Metropoulos Forum

Getting ready to re-tube my amp. What are some of the best power tubes these days? I have been using the EH 6CA7's.

I would have loaded it with Mullard reissue EL34's. If you want to use those, contact Laura at Valvequeen. She supplies all the tubes for the Metro-Plex and is awesome.

george

VelvetGeorge wrote:I would have loaded it with Mullard reissue EL34's. If you want to use those, contact Laura at Valvequeen. She supplies all the tubes for the Metro-Plex and is awesome.

george

What is it that you like about these George? Would you use Mullard 12ax7 pre's too? Just curious.

I hear the NewSensor Svetlana EL34s are pretty awesome but I don't have first hand experience. What I do have first hand experience with in a 1959-type circuit are the JJ 6CA7s. Those with JJ ECC803S long-plates... HOLY MOLY! Clear and sweet with a "normal" control config and only missing the Variac for EVH with everything dimed.

I do wanna try the Svets, though, once I get the cash for a quad.

I'd never argue with George....can't go wrong there.

For a different flavor, I've been happy with the Electro-Harmonix 6CA7

Currently JJ's new EL34 II is my favourite tube. Very dynamic and natural sound with lots of headroom. The only thing I'd consider to be better are the SED Winged C EL34 (the old ones). Since they're hard to get at the moment they can be very pricey. But heck, JJs are pretty damn close!

JPA wrote:Currently JJ's new EL34 II is my favourite tube. Very dynamic and natural sound with lots of headroom.

I tried them last week and thought exactly the opposite !
Compared to the TAD EL34B (made by Shuguang) they lacked headroom. They also had a smoother tone, less bass and not as bright. Not saying they're a bad tube, just not what I needed for that particular amp

bill bokey wrote: I tried them last week and thought exactly the opposite !
Compared to the TAD EL34B (made by Shuguang) they lacked headroom. They also had a smoother tone, less bass and not as bright. Not saying they're a bad tube, just not what I needed for that particular amp

So In what amp did you put the tubes in? I tried the JJ EL34 II in my 100 W Marshall 1959 and in an Engl 50 W rackmount power amp and they kicked ass! In contrast I didn't like the TAD EL34B in these amps Sounded too bright and a little bit cold for my personal taste.

There does seem to be common tonal differences between Chinese, Russian and JJ's. I often have a hard time getting Russian tubes with my preferred specs. Poor Valvequeen has to test (and reject) a bunch. And she has to deal with New Sensor. I should feel bad.

I do like the Russian tubes in the MP, but it was designed around them. I'm sure with a few tweaks the JJ's or Chinese would sounds great too.

I use the CV4004 preamp tubes. They are short plate 12AX7 types. You have to go through a bunch to find ones with good gain, low noise and not microphonic, but they do sound really good.

george

Is the difference between Mullard CV4004 RI and Mullard 12Ax7 RI big?

The Mullard 12AX7 are actually Solvtek selected 12AX7LPS

OK and CV4004 are also Sovtek but shortplate? Are the longplate 12ax7 Mullard RI any good? Maybe in Phase Inverter?