Dipping my toes into EL84 tubes

I’m always curious, I found this interesting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EL84

I’m guessing the ’extra gain’ is why Luxman used them in my SQ-N150

https://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=33

which sounds quite nice, just enough power (10 wpc @ 6 ohms) for my office AR-2ax (sensitivity 90), to let me use preferred tubes without heating up the room.

Just saying, it’s beyond your budget, beyond mine too, but the size, etc was ideal, and years later, I’m very glad I spent the extra money.

I often say ’Think Long’, and ’sell some stuff, stop going out so much, .... whatever it takes to get you there, for a long time, perhaps I’ll have it checked out in a few more years, and it will ’see me out’.

Another thread, someone wants an amp to last 20 years. Better think about if the company will still be around, and if they have a history of supporting their equipment for a long time.

btw, when I bought it (very lightly used), I had return option because I never saw or heard such a dinky little power tube. Oh, I kept it.

@elliottbnewcombjr +1  Good advice, think long.  The audio merry-go-round is quite expensive and consuming.  A one time quality purchase lasting 20 years actually more economical than 3 different purchases chasing.

https://www.manley.com/products/hi-fi/hifi-amps/stingray-ii

I’ve run the EL 84 based Mahi Mahi and they were incredible.  Didn’t really sound like tubes; quick and very good bass control.  I’m sure the Stingray would deliver same profile, just not quite as refined.  Used around $3500.  Good hunting.

@paradisecom  I saw that and also the Common Sense EL84. I saw that both 6Moons and Darko seemed to like it. It sparked my interest in a cheap but decent EL84 amplifier.

my speakers are Klipsch Heresy 4’s so I figured 5 wpc would be fine. And I see a lot of love for single ended amps and this one has both.

My favorite output tube given very efficient speakers.

One of the best sounding amps I've heard at any price (again, given a proper speaker match) is the now discontinued and rare KingKo KA-101 Pro. It's also my favorite headphone amp.