Favorite Output Tube?

TubeHead Johnny · 10th December 2006, 11:28 AM

I'd like to know what everybody's favorite output tubes are and why.

I like the EL84 for their crystal clear clarity and the've got decent bass as well. They don't need much power and they're dirt cheap now a days.

Second would be the EL34.

~~~Johnny~~~

mississippi · 10th December 2006, 11:46 AM

For me is it the EL34.
Beause of its realibility and the liftime.
I build a lot of amplifiers, a few I put on a story readable via internet.

korneluk · 10th December 2006, 12:24 PM

I truly like the 45 for the purity of tone and balance from top to bottom. If I need more power I go for the 2A3, but the 45 is still my favorite.

-- josé k.

Mikael Abdellah · 10th December 2006, 12:28 PM

KT88!

haven't tried much more, but it sounds great, is easy to work with and looks awesome. Also the price is not too high. I would like to try 845 some time.

the_manta · 10th December 2006, 12:36 PM

Currently it's the EL38. I made many experiments with this tube and now I'm building two monoblocks.
Here two pics, The Frame for the chassis isn't ready yet.

I love uncommon tubes and love especially uncommon circuits for them !

Tubes like the above mentioned EL38 or the EC8020 and many others are my passion (I'm not keen on talking about that all, because then the prices will explode and everybody wants them. Happend all to often ! Example is the EL509/EL519/PL509/PL519. A few years ago you could get them cheap at Ebay, a few bucks for a couple. And now ? Just look !. All because a few guys published their High-End Amps with this tube. And of course it is labeled with that stupid DIamond, even it wasn't manufactured by Tele...)

Also I love strange circuit Ideas, like a full bridge, a single ended circlotron or the so called "Accordion Amp".

Regards, Simon

Eusebius · 10th December 2006, 01:07 PM

Of all the tubes I've used so far I like 6AH4 in push pull. I'm using an O-netics output transformer of 6.6K Sounds the best of all the small triodes (6CK4, 6BX7, 6S4, 12B4) though I haven't tried the 1626 in output yet. Andy

Fuling · 10th December 2006, 01:13 PM

I´m not sure I can pick an absolute favorite, but I´ve had good luck with the following tubes:

PCL82 (16A8)
6B4G
PL519
807

There are others too, but of all the tubes I´ve played around with these ones has made impressions.
No fancy stuff at all, but they have certain qualitys.

TubeHead Johnny · 10th December 2006, 01:27 PM

I didn't know it was picture day! Here's one of my EL84 "Golden Boys".

~~~Johnny~~~

Eli Duttman · 10th December 2006, 01:49 PM

A (not the) favorite is a triode wired 6V6 or "equivalent". The 6V6 family is extremely linear in triode mode and they are pretty darn good UL and "pentode" too.

powertriode · 10th December 2006, 07:42 PM

PX4 by a million miles.

Murders a 300B in cold blood and stamps on it's grave.
No other bottle I've used comes even close.
It was designed for single-ended use for the highest quality audio, in radios and radiograms.

10th December 2006, 11:28 AM	#1
TubeHead Johnny diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The emerald city, Seattle, WA.	Favorite Output Tube? I'd like to know what everybody's favorite output tubes are and why. I like the EL84 for their crystal clear clarity and the've got decent bass as well. They don't need much power and they're dirt cheap now a days. Second would be the EL34. ~~~Johnny~~~

10th December 2006, 01:49 PM	#9
Eli Duttman diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Plainsboro, NJ	A (not the) favorite is a triode wired 6V6 or "equivalent". The 6V6 family is extremely linear in triode mode and they are pretty darn good UL and "pentode" too. __________________ Eli D.

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10th December 2006, 11:46 AM	#2
mississippi diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: holland	For me is it the EL34. Beause of its realibility and the liftime. I build a lot of amplifiers, a few I put on a story readable via internet.

10th December 2006, 12:24 PM	#3
korneluk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South Florida	I truly like the 45 for the purity of tone and balance from top to bottom. If I need more power I go for the 2A3, but the 45 is still my favorite. -- josé k.

10th December 2006, 12:28 PM	#4
Mikael Abdellah diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sweden	KT88! haven't tried much more, but it sounds great, is easy to work with and looks awesome. Also the price is not too high. I would like to try 845 some time.

10th December 2006, 12:36 PM	#5
the_manta diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Munich, Bavaria	Currently it's the EL38. I made many experiments with this tube and now I'm building two monoblocks. Here two pics, The Frame for the chassis isn't ready yet. I love uncommon tubes and love especially uncommon circuits for them ! Tubes like the above mentioned EL38 or the EC8020 and many others are my passion (I'm not keen on talking about that all, because then the prices will explode and everybody wants them. Happend all to often ! Example is the EL509/EL519/PL509/PL519. A few years ago you could get them cheap at Ebay, a few bucks for a couple. And now ? Just look !. All because a few guys published their High-End Amps with this tube. And of course it is labeled with that stupid DIamond, even it wasn't manufactured by Tele...) Also I love strange circuit Ideas, like a full bridge, a single ended circlotron or the so called "Accordion Amp". Regards, Simon

10th December 2006, 01:07 PM	#6
Eusebius diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Of all the tubes I've used so far I like 6AH4 in push pull. I'm using an O-netics output transformer of 6.6K Sounds the best of all the small triodes (6CK4, 6BX7, 6S4, 12B4) though I haven't tried the 1626 in output yet. Andy

10th December 2006, 01:13 PM	#7
Fuling diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sweden (Mora)	I´m not sure I can pick an absolute favorite, but I´ve had good luck with the following tubes: PCL82 (16A8) 6B4G PL519 807 There are others too, but of all the tubes I´ve played around with these ones has made impressions. No fancy stuff at all, but they have certain qualitys.

10th December 2006, 07:42 PM	#10
powertriode diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: South East	PX4 by a million miles. Murders a 300B in cold blood and stamps on it's grave. No other bottle I've used comes even close. It was designed for single-ended use for the highest quality audio, in radios and radiograms.