As part of the endless attempt to reach what will never be reached 😛
My Luxman LX33 could potentially handle the Bendix 6384 space-ship quality penthode. Fact of the matter is, I have some of them as well. Obviously the pin layout is different, but the Lux has hard wired octal sockets so twisting a few wires won't be a challenge..Read some stuff in the Tubes Asylum but that discussion only drove to some people bashing each other 🙂
Any experiences here?
Leonard
My Luxman LX33 could potentially handle the Bendix 6384 space-ship quality penthode. Fact of the matter is, I have some of them as well. Obviously the pin layout is different, but the Lux has hard wired octal sockets so twisting a few wires won't be a challenge..Read some stuff in the Tubes Asylum but that discussion only drove to some people bashing each other 🙂
Any experiences here?
Leonard
Quite a different valve - about half the transconductance, for example. That means more driver distortion. Why do some people seem to think that any octal output pentode or beam tetrode can substitute for any other?
Well I'm apparently not the only one who's looked into doing that (the 6384 I mean) and I'm also aware it's not a drop-in replacement either. So, I'm not "some people" who seem to think you can replace one with the other as long as they have the same socket- it's just that if the tube would have splendid characteristics under EL34-like load conditions i.e. the same OPT, similar B+ and bias current, it might be worthwhile to look into it and adjust some of the ecosystem around it to make it work. Especially if you own a box of them..
Cheers Leonard
Cheers Leonard
I think a 6384 is a 6L6 type tube with a different pin out. I've heard they sell converters on Epay so you can plug them into any 6L6 amp. I have 4 of them new in box but have not yet had the time to play with them. They do have nice specs.
I have used them in an amp that originally had EL34s.After changing the wiring and adjusting the bias I was surprised to find that they offered slightly less coloration and they remain in the amp after 5 years of daily use.
The Bendix 6384 is more like a 6L6 on steroids and can be substituted to the latter by rewiring the socket and (maybe) re-adjusting the bias. This very scarce tube is highly rated in the Vacuum Tube Valley magazine (Iss.#5, 1996) where there is an excellent article by Eric Barbour about the Bendix Red Bank tubes and their potential audio applications.
If you don't already have it I would suggest checking here:
http://www.vacuumtubevalley.com/Magazines/VTV05a.pdf
If you don't already have it I would suggest checking here:
http://www.vacuumtubevalley.com/Magazines/VTV05a.pdf
Last edited:
- Status
- Not open for further replies.