Any EL84 alternatives?

sardonx · 14th March 2006, 05:51 AM

I'm looking to experiment with my antique sound labs OTL32 head/preamp and swap the EL84's with somethign that gives a different sound if possible. I've already chagned the 12au7's with 12BH7's. Does an EL84 alternative exist?

SY · 14th March 2006, 06:27 AM

With some rebiasing and a bit of socket rewiring, 6973 and 6CZ5 are very interesting alternatives.

Ansius · 14th March 2006, 02:49 PM

it doses, indeed - russian 6p14p it is reorted that it is not as bright, but works. it is also good if you get 6p14p-EV - military grade.

Ansius · 14th March 2006, 02:49 PM

also 6BQ5 will work

rcavictim · 14th March 2006, 03:36 PM

EL82 looks the same and will drop in the same socket wiring but has lower dissipation ratings. If your amp wasn't asking the most from a EL84 as set up, this could be a possible alternate. 6DY5 and 6CW5 is similar to EL82, also drop-in pin compatible to EL84/6BQ5.

Should try to find 6DIY5's.

(FYI that's an attempt at a joke)

leadbelly · 14th March 2006, 04:09 PM

Nobody mentioned the SV83 yet? Decware-haters?

sardonx · 14th March 2006, 08:00 PM

thanks for the responses.. I'll see if i can find some of those!

Andrewbee · 14th March 2006, 08:02 PM

find an extra 2 Volts for a 8BQ5

Andrew

rdf · 14th March 2006, 08:05 PM

At the risk of sounding dense, have you tried different makes of EL84? In my experience there's a wide variance in measured and audible performance, depending on circuit. A JJ doesn't behave like an EH for example. I have to think an OTL headphone amp would make those differences obvious.

ivegotmono · 14th March 2006, 10:17 PM

EL84s sound very different from each other in my EICO HF81 and HF12
B+ is 330, cathode bias.
My experience with tube rolling---

New JJs: Very fat and great lower end, a bit light on the upper end.

New EHs: great sounding all around tube, plenty of bass and good high end.

New Sovtek: These were labled PRO COM and I was told they were the inexpensive Sovtek: Nothing noteable.

NOS Mullards (the real British ones): Exceptional high end and fantastic sound stage, Perfect for acoustic guitar, vocals, woodwinds, strings etc. Much less thump on the bottom end.

NOS RCA: Nice sounding all around tube. Not much kick.

I'm using the EHs all the time but I like many different types of music so they work best for me.

The line stage tubes make a big diffenence in my amp (12au7)
You might experiment there also since they're pretty cheap and you can always use them somewhere.

14th March 2006, 05:51 AM	#1
sardonx diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada	Any EL84 alternatives? I'm looking to experiment with my antique sound labs OTL32 head/preamp and swap the EL84's with somethign that gives a different sound if possible. I've already chagned the 12au7's with 12BH7's. Does an EL84 alternative exist? __________________ The End

14th March 2006, 06:27 AM	#2
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	With some rebiasing and a bit of socket rewiring, 6973 and 6CZ5 are very interesting alternatives. __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

14th March 2006, 03:36 PM	#5
rcavictim diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cool end of a soldering iron NW of Toronto	EL82 looks the same and will drop in the same socket wiring but has lower dissipation ratings. If your amp wasn't asking the most from a EL84 as set up, this could be a possible alternate. 6DY5 and 6CW5 is similar to EL82, also drop-in pin compatible to EL84/6BQ5. Should try to find 6DIY5's. (FYI that's an attempt at a joke) __________________ I.Q.Test. Have you ever purchased a recreational snowmobile?

14th March 2006, 04:09 PM	#6
leadbelly diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta	Nobody mentioned the SV83 yet? Decware-haters? __________________ Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. Enzo Ferrari

14th March 2006, 08:00 PM	#7
sardonx diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada	thanks for the responses.. I'll see if i can find some of those! __________________ The End


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14th March 2006, 02:49 PM	#3
Ansius diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Latvia - Ogre	it doses, indeed - russian 6p14p it is reorted that it is not as bright, but works. it is also good if you get 6p14p-EV - military grade.

14th March 2006, 08:02 PM	#8
Andrewbee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Cayman Islands	find an extra 2 Volts for a 8BQ5 Andrew __________________ None of us are leaving this world alive. Enjoy it responsibly as you may.

14th March 2006, 08:05 PM	#9
rdf diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: big smoke	At the risk of sounding dense, have you tried different makes of EL84? In my experience there's a wide variance in measured and audible performance, depending on circuit. A JJ doesn't behave like an EH for example. I have to think an OTL headphone amp would make those differences obvious. __________________ Ears aren't microphones.

14th March 2006, 10:17 PM	#10
ivegotmono diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: maryland	EL84s sound very different from each other in my EICO HF81 and HF12 B+ is 330, cathode bias. My experience with tube rolling--- New JJs: Very fat and great lower end, a bit light on the upper end. New EHs: great sounding all around tube, plenty of bass and good high end. New Sovtek: These were labled PRO COM and I was told they were the inexpensive Sovtek: Nothing noteable. NOS Mullards (the real British ones): Exceptional high end and fantastic sound stage, Perfect for acoustic guitar, vocals, woodwinds, strings etc. Much less thump on the bottom end. NOS RCA: Nice sounding all around tube. Not much kick. I'm using the EHs all the time but I like many different types of music so they work best for me. The line stage tubes make a big diffenence in my amp (12au7) You might experiment there also since they're pretty cheap and you can always use them somewhere. __________________ steve

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