New EL84 based amp

Tyson · « **Reply #20 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 12:49 am »

Quote from: Tomy2Tone on 23 Jan 2020, 12:47 am

Was the Furutech iec inlet a straight swap or do you have to widen the opening at all?

This looks like a great amp to play around with and for the price a no brainer if you got the speakers for it.

Look forward to your thoughts after everything has settled in.

IEC was a straight swap. I find that the ones with the integrated fuse are usually an exact match.

Yes, it'll take at least 100 hours from now for everything to settle in, those caps in particular.

jmolsberg · « **Reply #21 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 12:56 am »

Nice and clean - I want one!

SET Man · « **Reply #22 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 01:46 am »

Hey!

Hmmm... $550 + $25 shipping for kit. That's a very good price. Yes, look like a copy of the Audio Note Kit EL84.

And look like you've managed to fit those big Miflex caps in there

Anyway, EL84 is a great sounding tube even in push pull, as long as ones can live with the low power.

Keep us posted on the result.

Buddy

Jon L · « **Reply #23 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 02:11 am »

Quote from: SET Man on 23 Jan 2020, 01:46 am

Anyway, EL84 is a great sounding tube even in push pull, as long as ones can live with the low power.

EL84 also sounds great in single ended pentode

I can't believe I haven't fired up my Almarro A205 II in so long... Here pictured with my Baby Orpheus HE60 electrostat via transformer.

Beautiful EL84 Glow.

0122201924 by drjlo2, on Flickr

oskar · « **Reply #24 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 04:00 pm »

I can't seem to find the power rating on their website.

S Clark · « **Reply #25 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 04:28 pm »

Every EL84/6BQ5 push pull amp I've ever seen using two per channel put out 12-15 watts per channel. They can have wide/deep soundstage and a great musical tone.

Tyson · « **Reply #26 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 04:30 pm »

Took it to a friend that has measuring equipment - it's 12 watts.

genjamon · « **Reply #27 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 05:27 pm »

I think the Audio Note website has specs for their amp - and this uses the same board. Though I thought the AN website said 17 watts when I looked it up the other day. Oh well - not much difference between 12 and 17 watts in real world conditions - not more than 1.5dB difference in peak headroom, right?

Tyson · « **Reply #28 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 05:49 pm »

Quote from: genjamon on 23 Jan 2020, 05:27 pm

I think the Audio Note website has specs for their amp - and this uses the same board. Though I thought the AN website said 17 watts when I looked it up the other day. Oh well - not much difference between 12 and 17 watts in real world conditions - not more than 1.5dB difference in peak headroom, right?

That's right.

Sometimes wattage of a design is computed instead of measured. So theoretically this design might reach 17 watts but not in the real world. My suspicion is it might get those extra 5 watts if it had larger output transformers. But maybe not.

Either way, IME the most important thing is that it's at least close to it's stated specs and this one is.

pehare · « **Reply #29 on:** 23 Jan 2020, 07:51 pm »

The exception is the Music Reference RM-10 which puts out 35 wpc out of a pair of EL84's per channel. I've owned one as my primary amp for 10 years now w/exceptional performance, flawless reliability and very very easy on tubes. (RIP Roger)

xoundmind · « **Reply #30 on:** 2 Feb 2020, 04:06 am »

Quote from: Tyson on 23 Jan 2020, 12:49 am

IEC was a straight swap. I find that the ones with the integrated fuse are usually an exact match.

Yes, it'll take at least 100 hours from now for everything to settle in, those caps in particular.

What are your long term plans for the 6BL8s; they’re out there, but I can’t see any current manufactures. ie what other tubes could you use, if necessary/desired?

Tyson · « **Reply #31 on:** 2 Feb 2020, 05:10 am »

Quote from: xoundmind on 2 Feb 2020, 04:06 am

What are your long term plans for the 6BL8s; they’re out there, but I can’t see any current manufactures. ie what other tubes could you use, if necessary/desired?

I've got a pair of Mullards, a pair of Amperex and a pair of Telefunken already. I might get one more pair soon, and then I should be set pretty much for life.

Tom Bombadil · « **Reply #32 on:** 2 Feb 2020, 04:12 pm »

I own a Cary SLA-30, which was manufactured back in the 90s. I've owned it for about 20 years now. It uses 4 EL84s per channel to produce 30 wpc I'm running a matched octet of EI EL84/6BQ5 in it. Bought them about 20 years ago too, for just $120. Wish I had bought two sets because they are excellent and now run around $500+.

xoundmind · « **Reply #33 on:** 2 Feb 2020, 04:39 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 2 Feb 2020, 05:10 am

I've got a pair of Mullards, a pair of Amperex and a pair of Telefunken already. I might get one more pair soon, and then I should be set pretty much for life.

What’s the expected hours on these tubes? 😀

Rocket_Ronny · « **Reply #34 on:** 2 Feb 2020, 06:11 pm »

Tyson. What made you decide on that particular amp? Given your speakers, that amp configuration would be a good match.

I have owned a pp el84 amp and the sound was wonderful. It just did not image like a SET, or SE amp. Myself, I will try the Musical Paradise 501. While better than their 301, the 301 is no joke at all.

301. http://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=54

501. http://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=55

My old CR Developements Kalypso amp. It drove a pair of NewForm 645s nicely. It was hard to sell as it is unknown.

Rocket Ronny

shadowlight · « **Reply #35 on:** 2 Feb 2020, 06:58 pm »

Tyson, how much extra did the upgrades set you back?

Jon L · « **Reply #36 on:** 2 Feb 2020, 07:57 pm »

Quote from: Tom Bombadil on 2 Feb 2020, 04:12 pm

I'm running a matched octet of EI EL84/6BQ5 in it. Bought them about 20 years ago too, for just $120. Wish I had bought two sets because they are excellent and now run around $500+.

Ei EL84 is one of my favorites, but where are you seeing $500 per matched octet? Looks like about half that...

Tom Bombadil · « **Reply #37 on:** 2 Feb 2020, 10:53 pm »

Quote from: Jon L on 2 Feb 2020, 07:57 pm

Ei EL84 is one of my favorites, but where are you seeing $500 per matched octet? Looks like about half that...

I see matched quads going for around $250, sometimes even $350+. Matched octets are harder to find and more expensive. I've seen them up in the $700 range. If you find a matched octet of new, authentic EI EL84 for $250, let me know where.

mick wolfe · « **Reply #38 on:** 3 Feb 2020, 06:15 pm »

Quote from: pehare on 23 Jan 2020, 07:51 pm

The exception is the Music Reference RM-10 which puts out 35 wpc out of a pair of EL84's per channel. I've owned one as my primary amp for 10 years now w/exceptional performance, flawless reliability and very very easy on tubes. (RIP Roger)

Back in the day I owned 2 RM-10's and a couple of EL34 based power amps (CJ and VTL) rated in the 35-40 watt range. Initially, I was very intrigued on how one could get 35 watts out of a pair of EL84's, so I had to hear it for myself. Unfortunately, I found that a single RM-10 could in no way keep up either of the EL 34 based amps in output without clipping severely. (Caveat being I listen fairly loud) Even two of them strapped in mono couldn't match the output of either EL34 based amp. From my listening tests alone, I found that the 35 watt rating of the RM-10 way beyond optimistic. Honestly I would have estimated the RM-10 might be putting out 12-15 watts per channel. In other words, putting out no more than any other EL84 based amp using 2 output tubes per channel. Plus it had the smallest transformers I've ever seen in a tube power amplifier. Now with this all said, it might have been a superb and reliable choice for a speaker 95db or above in efficiency. Unfortunately, all of speakers I had at that time were 89db in efficiency at best.(Spendor 2/3 and AC Sapphire 3) As always YMMV based based on listening habits and speaker being used.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #39 on:** 3 Feb 2020, 07:32 pm »

Quote from: Rocket_Ronny on 2 Feb 2020, 06:11 pm

Hi,
How sound this Newform Reaserch speaker?