I picked up a set to replace the constantly failing JJ's for my DIYTube ST70.
They sound pretty good except for a huge loss in the bottom end compared to the JJ's which is very distracting.
I probably have 5 hours on these. Has anybody put a decent amount of time on them? Do they change any with time?
They sound pretty good except for a huge loss in the bottom end compared to the JJ's which is very distracting.
I probably have 5 hours on these. Has anybody put a decent amount of time on them? Do they change any with time?
Jim McShane said:
What kind of speakers did you use when listening to the JJ's?
My speakers dont have a ton of low end (Paradigms with 2 6.5" midwoofers and a tweeter) so the JJ's made them sound very balanced.
If I had speakers with 10 or 12 inch woofers I wouldnt be surprised if they had too much low end like youre saying.
Evenharmonics said:
I have never had problems with JJ's. However, given the large production (and less quality control in comparison to the best NOS production) it can happen.
IMO, the Mullards are reliable as any other tube of current production.
They are russian and should be manufactured with some more care in comparison to EH's, given the higher price.....
I like the JJ 6L6GC over any current production EL34.
JayH3:
with your speakers you could try the triode connection with the Mullards (with and without global feedback). Even without Fb you should get 15W with very low THD (around 1% or even less!) and the clipping starting around 20W.
The sound will change a lot in balance.....
Otherwise to get back the previous balance in UL configuration you could modify the present quiescent point (a bit lower anode voltage and a bit higher anode current, I would say).
Cheers,
45
Re: Re: Anyone else have the new Mullard EL34's?
I was thinking of trying that, but some things I read said they didnt notice much difference between triode and UL. Ill have to look more into it, I guess.
I would say 4 in a 8 months. I think one lost output all together and the others wouldnt bias.
45 said:
JayH3:
with your speakers you could try the triode connection with the Mullards (with and without global feedback). Even without Fb you should get 15W with very low THD (around 1% or even less!) and the clipping starting around 20W.
The sound will change a lot in balance.....
Otherwise to get back the previous balance in UL configuration you could modify the present quiescent point (a bit lower anode voltage and a bit higher anode current, I would say).
Cheers,
45
I was thinking of trying that, but some things I read said they didnt notice much difference between triode and UL. Ill have to look more into it, I guess.
Panicos K said:
I would say 4 in a 8 months. I think one lost output all together and the others wouldnt bias.
Jim McShane said:
JayH3 said:
Curious. I've currently got a pair of JJ E34L on loan. They seem to be perfectly good tubes. I won't be able to comment on their long term reliability, as I'll have to return them to their owner shortly. They sound good to me. I don't think I'd describe them as bass heavy. If anything, their bottom end doesn't have the impact of the few 20 watt beam tubes I've used (6L6GC, 6CA7, and 6p3s-e). They certainly don't have the big bass sound I get from my KT88. I wouldn't describe the JJ as bass shy, but they're definitely not bass heavy to my ear.
Which Paradigms do you have? I own a fifteen year old set of 7se Mk3. They're the second set in the photo. My previous speakers were a pair of 2nd generation 11se, which I thought were too slow, heavy, and boomy in the bass. My impression of the 7se is that they go nearly as deep, and are much more refined and accurate. They won't play as loud, but I never thought of them as lacking in low end at the volumes I normally play.
Off topic, but anyway...
Paradigm uses a very good 6.5" woofer. Don't underrate it. The tweeters used to be Vifa units of excellent quality. I don't know what they're putting in the newer stuff.
I bought a pair of Vandersteen 2ci, looking for an upgrade to my 7se. They're approximately the same age. In their day, they sold for 3x what my Paradigm cost. I had them in my system for a few weeks. The Vandersteen tweeters are obviously better, and the high end really shined. The midrange was extremely recessed, and just plain sucked. The bass was OK, but I expected better from an 8" woofer plus a 10" active (?) radiator. At the end of the month, I went back to my Paradigms. They had more life, and were more fun to listen to.
Price isn't everything. The more expensive unit isn't necessarily better. Anyone want to buy a pair of used Vandersteens?
Paradigm uses a very good 6.5" woofer. Don't underrate it. The tweeters used to be Vifa units of excellent quality. I don't know what they're putting in the newer stuff.
I bought a pair of Vandersteen 2ci, looking for an upgrade to my 7se. They're approximately the same age. In their day, they sold for 3x what my Paradigm cost. I had them in my system for a few weeks. The Vandersteen tweeters are obviously better, and the high end really shined. The midrange was extremely recessed, and just plain sucked. The bass was OK, but I expected better from an 8" woofer plus a 10" active (?) radiator. At the end of the month, I went back to my Paradigms. They had more life, and were more fun to listen to.
Price isn't everything. The more expensive unit isn't necessarily better. Anyone want to buy a pair of used Vandersteens?
Re: Re: Re: Anyone else have the new Mullard EL34's?
Don't trust literally what you read, in the sense that if you change anything around the amp (especially the room and the speakers) you get quite different results.
Decreasing a little bit the voltage supply (say 10-12V) and increasing the current (say 3-5 ma per tube) could be done adding an additional RC filter at the cap just after the choke (20uF in the original design), for the output stage only. You could use 100-150 ohm + 47-100 uF for each channel. Such RC network would be in parallel to those supplying the front-end and so would not modify its operative set-up (just a minimal drop on the choke).
The adjustment of the bias will be small (around 1V, I guess).
If you are using the original design, with small filtering caps, that additional 47-100 uF also should improve the your bass.
Cheers,
45
JayH3 said:
Don't trust literally what you read, in the sense that if you change anything around the amp (especially the room and the speakers) you get quite different results.
Decreasing a little bit the voltage supply (say 10-12V) and increasing the current (say 3-5 ma per tube) could be done adding an additional RC filter at the cap just after the choke (20uF in the original design), for the output stage only. You could use 100-150 ohm + 47-100 uF for each channel. Such RC network would be in parallel to those supplying the front-end and so would not modify its operative set-up (just a minimal drop on the choke).
The adjustment of the bias will be small (around 1V, I guess).
If you are using the original design, with small filtering caps, that additional 47-100 uF also should improve the your bass.
Cheers,
45
Jim McShane said:
With all respect to your comments,with which I agree-in a way-,I would put it diferently.Despite comments that JJ tubes lean towards heavy,my opinion is that it is mostly the way they present the mids and highs that gives this impression.I get constant results everytime I use JJ,IMO a clear but never forward or aggressive sound,which shows very good depth,refinement and smooth detail.Such presentation,surely makes things sound a bit "heavy,mellow etc......" The reason I am saying these is because I believe that in the end,it is not so much a matter of getting used to the "new sound" of the Mullards,but a matter of like their sound or not.They will change with time but they will never sound like the JJ's,in balance or anything else this balance carries with it.These findings were constant with 12AX7,EL34,EL84,KT66 and 6L6GC.And there is in the end,not only personal taste,but how things work in a given system,where these tubes will be used.As for their reliability,I cannot say anything,as I am using my 6L6GC's for only three months,and they are working just fine so far.
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