EL34/6CA7 tone differences

[ttowne]

Can I get some opinions on the tonal differences of EL34 compared to 6CA7's. Thanks.

[Rickey_Dee]

6 threads below yours you can find this:

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=39324" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and the search function may also help a bit...

[Tone Slinger]

Generally el-34 is warmer and more compressed and 6ca7 is 'harder' sounding with more bottom end thump with extended highs sorta like a 6l6.

[SteadyEddie]

Generally el-34 is warmer and more compressed and 6ca7 is 'harder' sounding with more bottom end thump with extended highs sorta like a 6l6.

I didn't find that with the JJ 6CA7 but I've never played a Sylvania. The JJ's are warmer with more bottom. Smooth highs. I love them.

[stef]

IME JJ EL34's have the same "amount" of highs like EH 6ca7's but fizzy -ugly highs.. generally fizzy sounding across the spectrum
EH's have more bass and tighter low end, and yes harder, cleaner and punchier sounding....

[Tone Slinger]

I do like EH tubes. I''ve never liked the JJ E34L's though (I havent tried the JJ 6ca7) though I hear the JJ 6ca7 is a pentode (like regular el34's) wheras the EH 6ca7 (copy of Sylvania/Phillips 6ca7) is a tetrode. My favorite output tube is a standard EH El-34.

[stef]

i've never tried jj E34L, I was using JJ EL34. JJ EL34's "worked" OK in a 12000 spec, but I hated them in a mod5 spec, these days I have only a pair of old EH 6ca7's, 2 of the quad drifted away, but I was pushing them close to 80% dissipation, or more
Andy, how do you like EH EL34's in a mod5 spec'ed amp?