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300b vs. NOS mullard el34- both amps in push pull

I have Quicksilver mid monos that are el-34 based. I am wondering if I should buy some expensive NOS Mullard EL34's(unarguably the best midrange for a el34) to get the so called midrange magic or just go to a 300b push pull design.

I want to stick with push pull for the dynamics and power and realize by not going SET that much of the midrange magic is lost on the 300b (a third option might be one of the hot-roded 300b set designs like the Wytech or Border Patrol but many have written that these two do lack somewhat in the midrange that a typical 300b SET provides or maybe parallel 300b's which also supposedly lose the magic).
frankk
khaki8
206 posts
 
Get some of the new KT77's. They are as good as the old Mullards if not better.
I thought they were in my Eastern Electric M520...better than XF1 with the big base.
rlawry
477 posts
 
Some of your answer will depend on your speaker load and your room. If you could answer that, along with how loud you listen and musical choices, we could make a more informed recommendation.
frankk OP
50 posts
 
100db efficiency in a large room that is usually playing very loud complex music. I will eventually also try out a lower powered amp but for now 20 - 50 watt amps is what I'm going with.

I'm just wondering if the Mullard (xf2 not xf1 due to cost) has the beautiful midrange of a 300b in push pull if hypothetically both amps were the same. If not maybe I'll start considering buying a 300b p/p rather than buying those expensive Mullards for my el34 amp (I have come to the realization that I love a great midrange and will sacrifice other areas if I have to).
zachhahn
13 posts
 
what kind of el34's are you using in your quickie now?
if you are into the distinctive el34 midrange sound, there are a few (cheaper) options to get very close to THE sound other than shelling out some chum for nos mullards; as Khaki8 has pointed out, there are some good KT77's and a few other current production 34's.

if you want to take advantage of your quickie's tube-rolling capacity and venture out to different tube sounds, there are some 7581A's, KT-88's and 90's, various 6L6's or even el84's using yellow jacket converters.

to my ears, many el 34's lack "air" and deep/wide bass in comparison to, say a nice set of tall-bottled RCA 6L6GC's or sparkly top of JAN 7581A's.
you might want to try out EL84's w/ yellow jackets; they have very good midrange (similar to 34's but a bit airier in the mids and have more brilliant treble, in general). plus el84's are cheap. i like groove tube's (selected JJ's)high number (6 and up) sets. these have more clean headroom than the lower numbered ones.

if it was my money i'd rahter save for a good 300b set amp than pp.
or even try some single-ended triode (MODE) versions of EL84's for a lot less $$.
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