Hey
Now that the price of EF86 is towering, are there some who have tried to replace the EF86 with EF184 or EF95/6AK5 or 5654?
Yes, I know that the pin connections / sockets are different.
Benny
E80F and EF804 are good substitutes but may not be any less expensive, just
less popular... Different pinout on the EF804 at least
Ummmm... not loctal, it's that weird minature thing (B8A).
Cool thing is Shuguang is making sockets for them again, yay!
Cheers!
Ummmm... not loctal, it's that weird minature thing (B8A).
Cool thing is Shuguang is making sockets for them again, yay!
Cheers!
Mea Culpa. Not enough coffee. The Shuguang sockets are great, however they don't have the rim into which the boss locks (making it possible to mis-align the tube) and won't take tubes which have a central spigot (eg 6l19).
I wonder if the price of all those great rimlock tubes is going to start taking off now?
Shhhhhh, let's say we hate the tube... to confuse the "Tube Pricing Commitee" lurking about
Cheers!
EF184, EF95, EF80 [etc..etc] can substitute the EF86 only after the whole circuit has been redesigned.
Simply, the EF86 is usually designed to run about 1 to 3mA (where it offers a slope of about 2mA/V). EF95 likes 6 to 8mA, while EF80, EF184 and legions of other IF-type pentodes of same class prefer 10mA at least. and their slopes are much higher, too.
Trying to run these IF-pentodes at low current makes them sound much worse than they are capable of, IMHO. And that is no surprise - just look at the low-current part of the curves.
The 6BR7 mentioned by Barretter is a fine substitute though, especially if you find some Brimar "Trustworthy" series parts. Other than rewiring the socket, only a small adjustment for sound is needed.
Since these are already getting expensive, too then I would vote for Wavebourn's 6J32 Russian: 6ж32. They seem to be made by Svetlana recently, maybe they are still, and often labelled EF86. I don't have any to compare the sound to, but at least they are suitable for existing amps out there - which the others are not!
Simply, the EF86 is usually designed to run about 1 to 3mA (where it offers a slope of about 2mA/V). EF95 likes 6 to 8mA, while EF80, EF184 and legions of other IF-type pentodes of same class prefer 10mA at least. and their slopes are much higher, too.
Trying to run these IF-pentodes at low current makes them sound much worse than they are capable of, IMHO. And that is no surprise - just look at the low-current part of the curves.
The 6BR7 mentioned by Barretter is a fine substitute though, especially if you find some Brimar "Trustworthy" series parts. Other than rewiring the socket, only a small adjustment for sound is needed.
Since these are already getting expensive, too then I would vote for Wavebourn's 6J32 Russian: 6ж32. They seem to be made by Svetlana recently, maybe they are still, and often labelled EF86. I don't have any to compare the sound to, but at least they are suitable for existing amps out there - which the others are not!
Did you ever looked into the E80F ? direct audiophile replacement for EF86, only use doubel heater current so check your power supply. They sound great in Amps like Quad II just keep in mind that they are longer in size then a normal EF86
http://www.hifitubes.nl/catalog/adv...sid=b7ad66e790de35028f7a48b2a92c9844&x=8&y=11
http://www.hifitubes.nl/catalog/adv...sid=b7ad66e790de35028f7a48b2a92c9844&x=8&y=11
How could you not try a 6AU6? I must have hundreds of these removed from TV sets. We used to throw them at trucks when we were kids.
Just too many projects in the queue... i probably don't have hundreds but at least a 100... and i got some of them cryoed.
dave
- Status
- This old topic is closed. If you want to reopen this topic, contact a moderator using the "Report Post" button.