Tung Sol EL84's... how are they?

[Rex Rocker]

How are these? I like Tung Sol 12AX7's and 5881's. They're bright, clear and open. They have sizzling highs and a slight scoop in the lower mids for some added clarity. However, their 6L6GT-STR's are a bit too smooth and slightly dark/stuffy for my taste, and that's defiinitely not the direction I want to go in. I wonder which of these footprints their EL84's follow.

I like the clear, open tone of TAD EL84-STR's, but had a couple of sets fail not long after being installed without them being abused at all.

I like the cheapie Sovtek EL84's way better than the stuffy JJ's, and could probably live with those, but I'm wondering if I would be better off with Tung Sols. Perhaps Electro Harmonix EL84's are just slightly more open-sounding Sovteks?

Thanks.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Anyone?

 

[psychodave]

I’d get the 6P14P-EV’s. I e never tried the TS or EH’s. I’ve tried the JJ’s that everyone raves about and I much prefer the 6P14P’s. They are a lot more musical, have depth and a balanced sound.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Are those NOS? Would the CP equivalent be the Sovtek EL84M's?

 

[Rex Rocker]

I ordered a set of Sovtek EL84M's, which I believe are that 6P14P-EV design... I hope! LOL.

 

[skullfxr]

I ordered a set of Sovtek EL84M's, which I believe are that 6P14P-EV design... I hope! LOL.

Let me know when you get them. I need some variety. All I have are my JJ EL84 stash,at 16.lol.

 

[Rex Rocker]

I ordered a set of Sovtek EL84M's, which I believe are that 6P14P-EV design... I hope! LOL.

Let me know when you get them. I need some variety. All I have are my JJ EL84 stash,at 16.lol.

Will do!

 

[aftec]

Got some 6P14P-EP it's great tube better than anything else in current production. Great clarity and hig end response, way less lows and mud than the JJs. 10.000 hours designed lifteime makes them a no brainer.
But
The NOS General Electric EL84-6BQ5 slays everything. It's head and shoulders above anything I tried in my JJ junior.
I guess you can get the 6P14Ps from Dr. Z. I would not buy them from ebay, Z tests them and they are good, he buys them in thousands from the Ukraine.
For guys on the other side of the pond, watfordwalves test them too and have them on stock.

 

[psychodave]

Got some 6P14P-EP it's great tube better than anything else in current production. Great clarity and hig end response, way less lows and mud than the JJs. 10.000 hours designed lifteime makes them a no brainer.
But
The NOS General Electric EL84-6BQ5 slays everything. It's head and shoulders above anything I tried in my JJ junior.
I guess you can get the 6P14Ps from Dr. Z. I would not buy them from ebay, Z tests them and they are good, he buys them in thousands from the Ukraine.
For guys on the other side of the pond, watfordwalves test them too and have them on stock.

I buy direct from Moldova.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Are these "EP's" very different from the EV/EB's that were recommended before?

Also, I kinda want a big-bottle-like bottom end out of my EL84's. Problem I have with JJ's is, rather than low-end, they seem to some hefty low mid content and not much going on in the hig mids, much like their ECC83S's are famous for. They're not bad, but I prefer other EL84's I've tried.

 

[psychodave]

I think the EP is military grade. I do know I prefer the non-military version.

EL84’s aren’t known to be big bottom tubes. I’d suggest adding a depth pot to the amp to increase bottom end.

 

[Rex Rocker]

I ordered a set of Sovtek EL84M's, which I believe are that 6P14P-EV design... I hope! LOL.

Let me know when you get them. I need some variety. All I have are my JJ EL84 stash,at 16.lol.

Just got them. They are great! If you've tried the TAD EL84-STR's, they are sorta along those lines, but cleaner, tighter, and more hi-fi. They have more detail up top than JJ's, flatter, not as pronounced low mids, and it would seem like very slightly more extension in the very bottom low-end. They feel a lot cleaner/less compressed too.

I'm not a fan of JJ EL84's. I don't dislike them, but I've preferred the TAD EL84-STR's, and Sovtek EL84/6BQ5's and EL84M's, honestly.

 

[skullfxr]

I ordered a set of Sovtek EL84M's, which I believe are that 6P14P-EV design... I hope! LOL.

Let me know when you get them. I need some variety. All I have are my JJ EL84 stash,at 16.lol.

Just got them. They are great! If you've tried the TAD EL84-STR's, they are sorta along those lines, but cleaner, tighter, and more hi-fi. They have more detail up top than JJ's, flatter, not as pronounced low mids, and it would seem like very slightly more extension in the very bottom low-end. They feel a lot cleaner/less compressed too.

I'm not a fan of JJ EL84's. I don't dislike them, but I've preferred the TAD EL84-STR's, and Sovtek EL84/6BQ5's and EL84M's, honestly.

Thanks for the follow up. I will throw some in my cart next time I place an order. It will be a bit though. I generally wait for a big sale or until I drop a $300+ order and hussle a bulk discount.

 

[vchizzle]

I’ve only had 1 amp with 84’s(dark terror), had JJ’s when I got it. On the cheap, EH sound way better to me. Better tighter lows, nice highs without that weird JJ midrange.