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looking for recommendations: EL84 matched quad, new production

tubeampking

tubeampking

Chronic dabbler
My Magnavox 9302 is finished with all of the upgrades on Dave G's thread (THANKS DAVE!!!). Now Im looking for a matched quad of EL84s for it. I think Ill go with new production as I want new tubes....truly matched...and dont have the budget for NOS. Can anyone share their thoughts and or experience with current production varieties? Since the new Mullard and Tungsol are made in the same plant as Sovtek, how much different can they be? OTOH if Im going to put out 100 bux plus, why not get some nice tested used tubes? Anyone?
 
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Why not 6P14P-EV from ebay ?

Running this for 4 years,

Barely tested 6P14P-ER , Mullards reissues, JJ , Sylvania Baldwin branded Black Plates a long time ago.

All EL84 sounds good, so i deceided to stick with the stock tubes my amp came with, the 6P14P-EV, not tired with this.
 
sovtek el84/el84M matched quads from AES/tubedepot
or the bay. whichever is cheepest w/shipping or free shipping.
 
The Sovtek EL84M is my favorite new-production, and there are places that sell them in matched quads (e.g. tubedepot.com). It's a 6P14P-EV. In the 9302, a regular EL84 / 6P14P would be fine. Is there something wrong with your original tubes?
 
I've had good luck with Sovtek EL84Ms, and you can buy matched quads for about $20 per tube. Supposed to be the same as the 6P14P-EV. These are capable replacements for the heavier-duty members of the EL84 family, the 7189/7189A tubes (higher plate voltage--400V+), but ought to work in lower voltage circuits. I've also heard good things about the Russian Electro-Harmonix EL84 tubes. These are about $12/tube for a matched quad, but I haven't personally used them. Watch buying tested used tubes--a tube tester can't really check these output tubes at operating conditions and you may or may not get good-sounding (or lasting) tubes, even if they test 'good' on the checker. Good luck!
 
I have the 6P14P-EV in my Fisher and they are great tubes. I would like a matched quad and when buying from ebay, you never know. Some sellers think matched means the same brand...Id rather trust a commercial vendor like AES or Tube Depot. T.D. doesnt charge extra for matched quads...
 
I don't tink sellers sells as matched tubes only by the same brand, you can ask seller with witch tube tester they tested the tubes and what's the readings.

One thing that i'm now sure is that variant last for very long when .used in a standard EL84/6BQ5 specs.

If Sovtek EL84M are the same from reputable vendors, go.
 
JJ EL84 seem to work pretty good. I have a couple matched quads, one from AES and one from McShane. They sound pretty good to me.
 
this thread has brought to mind a question about Sovtek EL84s.
Is there a sound difference between the Sovtek EL84M and plain EL84?
 
No experience with any of these Sovtek

6P14P Non EV-ER sounds mellow, seems to have a little more bass or little less midrange/highs than their higher durability versions.

Maybe this was just an impression, if anyone can confirm that impression.
 
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I have many EL84 types in my tube box, but no EL84M. I do have standard Sovteks in several brand names. They sound pretty good. I slightly prefer older GE and RCA to them, but it is close. I have a pair of the new issue Mullard EL84, which seem to be almost identical to Sovtek.
 
I get mine from Jim McShane. He has a test rig that runs the tubes up to 500+ Volts and matches them by tube draw. I've never gotten a quad that had a spread of more than 2ma, and more often than not they are matched in pair's to within 1 ma. And his prices are competitive with the Big stores. I just got a quad of 7868's(EH's) that the total spread was 1ma. And a Quad of TungSol 7591's with a 2ma (2 pair matches) one of the tubes died in a horrific arcing and shorting incident after 48 hours. I emailed Jim with the spec's written on the tube box, sent the old tube back and had a new tube less than 48 hours later. Tube spec's identical. No problems with the new ones. His EL-84M Sovteks are very nice. I'm using a pair in a 58 Fisher Contemporary with plate voltages of 380+VDC. The originals were Mullard 7189's and well worn out. Running them daily with NO PROBLEMS and they push 3 Jensens (15", 8", 3") quite well.

I use 6p14p-ev in most of my EL-84 amps/radios/consoles(Before the EL-84M Sovtek), as they tend to eat 6bq5's fairly quickly. The EL-84M or 6p14p-ev are for all intents and purposes a functional equivalent to the old 7189. They will both take on the 400+ Plate voltages and laugh.
 
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