• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Experiences with TAD EL34?

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Havent used them but i think very overprized.

It is not really easy to find cheap tubes from German electronics suppliers, a standard "no name" EL34 costs up to 20 Euros, so the 43 Euros for a matched pair are not far from the average price here in Germany...

Electroharmonix (EH) EL34 are about 35 Euros/matched pair - for example...

Greetings,
Andreas
 
They're just selected versions of various manufacturer's product. I don't know who made the ones shown, but may be of Chinese manufacture and would probably be available elsewhere for less money. TAD probably stands behind the product they sell and are relatively local. eBay is a potential option for cheaper tubes if you can get them without paying VAT and import duty. (Would guess that is unlikely?)
 
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These are Shuguang "Sino" EL34B tubes:

Sino EL34-B

I have a quad of these, branded "Ruby Tube". I got them for very cheap from AES. They were the cheapest EL34 type I could find at the time and I use them for amp bring-up. The cosmetic build consistency is not the best (typical for China tubes), but I have had no trouble with them and they sound quite nice in my ST70 and the Simple SE.
 
It is not really easy to find cheap tubes from German electronics suppliers, a standard "no name" EL34 costs up to 20 Euros, so the 43 Euros for a matched pair are not far from the average price here in Germany...

Electroharmonix (EH) EL34 are about 35 Euros/matched pair - for example...

Greetings,
Andreas

BTB Elektronik-Vertriebs GmbH - Preislisten

Equivalents of Manufactures:

EL34 JJ Red Label 10,90
E34L JJ Red Label 11,50
EL34B Tung-Sol (RU) 17,40
EL34B-STR Shuguang (Big Bulb) 12,90
EL34 EH 11,90
EL34 S-Logo Svetlana Style 16,50
EL34 SED Svetlana winged "C" 27,35
KT77 JJ 14,35
KT77 Gold Lion 37,25
6CA7 JJ (Big Bulb) 14,85
6CA7 EH (Big Bulb) 15,95

All Prices in EURO

You can match them yourself

regards
 
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