Electro Harmonix valves vs...


I've been recently introduced to EH tubes to use instead of Svetlana that I use right now as EL34 by a dealer. He has Kora mono amps that use the EH EL34 tubes. I've listened to these amps and I loved them but I'm still not sure if these tubes are superior to Svetlanas.
Had anyone had an experience to play with EH tubes?
128x128marakanetz

Showing 2 responses by zaikesman

It's hard to get a straight story about any differences between Sovtek and E-H branded tubes, but I generally assume they're the same tube with different logos and boxes - after all, they're made on the same line in the same factory, and they look the same when you gaze inside...

In my C-J MV-55, the Svetlanas have been clearly superior, IMHO, to the stock Sovteks C-J supplies: Better extension at both ends, better bass control, fuller midrange, airier highs, cleaner transients and livlier dynamics, with more transparancy and resolution accross the spectrum noticeable primarily as a clearer sense of 3-D space and location, allied to a comparitive lack of "electronic"-sounding artifacts making for a smoother, more natural-sounding presentation overall. In previous posts on this topic however, others have begged to differ (some citing the Tesla/JJ Czech tubes, which placed in between the Sovteks and the Svetlanas in my shootout), so I think it's safe to say that YMMV, and that the particular circuit a tube is used in can make a big difference in which brand is ultimately preferred.
Update: Having very excellent results with Electro-Harmonix KT-88's vs. Svet (SED) 6550C's. And apparently this EH KT-88 is *not* the same tube as the Sovtek version. (I haven't tried either the Sovtek or the SED KT-88's ; nor did I try any 6550's other than the Svet's.) Live and learn...