Best EL34 amps

jep123 · Jul 3, 2017

Three good alternatives in different price ranges:

Mastersound Dueundici SET integrated
Ars -Sonum Filarmonia, the little miracle from Spain. Marvelous!
Kondo Overture if money does not matter

.

JP

jazdoc · Jul 3, 2017

dan31 said:
The Wavestream el34 based mono amps are very nice. Scott Franklin design but hard to find. The Analog Room in Campbell CA is the home shop for the Wavestream audio products. The had a pair set up in the big room last year.

+1!

DaveC · Jul 3, 2017

Nothing against pp amps personally, but I'd go with a big SET, maybe w/EL34 driving a 211, over a pp amp of any kind.

morricab · Jul 4, 2017

bonzo75 said:
Actually I heard a SET, 12w, and another integrated, with two different horns, and some compares with other SETs and tubes over the last few months. Will write about it soon, the upload has been taking a while.

Audion Sterling is an EL34 SET...

MtnHam · Jul 4, 2017

The Walcott P280-M Mono Block 280W EL34 amplifiers are no longer being made, but are known to be one of the best.

http://www.wolcottaudio.com/WA_presence.htm

Henry Wolcott is long gone, and his amps are tough to service due to his brilliant, unconventional patented circuit design, and he never made the schematic available. They are legendary for their ability to drive difficult loads, such as Sound Lab electrostatics.

A review by Dick Olsher:

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0700/wolcottaudio.htm

DasguteOhr · Jul 9, 2017

Hello,

Radford STA 25 are really good In PP El34 Triode...
Alternative really good Tube Amps
TFK V69 with F2a
Michealson&Austin TVA1 KT 88 more Power
Raphael Audio Stereo 60 (Audio Workshop Kit)El34

christoph · Aug 7, 2017

I just stumbled over this little bigger:
http://www.coincidentspeaker.com/mpsip_amps.html

Unfortunately never heard a coincident component myself, though.

DSkip · Aug 7, 2017

jep123 said:
Three good alternatives in different price ranges:

Mastersound Dueundici SET integrated
Ars -Sonum Filarmonia, the little miracle from Spain. Marvelous!
Kondo Overture if money does not matter .

JP

As well as the MastersounD Dueventi Parallel SET integrated. This one includes a remote and a switch on the back to switch from pentode to triode mode on the fly.

The Unison Research Simply Italy is another good one for SET el34 power.

Vinyl Valet · Sep 21, 2017

Jep, I also have a Filarmonia (driving Melin Black Magic TSMs in a secondary system). What is your EL34 preference in that amp? Right now I'm using the stock JJs but plan on trying the GL KT77 and maybe the new Sophia EL34-ST when I have some extra cash.

Jono · Oct 29, 2017

I really like the old Australian made Trimax EL34 amps.I have owned quite a few modern valve/tube amps but these sound the best.Wonderful transformers in these.I prefer them to the Radfords.http://www.oneillassociates.com.au/~poneill/TrimaxType3_01.jpg

jackelsson · Oct 31, 2017

Had a Lectron JH 50 from the early nineties on for almost a decade. It was a very clean and fast amp, really loved what it did. But it was also a bit of a love-hate-relationship because it just ate away tubes, needed a new set every three years or so. Exactly what I needed back then being a student. But it had such a great sound...

Big Dog RJ · Nov 5, 2017

For me it has to be none other than two really superb EL34 based topology amps. One that is actually way more affordable than the other but the latter one performs in a league of its own:
1. Conrad Johnson CAV45
2. Kondo Overture

Have had both these amps in my home system, and previously owned the CAV45 until last just week! The CAV45's resolution is extraordinary. I still regret letting it go but with KT120's it drives the Ethos Panel towards another platform altogether. If I had no priorities, I would have definitely kept the CAV45, it is one very special amp with the right kind of transducers. It is totally engaging when listening to music and hopefully Keddo- you won't get bored...

If you want to take this to another level of sonic purity and realism, the Overture will knock off all misconceptions of EL34's, as this amp runs in pure Class A- marvelous sound indeed!

Cheers mate, RJ

jep123 · Nov 6, 2017

Hi.
Which speakers did you use with the CAV 45? I am looking for a great EL 34 based Integrated that does not cost as the Kondo

. As an extra amp, I love EL 34.

JP

Nilau · Nov 20, 2017

jackelsson said:
Had a Lectron JH 50 from the early nineties on for almost a decade. It was a very clean and fast amp, really loved what it did. But it was also a bit of a love-hate-relationship because it just ate away tubes, needed a new set every three years or so. Exactly what I needed back then being a student. But it had such a great sound...

View attachment 36909

Hi...
If your Lectron JH 50 "ate away tubes" it surely must have been adjusted in a very wrong way. It actually is quite soft on the tubes, and the output tubes should last for several years...and the small tubes...almost forever!

Regards
Nilau

morricab · Nov 21, 2017

bonzo75 said:
Hi, what are your favorite EL34 amps?

I will tell you when I pick up my new Mastersound EL34 SEP (single ended pentode) later this week. I will use it on my DECware HDTs for a sweet little "late night" system.

bonzo75 · Nov 21, 2017

Good to know.

morricab · Nov 22, 2017

bonzo75 said:
Good to know.

picked it up tonight. Will set it up tomorrow or over the weekend. Demo was nice as it has a clean clear sound. The guys main system was a complete Tobian System, speakers, preamp, amp and DAC. Was pretty good sounding...

DSkip · Nov 24, 2017

morricab said:
picked it up tonight. Will set it up tomorrow or over the weekend. Demo was nice as it has a clean clear sound. The guys main system was a complete Tobian System, speakers, preamp, amp and DAC. Was pretty good sounding...

That's a key characteristic I've found with all the MastersounD amplifiers I've had thus far. Glad to see it is also there in the entry level unit.

Ron Resnick · Nov 25, 2017

I have a late entrant for the EL34 sweepstakes: VTL MB-185 Series III, using eight EL34s, producing 140 watts in triode mode.

And what about a Jadis fitted with EL34s?

awsmone · Nov 25, 2017

Yes Ron the VTL 185 I have heard on my CLX, love the variable feedback

Have u heard of the Audiovalve challenger 140 , I had the smaller 70 ...

Best EL34 amps

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