Experiences with TAD EL34?

[Rundmaus]

Hi there,

I found those EL34 tubes via a german supplier:

TAD EL34B-STR PREMIUM Röhre, gematchtes Paar TAD TubeAmpDoctor


Source: Tube Amp Doctor Verstärker Röhren - Tubes and Amp Kits

The description says wonderful things like gold-plated grid and mil. grade construction - how much of this is true?

In short, does anyone here in the forum have experiences with those tubes?

Greetings,
Andreas

[FLT]

Havent used them but i think very overprized.

[Rundmaus]

Originally Posted by FLT

Havent used them but i think very overprized.

It is not really easy to find cheap tubes from German electronics suppliers, a standard "no name" EL34 costs up to 20 Euros, so the 43 Euros for a matched pair are not far from the average price here in Germany...

Electroharmonix (EH) EL34 are about 35 Euros/matched pair - for example...

Greetings,
Andreas

[kevinkr]

They're just selected versions of various manufacturer's product. I don't know who made the ones shown, but may be of Chinese manufacture and would probably be available elsewhere for less money. TAD probably stands behind the product they sell and are relatively local. eBay is a potential option for cheaper tubes if you can get them without paying VAT and import duty. (Would guess that is unlikely?)

[rknize]

These are Shuguang "Sino" EL34B tubes:

Sino EL34-B

I have a quad of these, branded "Ruby Tube". I got them for very cheap from AES. They were the cheapest EL34 type I could find at the time and I use them for amp bring-up. The cosmetic build consistency is not the best (typical for China tubes), but I have had no trouble with them and they sound quite nice in my ST70 and the Simple SE.

[Rundmaus]

Originally Posted by rknize

These are Shuguang "Sino" EL34B tubes:
They were the cheapest EL34 type I could find at the time and I use them for amp bring-up.

That is an idea I am also thinking about - building and testing the amp with cheap tubes where a mistake does not cost a fortune - but finding such is hard here...

Greetings,
Andreas

[FLT]

Originally Posted by Rundmaus

It is not really easy to find cheap tubes from German electronics suppliers, a standard "no name" EL34 costs up to 20 Euros, so the 43 Euros for a matched pair are not far from the average price here in Germany...

Electroharmonix (EH) EL34 are about 35 Euros/matched pair - for example...

Greetings,
Andreas

BTB Elektronik-Vertriebs GmbH - Preislisten

Equivalents of Manufactures:

EL34 JJ Red Label 10,90
E34L JJ Red Label 11,50
EL34B Tung-Sol (RU) 17,40
EL34B-STR Shuguang (Big Bulb) 12,90
EL34 EH 11,90
EL34 S-Logo Svetlana Style 16,50
EL34 SED Svetlana winged "C" 27,35
KT77 JJ 14,35
KT77 Gold Lion 37,25
6CA7 JJ (Big Bulb) 14,85
6CA7 EH (Big Bulb) 15,95

All Prices in EURO

You can match them yourself

regards

[Rundmaus]

Wow,

that is a supplier I did not know yet, many thanks for the link, flt!

Greetings,
Andreas