Best EL34 amps

christoph

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Dec 11, 2015
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morricab

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Very nice but wouldn't that fit better in an own thread than here in the EL34 thread?
I find your interesting project deserves it's own thread :cool:
Well, probably but it is being driven by an EL34 amp :p
 

Audiophile Bill

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Mar 23, 2015
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Very nice but wouldn't that fit better in an own thread than here in the EL34 thread?
I find your interesting project deserves it's own thread :cool:

Actually I wonder whether there is appetite for a dedicated diy area on wbf where our home brew concoctions can be discussed and shared. Might be really interesting as a new avenue for sharing idea and *learning* new things.
 

morricab

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good idea; however, there are already a lot of DIY sites
 

christoph

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Actually I wonder whether there is appetite for a dedicated diy area on wbf where our home brew concoctions can be discussed and shared. Might be really interesting as a new avenue for sharing idea and *learning* new things.
I would LOOOOVE to learn more about Brad's, Bill's, Tao's and especially Kodomo's and Carolus' projects :cool:
 

Audiophile Bill

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I would LOOOOVE to learn more about Brad's, Bill's, Tao's and especially Kodomo's and Carolus' projects :cool:

There is a lot to learn I am sure from the collective herein.
 
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Audiophile Bill

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Actually I wonder whether there is appetite for a dedicated diy area on wbf where our home brew concoctions can be discussed and shared. Might be really interesting as a new avenue for sharing idea and *learning* new things.

Well since there seems to be some likes for this suggestion - mods any chance we can have a DIY area?
 
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Exlibris

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Any thoughts on current production EL34 tubes? I've read some good reviews of the Sophia Electric EL34-ST. I've owned a number of their other tube varieties and I've always enjoyed the sound and have never had a problem with reliability.
 

Abbinormal

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The only EL34 amps I have any experience with was conrad johnson. In my cj amp, I used nos Genelex KT-77s. I really loved those tubes. They had lots of depth with a glorious midrange.
 

Exlibris

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The only EL34 amps I have any experience with was conrad johnson. In my cj amp, I used nos Genelex KT-77s. I really loved those tubes. They had lots of depth with a glorious midrange.
Yes, I've read good things about those tubes elsewhere on this forum. My experience with new production tubes of other varieties is that I gravitate toward the Chinese ones over the European. The Chinese ones are generally warmer and richer in the mids while the European ones sound more powerful, are a little leaner and cleaner, and have better bass.
 

DaveC

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The current Gold Lion KT77 are some of the best EL34 types ever imo.

Sophia is ok if you like an EL34 that sounds more like a 300B, imo they are a bit too warm and I prefer the GL KT77 but I could see plenty of people preferring the Sophia too.
 

Derekw14

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I owned and really liked the EAR EL34 based stereo amplifier (that can be bridged to monos I believe, can't remember the model designation but that should be easy to find. Not the last word in purity and transparency, but powerful and very musical like all good EL34 designs. Fantastic value, especially used. That said, my fave by far is the humble Air Tight ATM-1 (older version, have not heard the ATM-1S which is said to be more analytical). That is a cracker of an amplifier, and surprisingly powerful for its 36w. Incredible emotional and musical factor, and pretty high resolution, if with a smidgen of low mid warmth, which I personally enjoy and find lacking in many amps. I compared it to really high end expensive tube amps, and it did not blush, even winning on goosebumps. And again, amazing value used.
 
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hogen

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I like the Konto Overture, but I have not had other EL34 amps to compare with.
 
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flm09

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The current Gold Lion KT77 are some of the best EL34 types ever imo.

Sophia is ok if you like an EL34 that sounds more like a 300B, imo they are a bit too warm and I prefer the GL KT77 but I could see plenty of people preferring the Sophia too.

What about Tung sol El34 new production?
 

flm09

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Agreed. I said a lot of boxes, not every box. :)
It's wired in ultralinear rather than pentode or triode. The same is true for the Unison S6.

Hi, Did you finally find the speaker you were looking for?
 

flm09

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May 1, 2020
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Yes I did; thank you. I bought a pair of Odeon Audio No. 33 and I'm really enjoying them.
I purchased a used Allnic A-6000 to drive them.
How did the Cube Audio Nenufar compare to the Odeon 33?
 

Exlibris

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How did the Cube Audio Nenufar compare to the Odeon 33?
I compared the Nenuphar to the Odeon 26 in the same system on the same day. I really liked the Nenuphar -- it was really fast and exciting and it excited the air in the room. The Odeon was richer and drew me into the music and the emotion of the music more than the Cube. It also had better bottom-end and that is important to me becuae I listen to a lot of rock. I think I would always be fighting a slightly aggressive upper midrange or lower treble with the Nenuphar as well.
 

flm09

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I compared the Nenuphar to the Odeon 26 in the same system on the same day. I really liked the Nenuphar -- it was really fast and exciting and it excited the air in the room. The Odeon was richer and drew me into the music and the emotion of the music more than the Cube. It also had better bottom-end and that is important to me becuae I listen to a lot of rock. I think I would always be fighting a slightly aggressive upper midrange or lower treble with the Nenuphar as well.
Ok thanks for the comparison! They don't tell you this in the public when it gets an award for product if the year. I will scratch the Cube off my audition list.
 

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