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Can anyone give me a quick sound comparison between an EL-84, an EL-34 and a 6550? I know, all in the implementation, but a general idea of what the differences might be? I currently own a SF Frontiers amp which takes the KT-88, or 6550 (all I've ever had in it). Chris at Parts Connexion suggests re-tubing with the KT-120's, but since I'm looking at other amps, one an EL-84, another an EL-34 I'm holding off on it for now.
Follow Ups:
I have both EL-84 based and EL-34 Based amps-
and as has been said, the biggest difference is the power -
Most EL-84 amps are based around ~12w/ch per pair of tubes -
and the EL-34 are ~50watts/ch,
There are not many EL_84 amps that use more than one pair - so finding a higher powered EL-84 amp could be a challenge (Excluding the RM-10, which is 25-35 watts per channel).
As far as sound - well, my experience with using the two different amps driving the same speaker [ProAc Response 3, sig ed.] - I prefer the EL-34 based amp - primarily for the bass - but most people would not run this speaker with an EL-84 amp....
With Quad '57s - not a great difference - I might actually prefer the EL-84...a bit 'quicker'
Happy Listening
The EL84, as you must know, has much less dissipation than the others you mention, and will give you less power unless you have a pair in parallel. They've been used in parallel in quite a few amps like Bill Beard. I also assume that you want a push-pull amp and not a single ended one.
Could your system work with something like a 300b SE amp or does it need more power?
Not my current speakers, no. I'm looking at higher eff models, not HIGH EFFICIENCY by the standard measures mind you, just 90 - 95 or so.
I actually have a SE 300B integrated that hopefully will soon be repaired and useable again, but no remote which is now important to me. The amps I'm looking at use the EL-84 (13 watts) or the EL-34 (51 watts) They are by Linear Tube Audio, and are both PP integrateds. I'd probably have to go with the '34 model if I keep my current speakers (which may be the way it goes since I can't hear the speakers I really want). They sound fine to me using the 55 watt 6550 amp I have. I've even used the 300B with them and they still sounded pretty good at the volumes I listen to, but I'm in a different space now so that probably wouldn't work.
I guess I really would like to know what I'd get if I switched to the amps with the other tubes over my amp with the 6550's.
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