ecc40 or 76 as driver for 2A3

[Jaap]

I am contemplating about a 2A3 amp, dc coupled with ecc40 or 76.
Any people with experience with these tubes and a clear opinion ?

 

[jim]

Back in '76

Hi,

I use the 76 in both my preamp and poweramp (300Bee).
However always in mu-stage configuration with a D3a or 12HG7 pentode on top of the 76.
These are very low distortion triodes with excellent sonics.
Difficult to beat with more modern tube types.

Greetings,
Jim

 

[Jaap]

mu

I see too much capacitors in that mu-stage, I prefer the dc coupling for a start

 

[fdegrove]

Hi,

I see too much capacitors in that mu-stage, I prefer the dc coupling for a start

You could replace the mu-stage with a ccs load if the caps bother you that much...
There's only one of them in the direct signal path, BTW.

Just don't forget that DC-coupling for the sole purpose of avoiding a coupling cap in a SE design comes at a price.
Not one I'd bother to pay but YMMV.
More often than not the cap is just shifted out of sight anyway and the entire PS is contributing to the sonics of the endresult to boot.

BTW, the E80CC is the SQ version of the rimlock ECC40. Both are great sounding medium mu tubes.

Cheers,😉