EL152, GU50 and EL156

[eeyore]

Hi, I am thinking of building an amp using EL152, GU50 or EL156. Anyone have experience with the tubes that can share their experiences and thoughts? Sound, operating points, etc?

 

[Zen Mod]

Wavebourn

also - look here : http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/

 

[eeyore]

My German is not so good at all. I found the page detailing history of EL34 and some Russian tubes. But nothing specific on the 152, 156 or the 50s. From what little I read on Jacmusic, the 152 and 50 are the same tube but with different bases. Both designed for Military use. The 156 seems to be the super version of the EL34. If that is the case what is the difference between the EL152/GM50 and the EL156?

 

[tympani1d]

Google Translate
Seite 1 Startseite

Yep, try to get Wavebourn to answer here or PM him. I bug him all the time!!!
I want to retube Quicksiver 8417 mono blocks with the GU-50 so maybe we can get some good erudite chatter on here!!!

 

[tubesteve]

El152

EL152 is actually the LS50 in a new envelope after the war. in data its same as GU50 or FU50. The EL156 is a complete different thing to deal with

 

[eeyore]

Then the question is how much different is the EL152/GM50 to the EL156? I read that they are all improve on the EL34? Is that the case?

 

[tubesteve]

thats not the case: LS50 (data same as GU50) was developped 1940 in Germany as a RF /Audio modulator purpose for the airforce, than later changed the glass housing. EL34 ( = 6CA7) was developped by Philips in the mid 1950s and the EL156 later by Telefunken.
Pls. dont mix them all up.

 

[kstagger]

I built a pair of SE EL156 monoblocks (Ultralinear, EF86 driver tube, Hammond iron) and they were one of my better tube amps. I used the Shuguang version which has an octal socket.

The amps were eventually converted to run 6550s as the guy I sold the amps to had a big stash of (real) Tungsols.

 

[Svein_B]

I was surprised to find an EL156 amp in current production.
Sold out of Canada:

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

MP-401 EL156 Integrated Amplifier
Musical Paradise MP-401 EL156 KT88 EL34 Tube Amplifier on eBay


15W SE (might even be true!). Nice looking, at a reasonable price.

Octal version of EL156, plug compatible with EL34/KT88.

(I have not figured out why there are 3 input/driver tubes per channel)

Svein

 

[Wavebourn]

Here you go: www.wavebourn.com • View topic - Pyramid-VII: home stereo vacuum tube amp

 

[danFrank]

EL156 Supressor Grid (G3)

Hi all,
Anybody have any original EL156 tubes? If so, can you take a look at the supressor grid (G3) and see if there is any wire wrapped around the 4 supressor support rods? I have several of the Chinese EL156 and the only thing that constitutes the supressor are those 4 support rods; there is no grid wire wrapped around them. Are the German EL156 tubes made this way?Thanks, Daniel

 

[spswmsw]

Gu50 amp

Hi, I am thinking of building an amp using EL152, GU50 or EL156. Anyone have experience with the tubes that can share their experiences and thoughts? Sound, operating points, etc?

I've built the amp using GU-50 in triode. About 9W output.
No much difficulties. Anode power supply 300 mA is enough. The 6SL7 tube can be replaced with Russian 6N2P or 6N2P-EV with a bit change in treble. If Gu50 You have is with separate pin for the 3rd grid, then You can connect it either to anode, or to cathode. I don’t find any difference in sound, but others do so.

Trans: S=16 sq. cm., primary 2400 turns 0.35 mm in 3 sections 5+10+5 layers, 120 turns in a layer all sections sequentially; secondary – 8 layers 120 turns each the same (0.35 mm) diameter (8 Ohm load) with lead from 85th turn (4 Ohm load), two sections of 4 layers each in between primary sections, all secondary layers in parallel.

In pentode mode recommended:
Ua=300V Ug2=250V Ug1=-24V Ia=130mA Ig2=3.5mA Ug1=~17V Ro=2kOm P=18W

 

[richwalters]

EL156: who stocks'em ?

 

[spswmsw]

AudiogoN ForSale: Telefunken EL 156

 

[tubesteve]

El156

Teh EL156 was later manufactured by Luizhou factory after Telefunken stopped doing tube business, using four metal posts instead of a wound grid. This method also works well as a "suppressor grid" and is cheaper to make. IN germany it was done in the 1940's already with the AL4 etc types. There is nothing to worry.

 

[richwalters]

The EL156 is an expensive and rare collectors animal. Shungang (or etwas) makes the octal version but I haven't seen it marketed in Europe at sensible prices. I'm using readily available EH KT90's instead. The anode & screen ratings are nearly sim except slightly lower B+ ratings.

richy

 

[tubesteve]

Kt90

the difference is: the KT90 ( beam tetrode) is a modified horizontal sweep tube by Ei tube factory in former Yugoslavia, and the EL156 (real pentode) was designed for audio purpose. therefore the KT90 has the character of a beam tube with beam forming elements ( quasi G3) and aligned G2 to G1 grids.

 

[richwalters]

The EH KT90 version performance wise is better than the KT88 family than I anticipated. The Ei version performance doesn't touch the EH.
New Sensor have done their homework.

At the end of the day, modern day beam tetrodes perform equally, compared to true pentodes EL34 types.

 

[316a]

I have a nice pile of NOS original TFK EL156 and also some of the modern Chinese octal EL156 aka KT90-LX . At a glance , apart from the socket both appear to be very similar , but looking closer the Chinese version is a very different design and bias up differently . Two different animals , the same in name only

316a

 

[richwalters]

I have a nice pile of NOS original TFK EL156 and also some of the modern Chinese octal EL156 aka KT90-LX .
316a

Lucky you. That LX sounds an attempted clone.
The EH KT90's neg bias on the low side compared with KT88's for the same currents.

Frankly, the thd performance of the EH KT90 version falls in the Svet 6550C, Svet KT88, TungSol 6550 New Ed ballpark. I can thoroughly recommend 40% UL operation.

richy