It depends on what you are looking for? If you like Mullard sounds, there is nothing else. But if I may describe based on my experiences as I am a real EL84 enthusiast. I built my first tube amp with EL84 to learn the basics and then move on to more exotic tubes but I didn't get any further.
I built an SE according to a Japanese description, then both my own and others', but always with EL84 as the output tube most builders think EL84 are a beginners tube but hell no put in some good components then the tube will deliver.
I started building so early that it was no problem to buy NOS tubes cheap.
I have tried all the European ones they all have a sound signature. Mullard that you ask about is a bit romantic to me, Siemens is a good bass area, Philips is a good all-rounder, Brimar were long favourites, Telefunken best with detail, Ei depending on when they were manufactured then the older ones are better with a fantastic midrange, Polish variants are good all-rounders, 6П14П-6P14P and its variants have everything the others want to be except the romantic that Mullard has, it`s a non-nonsens tube that always sounds good but has a small fault and that is which driver tube you use for me it is only TFK is good, that applies like it's a match made in heaven. The sound image is large both laterally and vertically, rich in detail, airy and above all it swings, so you don't get tired of listening. You live in Ukriana so stock up on both the EV and ER versions.
Then it's not just tubes that are the only thing, but also a good OPT that does a lot for the sound there are many how are too cheap and buy cheap OPT, Edcore has good but buy as good as you can afford with their opt or others manufacturers.
Their CXSE without end bells works great, but the GXSE is better, but if you want to go in hard, it's the CXSE with end bells that applies, I use Lundahl OPT 1663 SE.
My point was that asking with tube 'sounds best' is basically the same as asking which one 'looks best'. Either the question is meaningless or the answer is subjective.
Last spring I bought 3 matched(?) pairs of Soviet era 6P14P-EV from Ukraine at a good price, was I wrong? 🤔
Sound excellent in my sep amplifiers.
Sound excellent in my sep amplifiers.
Always done well with JJ EL84s, which are available at modest cost from Eurotubes in Portland, Oregon and all the other major tube vendors. For a bit more money, actually twice, pre-war Yugoslave EI are great, and you can get matched sets from RAMTUBES, the late Roger Modjeski's old company I have them in an RM10 and they sound great.
https://www.ramtubes.com/store/p/yugoei-6bq5el-84
https://www.ramtubes.com/store/p/yugoei-6bq5el-84
6П1П.... is cheap russian tube 10 for 50 $....so you Trying to find the best.. output tuebs. this amp is russian made?
After comparing many EL84 tubes including Mullards, Telefunkens, I like the Ei EL84 SQ the best. Unfortunately, Ei had extremely high rate of becoming noisy early. Similar story with Ei 12AU7's.. The ones that don't develop noise do last long time.
Polish PL841, supposed to be an EL84 (not a PL84!) with 16V heater, and a different pin for g2. Details of this tube are very difficult to find.
SQ "sound quality" At one point, I had given up and just bought any many as I could find to find long-lasting pairs. Similar story for the now-gone Svetlana 300B tube. Man, that tube sounded glorious but had tremendously high rate of early failures..
No, I have not done that as these are not that common in Sweden, but I only tested with European manufacturers the only EL84 I have not tested is the French Mazda variant of the EL84 according to what others have told them they should be very good. My tests only consist of listening when I had them in, so I always tried to try out the best possible driver tubes
i`m place to order to pair of 6P14P-ER - most expensive version of soviet 6P14P. Very small count this model.
And right now - Amperex.
And right now - Amperex.
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It is a version of 6V6 made for Soviet military. The closest plate curves, but voltages and power in specs are limited due to the smaller size.
Speaking for "Sound of EL84", we need volunteers to experiment and draw typical plate (anode) curves for different versions of them manufactured by different companies. It would settle down debates about "which one sounds better" by finding impact on them of different load lines.
If curves are the same, but sounds are different, that means the form of getter and lettering printed on them change the sound.
Good afternoon from Greece !
I have about 7 years a diy SE EL84 amp. I tested too many EL84.
The best sounded tubes for me is TELAM-POLAM EL84,made in poland ,rugged tubes.
I think to find easily in your country.
very good sounding tubes is toshiba EL84 if you can find
NOS tubes from philips not good from me,fast die in 100% anode dissipation ,my amp have very hot bias.
I tested russian 6P14P-EV,and NOS shuguang EL84 ,not bad at all ,almost same sound with heavy bass,and not good in highs
I have about 7 years a diy SE EL84 amp. I tested too many EL84.
The best sounded tubes for me is TELAM-POLAM EL84,made in poland ,rugged tubes.
I think to find easily in your country.
very good sounding tubes is toshiba EL84 if you can find
NOS tubes from philips not good from me,fast die in 100% anode dissipation ,my amp have very hot bias.
I tested russian 6P14P-EV,and NOS shuguang EL84 ,not bad at all ,almost same sound with heavy bass,and not good in highs