SV83 vs EL84

Brit01 · 26th January 2009, 09:14 AM

What are your opinions on these 2 tubes regarding their sonic performance versus price?

The SV83's are quite a bit cheaper than the EL84's and are said to be very linear.

I see the pin configs are a little different and the screen of the SV83 has a lower voltage rating.

Would the SV83 be a good cheap tube to start off with using them in a simple Class A UL?

Brett · 26th January 2009, 09:36 AM

The cost difference will be trivial compared to postage etc.
What works best in the intended application? Use that.

Brit01 · 26th January 2009, 09:52 AM

The SV83's work out to be about 3 USD each including postage.

EL84's see to go for about 15 USD each. Big difference here.

45 · 26th January 2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brit01
The SV83's work out to be about 3 USD each including postage.

EL84's see to go for about 15 USD each. Big difference here.

The SV83 can get only 200V on the G2 with 1.5W max dissipation, not 300V/2W as the standard EL84.

In UL or triode connections I would not go for anode+G2 voltages more than 200V.
Maybe you could still get an output power close to the EL84's (working at 250-300V) using a lower load impedance but I cannot say anything on how it would sound.

Cheers,
45

Ty_Bower · 26th January 2009, 02:32 PM

There is evidence which suggests the SV83 is identical in construction to the 6p14p (which is equivalent to EL84). The suspicion is that the SV83's lower voltage ratings were put on paper to support one of its other rated characteristics (long life, or low distortion, or something like that). In other words, it is possible that an EL84 would perform identically to the SV83 when operated under the conditions specified on the SV83 datasheets. Conversely, the SV83 ought to perform as well as an EL84 and should be able to handle the higher voltages.

The jury is still out on this one, and I believe that no one will ever know the truth with any certainty. Maybe Wavebourn will chime in - he seems to know something about the issue.

There's an old thread about it here:
6P15P Tubes: Push Pull Possible?

Some day I'm going to pick up a quad of SV83, and stick them into my amplifier with 410 volts on the plate and ultralinear taps wired to the screens. If they survive, I know what I'm going to believe.

45 · 26th January 2009, 03:10 PM

The SV83 is just a rebranded 6P15P.
A 6P15P can take up to 330V on G2 but 1.5W screen grid dissipation still holds.
If you want to stay within 1.5W G2 dissipation you must not use more than 200V.
In fact there are no curves for Vg2 higher than 200V, exactly for the above reason.

A common NOS 6P14P sells for approx. 4$ on ebay (directly from russian guys) why risk with the SV83?

Cheers,
45

26th January 2009, 09:14 AM	#1
Brit01 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2008	SV83 vs EL84 What are your opinions on these 2 tubes regarding their sonic performance versus price? The SV83's are quite a bit cheaper than the EL84's and are said to be very linear. I see the pin configs are a little different and the screen of the SV83 has a lower voltage rating. Would the SV83 be a good cheap tube to start off with using them in a simple Class A UL?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
5W EL84 drive EL84 SE	Audio_idiot	Tubes / Valves	31	Yesterday 08:38 PM
6N1P & SV83 mu stage driving 845?	dr.strangelove3	Tubes / Valves	19	8th January 2007 08:11 PM
PPP EL84 Amp	Peter Menting	Tubes / Valves	8	24th August 2005 05:34 AM
El84 Pp	Mr. Triatic	Tubes / Valves	11	7th August 2005 04:23 PM
Need sv83 tubes	mbcouple	Swap Meet	2	9th August 2004 11:52 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read

26th January 2009, 09:36 AM	#2
Brett diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002	The cost difference will be trivial compared to postage etc. What works best in the intended application? Use that.

26th January 2009, 09:52 AM	#3
Brit01 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2008	The SV83's work out to be about 3 USD each including postage. EL84's see to go for about 15 USD each. Big difference here.

26th January 2009, 02:32 PM	#5
Ty_Bower diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Newark, DE	There is evidence which suggests the SV83 is identical in construction to the 6p14p (which is equivalent to EL84). The suspicion is that the SV83's lower voltage ratings were put on paper to support one of its other rated characteristics (long life, or low distortion, or something like that). In other words, it is possible that an EL84 would perform identically to the SV83 when operated under the conditions specified on the SV83 datasheets. Conversely, the SV83 ought to perform as well as an EL84 and should be able to handle the higher voltages. The jury is still out on this one, and I believe that no one will ever know the truth with any certainty. Maybe Wavebourn will chime in - he seems to know something about the issue. There's an old thread about it here: 6P15P Tubes: Push Pull Possible? Some day I'm going to pick up a quad of SV83, and stick them into my amplifier with 410 volts on the plate and ultralinear taps wired to the screens. If they survive, I know what I'm going to believe.

26th January 2009, 03:10 PM	#6
45 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: United Kingdom	The SV83 is just a rebranded 6P15P. A 6P15P can take up to 330V on G2 but 1.5W screen grid dissipation still holds. If you want to stay within 1.5W G2 dissipation you must not use more than 200V. In fact there are no curves for Vg2 higher than 200V, exactly for the above reason. A common NOS 6P14P sells for approx. 4$ on ebay (directly from russian guys) why risk with the SV83? Cheers, 45

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)