Not sure, actually. The clips that sounded dark were the 100W Stealth with EL34s (I think).
Which one(s) do you like?
I have a 100w Stealth, 100w EL34, and 50w 6L6. I wouldn't mind a 50w EL34, I just don't happen to have one.
100w Stealth and 100w EL34 comparisons:
The Blue and Red channel preamps are identical. Literally identical. Same gain ranges, same EQ ranges, etc.
Identical.
The EL34's Green channel has just a little more space on the knob for true clean tones compared to the Stealth's Green channel but they're also the same channel besides that.
The only difference between the two amps is the power section. The EL34 is just a bit more mid-forward, and the Stealth is very slightly more scooped.
Personally if I could only keep one, I'd keep the Stealth 100 just because I happen to like a scooped 5150 a little more than a mid pushed 5150, but there are people on this forum who prefer the EL34 100. There is seriously not much difference between the two amps at all, mostly just a slight mid voicing in the power section and that is it.
100w to 50w comparisons:
The 50w watt amps to me sound like they have a bit less mids going into the preamp, so they sound a bit more "slinky" in their gain you might say. But put a mid boost in front and the feel and voicing starts to match the 100w amps very closely.
Also, the low end of the 50w amps isn't necessarily louder or quieter than the 100w amps, but the lowest lows of the 50w don't go down as far as the 100w's lowest lows.
The Blue channel of the 50w EL34 amp is mushy. Too much bass sent into the preamp, so it almost sounds like an unboosted Recto preamp. However, that extra fullness makes it sound fantastic when boosted. You can do the C137 mod (cut one leg of a cap on the board, basically) to bring the 50w EL34's Blue channel to parity with the 50w 6L6's Blue channel.
