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Tubes & Valves Upgrades, Spares & General Comments |
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#1
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I've read that some audiophiles feel the EL-84 tube--for push-pull tube amps--is the "King of Audio Tubes." Can this bold statement be true of the little EL-84 power tube?
Several audio articles support this view. An article in Vacuum Tube Valley, "The Baby with Bite,"; referred to the EL-84 tube's history and strengths. In a a second article from the Mapleshade catalogue, Pierre Sprey claims the EL-84 in the smaller Heathkit and Scott amps out perform larger EL-34 and KT-88 tube amps. The third article is a Dick Olsher review from The Absolute Sound on Bob Carver's Black Magic 20, a EL-84 based amp. Carver says, he gets great sound from the EL-84 and really does not know why, although one reason was a simpler circuit topology which did not necessarily need a driver stage. In the review's conclusion, Olsher says, "Kudos to Bob Carver for taking the road less traveled and focusing his design energy on the EL84 pentode; the power tube that high-end audio seems to have forgotten. The Black Magic will surprise many with a sonic signature that is more rhythmically convincing than that of most KT88 and EL34 amps. It boogies far better than many more expensive and powerful amps. Its major sonic attributes are a clear mid-range tone, plenty of low-level detail, excellent sound stage transparency, and a well-controlled treble range." Also, Arthur Salvatore, on his website, HIGH-END AUDIO and Arthur Salvatore, praises the EL-84 based VTL Tiny Triodes as having, "excellent speed and detail like good solid-state amps, but they also have the natural body and richness of tube amps. . . Even the bass is excellent, with the right speakers." In addition, some more reviews of EL84 based amps: 6moons review of the Luxman SQ-N100, 6moons audio reviews: Luxman SQ-N100 Srajan Ebaen praises this EL84 based integrated as comparing favorable even to the sound quality of SET amps! Soundstage! review of the Manley Mahi Mahi: SoundStage! Equipment Review - Manley Laboratories Mahi Mono Amplifiers (9/2005) Vade Forrester said, "Robust and dynamic"; "orchestral sonorities were rich and full, with realistic instrumental timbres." "Bass was taut and deep"; "highs were similarly excellent; not etched or peaky, just extended and detailed." "They just make listening to music fun." Roger Last edited by Steady339; 07-30-2016 at 07:32 PM. |
#2
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Good morning all, have had a 84 push-pull for a number of years and just replaced the 4 Sovtek EL84's with the 84M...sounds all good but would be interested in comments on this tube from any more knowledgeable or experienced...
thanks, rikm |
#3
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rikm... Welcome to AA!
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#4
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I found the EL84 overdrives too easy (hence The baby with Bite reference) and was a bit grainy sounding in both amps I had with that tube. When I was into tube gear, I preferred the EL34, 6550 and 300B. In hi-fi applications, I find the EL84 does not have the midrange bloom of the EL34 or the balls of the 6550.
Even when I was a blues guitar player, I never warmed up to the EL84, especially in combo amps like the Fender Blues Jr. Preferred the 6V6. But, a lot of folks love the EL84 in both the hi-fi and guitar camps! Last edited by AlienViolet; 06-09-2015 at 10:57 PM. Reason: spelling |
#5
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Thanks for the welcome Masterlu, and for your comments AlienViolet,
...well don't do the guitar thing, but have had the amp for 6-8 years, driving my old pair of Polk Monitor 7's, and it has always seemed fine...was hoping for a little more punch with the 84M's but I think the old set of 84's had faded a bit, so not sure if the improvement is because of the 'M' or because it's 4 new tubes... |
#6
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What amp are you using?
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#7
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I'm not exactly a tube aficionado, but I have a Luxman SQ-N100 using EL 84s (using Fold Lion tubes at the moment) and love the sound with headphones and small monitors (currently PSB Imagine Minis). It's very good in the midrange at low-reasonable volume levels and gets instrumental timbres right. It just can't play very loud.
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Tony D'Agostino Momentum S250 MxV & HD pre; Linn Klimax Organik DSM, SonicTransporter, EtherRegen; Acoustic Signature Typhoon Neo, Koetsu RSP, Boulder 1108; Sf Il Cremonese; Shunyata Everest, Altaira, Sigma & Alpha v2 |
#8
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Quote:
6moons audio reviews: Luxman SQ-N100 Roger Last edited by Steady339; 07-13-2015 at 08:32 PM. |
#9
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Just ordered a Luxman SQ-N10, the new version of the SQ-N100 with a digital input for an iPod dock. I listen in the near-field to a pair of 89db speakers so am thinking I'll be good. Will be ordering a full set of the Gold Lion reissue tubes for it.
rikm - will guess that the better sound is more the result of new tubes rather than going to an 84m. 6-7 years is quite a few on a power tube. Even an EL84.
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Glenn... Canton Reference 9 Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 & MR88 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B, ST-J75 & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#10
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Quote:
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Tony D'Agostino Momentum S250 MxV & HD pre; Linn Klimax Organik DSM, SonicTransporter, EtherRegen; Acoustic Signature Typhoon Neo, Koetsu RSP, Boulder 1108; Sf Il Cremonese; Shunyata Everest, Altaira, Sigma & Alpha v2 |
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