EL84...what do you like?

[skyboltone]

I have no experience with 6BQ5/EL84 tubes at all. I'm sure that there are opinions all over the block but a few things seem clear. Some of them stink bad in the reliability department.

Any favorites out there?

DanH

[jimipage]

JJ's have been consistently reliable and toneworthy for me. They take the higher voltages quite well, too.

[dartanion]

New Production EL84s are a crap shoot. Some are good some are not and this is not consistent between brands.

I would recommend finding some good used or NOS. Any Mullard made EL84s are WELL WORTH the expense.

[ampdan]

Other than the usual suspects,(nos mullard, telefunken etc.) I've got to say, I am pleasantly surprised with the JJ,s.

[girevik42]

I like the NOS G.E. EL84 (6BQ5). They have a nice balanced sound and good life span. I hope this helps.

[paddy]

+1 for the JJ's

they sound pretty good to me

[klingo]

I like the JJ's because they are warmer sounding than the Sovtek EL84 IMHO.

never tried the Sovtek EL84M which is said to be more reliable(sort of 7189)

one JJ became crazy with screen current (+21v on the cathode resistor ) after 100 hours and... some experiment

JJ's are 3/5 time cheaper than NOS around here,so i go with them.

still waiting for a NOS pair opportunity for great occasions...

What do you think of the Sovtek EL84M (in a 18w liteII,no more than 320v on the plate)?

[girevik42]

As far as current production tubes go, I think JJ's are hard to beat.

[David Root]

If you would like a bit more oompf in your EL84 amps try the Russian (actually USSR) NOS 6P14P-EV. These are military grade and rated for up to 500V plate and could do up to about 25W in P-P AB1, like a 7189A but much cheaper.

Some of these NOS USSR tubes are pretty unusual, eg 6N1P, 6N6P and so on.

[David Root]

If you would like a bit more oompf in your EL84 amps try the Russian (actually USSR) NOS 6P14P-EV. These are military grade and rated for up to 500V plate and Po 24W in P-P AB1.

[908ssp]

I am real impressed with the JJs in my 18 watt.

[tubetek]

David-
Do you know if the 6P14P-EV is the same as the SOVTEK EL84M? It has been the most reliable that I've ever used to this point (although not quite the best sounding) If not, do you know who is currently selling them under that number? Thanks in advance...
tubetek

[dartanion]

Isn't the 6N14P a dual triode?

I think the 6N15 is the EL84/7189 equivalent.

[David Root]

Sorry, I missed this thread for a while.
The 6P14P-EV is I believe a higher Vp and Pa spec than the EL84M, but both are Russian military tubes. Lord Valve sells both, and he reads Russian so he will know any differences for sure! The 6N14P and 6N15P are both dual triodes, the 15 has a common cathode.

The Duncanamps website is where I get this info. "Tube locator" has links to the Russian tube sellers' websites and their charts.

[dartanion]

So I'm retarded

I can't tell the difference between an N and a P