running a matched quad of Penta (rebranded Chinese) KT-66's in Quad II's. I've been very pleased and they're beautiful to look at. Purchased at Doug's Tubes.

 

[Tim 700]

@Tom, as per my manual "Use of matched tubes is not required." Also "There are no user-adjustable bias controls or voltages to check."

Part of Tim Paravicini's design.

Keep the comments coming on tube recommendations and experience. I'm going to give this a month or two, change up speakers etc. before I start rolling.

 

[Destructor]

I also liked Chinese KT66's in my amp, they have been very dependable.