EL34 vs 6CA7 vs KT77

When I had an EL34 amp the tubes I liked best were vintage Tesla (not JJ) and the Siemens RFT. Of course, I didn't try every tube out there and both those kinds would be pricey and perhaps hard to track down.

For new production, I had the same Winged "C" tubes as you and liked them. I was extremely happy with a quad of reissue Genelex KT-77's from Jim McShane. If I got another EL34 amp I would buy the Genelex again and not spend the money and effort tracking down NOS.

Mtb - you're right, the choice of tubes is both subjective and system dependent.

I'm not sure if my description would be helpful to anyone else but I found the Genalex KT-77's to have the same kind of musicality as the "C" El34's but they seemed more articulate, if that makes any sense. That applies both to the PRAT and to the soundstage. They just sounded right, more transparent without losing any of the sweetness. I'm afraid that's the best I can do and even that probably isn't all that illuminating.

I was using the tubes in an AES AE-25 Superamp in triode, driving a pair of Devore 8's.

I did take acetone and a paper towel and remove all the swirly red and gold script on the glass of the KT-77's, after which they looked like proper tubes rather than something you'd find in a New Age candle shop.