"it is just SO hard to get bad sound from EL84 PP amp"

rick57 · 18th March 2005, 05:03 AM

Anyone agree/ disagree?? Or is the writer just biased?

Context: amazingly cheap made in China amps.

Cheers

Gaucho · 18th March 2005, 05:37 AM

Interesting...just yesterday I heard a really nice (and cheap) Italian amplifier with EL84s. I believe it was made by Synthesis.

analog_sa · 18th March 2005, 05:54 AM

It is just as hard or harder to get really good sound from EL84PP amp

planet10 · 18th March 2005, 09:29 AM

Certainly PP is harder to get decent than SE, and you can screw up anything, so sure it is possible to get bad sound from an EL84 amp... get it right thou and it is soooo sweet.

dave

Layberinthius · 18th March 2005, 09:55 AM

This brings up an interesting thought that I need rectifying...

Could I run an EL84 in SE with a 10k ohm OPT with only a 3 WV power limit and still sound good?

rick57 · 18th March 2005, 11:45 AM

I thought it was a (somewhat silly) blinkered statement, checking my judgement.

Thanks all kindly.

planet10 · 18th March 2005, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Layberinthius
Could I run an EL84 in SE with a 10k ohm OPT with only a 3 WV power limit and still sound good?

I think it may well be less of an issue with power and more to do with the current the OPT will handle before staurating

I would say you can go ahead and try it... the bass will start to go away when overloaded. Triode strapped an EL84 is good for a couple watts max, that may help. Parafeed is also usually beneficail for that as well.

We are going to try some of the IXYS CCS chips with some EL84 SEs and see how that works out (so far parafeed duties have been done with the primamry of an idential OPT)

dave

amperex · 20th March 2005, 01:50 PM

I disagree, as it is real easy to get crappy sound from any amplifier. If one likes warm tube sound, that is, full of fuzz & distortion, no problem.

Careful design using best tubes, coupling caps, a good power supply design, quality plate resistors in the preamp tube anode circuits plus quality audio transformers will make a transparent tube based amp that lets the music flow.

So far, nothing is better than the GE 6BQ5 grey oval plate in many different amps I and others own. That is a good starting point. Usually the Asian audio transformers are fairly well designed. So, with some part changes & tube rolling, a good amp can be had & EL84 based quality amps do have a nice tone.

Giaime · 20th March 2005, 02:08 PM

Hello! I too own an old stereo integrated EL84 amp made by an obscure italian brand (Perser), it's cathode biased... The construction seems to be good, it has 2 ECC83 for the phono/pre stages, a ECC82 with chromed-like plates for driver and 2 EL84 per channel. The rectifier is GZ34. Do you think it's worth the restoration or not? I mean, push pull EL84 are good for hi-end or only SE would do? I know that SE is mostly everytime better than PP, but specifically about EL84s?

anatech · 20th March 2005, 05:16 PM

Hi again Giaime,
Yup, go for it. I own good sounding tube amps and solid state amps. Different but both are very enjoyable.
-Chris

18th March 2005, 05:03 AM	#1
rick57 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: dry ol Melbourne Australia	"it is just SO hard to get bad sound from EL84 PP amp" Anyone agree/ disagree?? Or is the writer just biased? Context: amazingly cheap made in China amps. Cheers

18th March 2005, 09:29 AM	#4
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 4	Certainly PP is harder to get decent than SE, and you can screw up anything, so sure it is possible to get bad sound from an EL84 amp... get it right thou and it is soooo sweet. dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi p10-hifi forum here at diyA

20th March 2005, 01:50 PM	#8
amperex diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: MI	'just so hard' I disagree, as it is real easy to get crappy sound from any amplifier. If one likes warm tube sound, that is, full of fuzz & distortion, no problem. Careful design using best tubes, coupling caps, a good power supply design, quality plate resistors in the preamp tube anode circuits plus quality audio transformers will make a transparent tube based amp that lets the music flow. So far, nothing is better than the GE 6BQ5 grey oval plate in many different amps I and others own. That is a good starting point. Usually the Asian audio transformers are fairly well designed. So, with some part changes & tube rolling, a good amp can be had & EL84 based quality amps do have a nice tone.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What makes an amplifier "bright", "warm", or "neutral"?	JohnS	Solid State	51	13th December 2009 06:42 PM
Best amplifier for "hard" acoustic system	Artem_M	Pass Labs	3	15th June 2009 08:56 PM
Meaning of "hard to drive"	mashaffer	Tubes / Valves	19	20th January 2008 04:47 PM
Using Telefunken "Tank" transfomers for a single ended el84 amp?	ark	Tubes / Valves	13	8th March 2004 11:32 PM
"breakin' up is hard to do..."	swainey	Introductions	4	1st February 2003 07:29 PM

18th March 2005, 05:37 AM	#2
Gaucho diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Stuck in the 80's	Interesting...just yesterday I heard a really nice (and cheap) Italian amplifier with EL84s. I believe it was made by Synthesis.

18th March 2005, 05:54 AM	#3
analog_sa diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sofia	It is just as hard or harder to get really good sound from EL84PP amp

18th March 2005, 09:55 AM	#5
Layberinthius diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: nowhere	This brings up an interesting thought that I need rectifying... Could I run an EL84 in SE with a 10k ohm OPT with only a 3 WV power limit and still sound good?

18th March 2005, 11:45 AM	#6
rick57 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: dry ol Melbourne Australia	I thought it was a (somewhat silly) blinkered statement, checking my judgement. Thanks all kindly.

20th March 2005, 02:08 PM	#9
Giaime diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	Hello! I too own an old stereo integrated EL84 amp made by an obscure italian brand (Perser), it's cathode biased... The construction seems to be good, it has 2 ECC83 for the phono/pre stages, a ECC82 with chromed-like plates for driver and 2 EL84 per channel. The rectifier is GZ34. Do you think it's worth the restoration or not? I mean, push pull EL84 are good for hi-end or only SE would do? I know that SE is mostly everytime better than PP, but specifically about EL84s?

20th March 2005, 05:16 PM	#10
anatech diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Georgetown, On	Hi again Giaime, Yup, go for it. I own good sounding tube amps and solid state amps. Different but both are very enjoyable. -Chris

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read