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Are MULLARD NOS EL34s and LTA ZOTL40 REF worth the price of admission?

I'm considering giving an older Linear Tube Audio (LTA) ZOTL40 Ref amp an audition.  LTA has a factory upgrade that includes upgrading to Mullard NOS EL34s for $800 (or less with additional discounts).  I am wondering if quad set of old-stock Mullard EL34s are worth the $800 price of admission?  I don't pretend to know what anyone else's budget is but $800 for quad EL34s seems like a lot.  If I'm paying the premium, it better be across the board and not just improvements on chamber music or obscure Chinese opera (no offense intended).  Does anyone have experience with either NOS Mullard tubes or LTA ZOTL40 Ref amp?  If so, please chime in.  Thanks.
128x128bananaslug

Showing 3 responses by lancelock

lancelock
1,084 posts
 
@bananaslug,
It is worth it. I love the XF2 Mullard EL34’s and will never part with them. I also have an older ZOTL40 and have taken it in to to get the  latest mods. Check with Mark but I think for the price you will be getting more than just excellent tubes. They now have different/better resistors and Mundorf caps. The improvements from my original ZOTL40, and I do have one of the first ones, is tremendous.
lancelock
1,084 posts
 
I have NOS Mullard EL34’s and a quad of Sophia Electric EL34ST. The Sophia’s are as close to Mullard EL34 as you can get which makes them the best new production EL34 tubes made but they are expensive.

For you guys that have a new Z10 or ZOTL40, give those caps some time to break-in properly. It gets better.
lancelock
1,084 posts
 

I have to mention that the latest (+) plus mods are a very big improvement in sound. If you have an older ZOTL40 the cost of the plus mods are well worth the price and the bump is bigger than that of pricey NOS tubes.

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