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Dipping my toes into EL84 tubes

As I am researching amplifiers, it occurred to me I don’t have experience with el34 (though I have heard a Leben 600), el84 which people seem to like, 300b or any of the major tubes really.

 

so based on the seemingly overwhelming love people have for EL84, I’ve been looking for cheap but decent integrated or power amp based on EL84.  Used is fine and under $1k USD. If you’ve heard it and thought it was pretty darn good for the money let’s hear it. 

gochurchgo
celtic66
1,925 posts
 

Dynaco ST 70 mostly EL 34.  Think there were some rare conversions.

dynacohum
833 posts
 

When I was a collegian (1969-1973) a classmate had an Dynakit SCA35 with KLH Seventeens.  I had an SCA80 and A-25s.  Why did his setup sound better?  All the reasons!  PAS preamp and EL84 vs early Xsistors, and the smooth Kloss tweeter vs the peaky SEAS dome.  

car123's avatar
car123
159 posts
 

I have a music reference RM-10, it sounds wonderful and uses EL-84s.  These amps are very hard to find as people do not let them go but if you are able to get your hands on one you will likely be very happy with it. 

analogvm15's avatar
analogvm15
114 posts
 

I have a repurposed Magnavox 9xxx series console amp. It was recaped etc., etc...... with proper RCAs, on/off switch and binding posts that accept spades or bananas, 15 watts/ channel. Drives my Snell E3s or Spica TC 60s just fine. Think it cost me $250 w/o tubes. Now , depending what tubes you buy.... and there you go.

 

nlitworld
103 posts
 

The Tubes4HiFi ST35 is my current amp in use. Clean, punchy, dynamic, and extremely musical. I built a kit decked out to the 9’s  including massive choke in the power supply and painted a custom chassis root beer brown. So far I can tell, the toroidal OPT make for a clean and dynamic sound as this certainly isn’t your grandpa’s tube amp from the 60s.

My EL84 amp build

10/10 would recommend.

-Lloyd

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