EL34 / EL84 Based Tube Amps

denom

denom

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Request the learned Tube Amp Guru's to pls advise what is so special about the EL34 or EL84 based tube amps. Which ones to look for & whether any available in the market.

Friend of mine is interested in purchasing an amp based on either of these tubes. He is firm on an amp with these tubes only.

Await gyaan

Thanks In Advance

:)
 
Okay, I am anything but a "learned Tube Amp Guru" but here goes my two paise :)

From what I gather, the reasons for the Popularity of EL34/84 are: they are ubiquitous, they are cheap (comparatively), they sound nice.

These tubes are so common (especially the 34 variant) that every single Tube amp manufacturer seems to have an EL34 tube amp on offer (or more than just one).

They are much cheaper, say compared to tubes such 211, 845, 2A3 etc. Putting together an amp based on EL34 costs significantly less than putting together one with those tubes.

They sound nice. Many people swear by their sound. Specially by the sound they get from ElectroHarmonix tubes.

Nearly all tube amp manufacturers have EL34 based amps. Start with any. Most common suspects being Yaqin, Cary, Cayin, Melody. When you are ready to move to the next level, here are the bigger names to go for. AudioSpace, Consonance Opera, Line Magnetic.

That is not to say that's all. Of course there is always room at the top. You can always go up to likes of Audio Note :p
 
Why not DIY. On another forum there is a EL84 desig called the Baby Huey that has found many takers.

Tubes are fun to DIY; schematics are plenty and hard wiring is possible.

BTW many EL34 based amps like the Consonance can also accomodate 6550s and sometimes even KT88s.
 
If you are looking at EL84 based designs, here are 2 very popular designs from Mullard. These designs were legendary and the design philosophy has been replicated in several forms by loads of DIYers over time.

3 watts amp

Mullard 3-3. Three Watt Amplifier

10 watts amp

Mullard 5-10. Ten Watt Amplifier

I remember first reading about the 3-watt EF86/EL84 valve amp in a vintage book titled "Fun with Hi-Fi" by Gilbert Davey.
 
ranjeetrain said:
Okay, I am anything but a "learned Tube Amp Guru" but here goes my two paise :)

From what I gather, the reasons for the Popularity of EL34/84 are: they are ubiquitous, they are cheap (comparatively), they sound nice.

These tubes are so common (especially the 34 variant) that every single Tube amp manufacturer seems to have an EL34 tube amp on offer (or more than just one).

They are much cheaper, say compared to tubes such 211, 845, 2A3 etc. Putting together an amp based on EL34 costs significantly less than putting together one with those tubes.

They sound nice. Many people swear by their sound. Specially by the sound they get from ElectroHarmonix tubes.

Nearly all tube amp manufacturers have EL34 based amps. Start with any. Most common suspects being Yaqin, Cary, Cayin, Melody. When you are ready to move to the next level, here are the bigger names to go for. AudioSpace, Consonance Opera, Line Magnetic.

That is not to say that's all. Of course there is always room at the top. You can always go up to likes of Audio Note :p
Click to expand...

Thanks Ranjeet, appreciate your quick response which was certainly enlightening to me :)

navin advani said:
Why not DIY. On another forum there is a EL84 desig called the Baby Huey that has found many takers.

Tubes are fun to DIY; schematics are plenty and hard wiring is possible.

BTW many EL34 based amps like the Consonance can also accomodate 6550s and sometimes even KT88s.
Click to expand...

Thanks Navin, good to hear from you as well. Kindly share links of such DIY builds here for every ones benefit.

:)

Thanks Reuben :clapping:
 
Since all the tube gurus are chipping in, may I with due permission kindly post my query :) can you also please suggest on my this query.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
reubensm said:
If you are looking at EL84 based designs, here are 2 very popular designs from Mullard. These designs were legendary and the design philosophy has been replicated in several forms by loads of DIYers over time.

3 watts amp

Mullard 3-3. Three Watt Amplifier

10 watts amp

Mullard 5-10. Ten Watt Amplifier

I remember first reading about the 3-watt EF86/EL84 valve amp in a vintage book titled "Fun with Hi-Fi" by Gilbert Davey.
Click to expand...

Any EL34/84 based amp with output of 30-50 + watts???
 
I own two EL 34 based pp amps and like them. I have also had a KT 88 amp in the past.The sound, the cost and the power are a match for my speakers.

Ranjeetrain:

>Careful! Those tubes are very different
There are numerous amps with work with all three types of valves that Navin mentioned, it's a matter of design. I would like to know on what basis you made your statement.
 
Just checked the prices of the EL34 based amps available in the market. Prices start from $450 going to $1200 & beyond, shipping & customs extra :(

I think his best bet would be to go DIY as rightly suggested by Navin.

Await more gyaan from the learned Tube Guru's of our forum.

:)
 
Last edited:
GeorgeO said:
There are numerous amps with work with all three types of valves that Navin mentioned, it's a matter of design. I would like to know on what basis you made your statement.
Click to expand...

Because of the number of pins, layout and voltage difference. Also, I didn't come across any amps which could take all those types. Good to know it's doable.
 
EL 84 valves are a different kettle of fish, the power is significantly less, valves are lower priced aand you need to have move of them-say 4 per channel instead of 2. Manley Labs and a few others use them for some amps, but they are not as common as el34s.
 
denom said:
...what is so special about the EL34 or EL84 based tube amps...
Click to expand...
  • EL84 and EL34 are modern tubes developed in 50's. These were designed grounds up as truly audio tube. This is unlike many other popular power tubes (pentodes/triodes etc) whose design aim was RF or other such application
  • They are very easy to drive. They require very few components to produce a relatively higher output. Remember the watts war was around the corner !
  • They were cheap to produce and sell. I read that some complicated manufacturing stages that were required to produce other tubes of the era done were away for the EL84/EL34 family.
Therefore, these tubes became almost the standard device of choice for most amplifier makers of the day. The tradition somewhat continued when the tube audio revival started in 1990's.

denom said:
Friend of mine is interested in purchasing an amp based on either of these tubes. He is firm on an amp with these tubes only.
Click to expand...
He is right. You cant go wrong with an amp using these tubes. Now only if you can retrofit them with real NOS EL34 or 84 ;)
 
Last edited:
GeorgeO said:
This s a good option, I had a DHT PP Class A amp from them, which could use 2A3/300B and 45 valves. This one can use all three types that Navin suggested:

Ergo-Ella KT88/6550/EL34 PP Amplifier | Diy HiFi Supply
Click to expand...

GeorgeO said:
EL 84 valves are a different kettle of fish, the power is significantly less, valves are lower priced aand you need to have move of them-say 4 per channel instead of 2. Manley Labs and a few others use them for some amps, but they are not as common as el34s.
Click to expand...

GeorgeO said:
Pins and layout are not an issue. The voltage may require some rewiring in the tranny that if designed right can easily accommodate.
Click to expand...

Thanks George, will forward the link to him, appreciate the tube gyaan shared by you :)

murali_n said:
Hi,

I suggest this:

YAQIN MC-10T VACUUM TUBE EL34-B Integrated AMPLIFIER New - $447.98?USD : Enjoy music, enjoy hifi audio!, we sell Music Angel,qinpu,yaqin,MeiXing MingDa,Bewitch,Bada Amplifiers, CD player,power amp, preamp

N.Murali
Click to expand...

Thanks Murali, yes he is aware of this model, he may pull the trigger on this if he does not go the DIY route.


aks07 said:
  • EL84 and EL34 are modern tubes developed in 50's. These were designed grounds up as truly audio tube. This is unlike many other popular power tubes (pentodes/triodes etc) whose design aim was RF or other such application
  • They are very easy to drive. They require very few components to produce a relatively higher output. Remember the watts war was around the corner !
  • They were cheap to produce and sell. I read that some complicated manufacturing stages that were required to produce other tubes of the era done were away for the EL84/EL34 family.
Therefore, these tubes became almost the standard device of choice for most amplifier makers of the day. The tradition somewhat continued when the tube audio revival started in 1990's.

He is right. You cant go wrong with an amp using these tubes. Now only if you can retrofit them with real NOS EL34 or 84 ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you Ashok for sharing your vast knowledge on this subject, appreciate it as always. Glad you replied to my query. Now I know why my friend is so adamant on EL34/84 based Tube amp.

:)
 
I'm presently running Lyrita EL84 10 watts with Akai SW-175 (94db) and I'm more than pleased with the results.
 
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