About tube "matched pairs"

Panicos K · 6th May 2009, 10:31 PM

I have a rather strange question.If you had two "matched pairs" of tubes,in this case EL84's of the same maker but with two years difference in manufacturing dates,how would you use them?one "matched pair" on each channel,or,one tube of each pair on each channel?I would appreciate any comments.

boywonder · 6th May 2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Panicos K
I have a rather strange question.If you had two "matched pairs" of tubes,in this case EL84's of the same maker but with two years difference in manufacturing dates,how would you use them?one "matched pair" on each channel,or,one tube of each pair on each channel?I would appreciate any comments.

Assuming that you are talking about a push-pull amp, use each matched pair for each channel. That's why they are matched, to share push-pull duties evenly.

Panicos K · 7th May 2009, 12:14 AM

Thanks for your reply.Yes it is a push-pull amp.

Geek · 7th May 2009, 03:21 AM

Manufacturing dates are moot.... tubes are matched for transconductance or DC current at a given grid bias.

One of the best guitar amps I had was matched within 500uA of each other at bias and they were even different brands

Cheers!

6th May 2009, 10:31 PM	#1
Panicos K diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	About tube "matched pairs" I have a rather strange question.If you had two "matched pairs" of tubes,in this case EL84's of the same maker but with two years difference in manufacturing dates,how would you use them?one "matched pair" on each channel,or,one tube of each pair on each channel?I would appreciate any comments.

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7th May 2009, 12:14 AM	#3
Panicos K diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Thanks for your reply.Yes it is a push-pull amp.

7th May 2009, 03:21 AM	#4
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	Manufacturing dates are moot.... tubes are matched for transconductance or DC current at a given grid bias. One of the best guitar amps I had was matched within 500uA of each other at bias and they were even different brands Cheers!