EL-84 recommendations

[Lonely Raven]

I dont know if they're still available but those OLD Russian military 6n14nEB (or 6p14pEB...the n is actually the Russian symbol for pi) are REALLY good and DURABLE. AND...you can get them for a head of cabbage.

That's the Sovtek EL84M.

EDIt: They are surplus Russian military tubes but they're not so cheap anymore (maybe we should shut up about them ). I think they go for like $24 per matched pair now.

Really??? I just got 8 matched Rocket ready early 80's tubes for less than $5.00 ea. NOS/NIB

Got more???

[billyz]

I'll second the Sovtek EL84M. Heavier construction, no filament rattles, can handle higher voltages. Sound good to me. I have AB'd them with some Tele diamond plates and other various USA made. Not quite as good as the Teles, but good enough at the price.
I have a few DrZ amps that run el84's pretty hard and the EL84M seem to last a good bit longer that others, I tried, with less filament rattle to boot.

[klingo]

I tried a pair of NOS/NIB 6p14p-eb(v) in my 18w and found them to sound good but to lack bass (shrill?). they have a tad more headroom than my JJ's or Dario's but in this amp they lack growl.

i read the 6p14p-eb(v) need to break-in. did you experienced sound change after break-in?

my 18w may not be the best amp for these tubes with only 320volts on the plate/1k8 screen resistor/150R cathode.

in this amp JJ's are great and better than the sovtek set i have.

Are you sure that 6p14p-eb and EL84M are the same tube?

[billyz]

One way to tell the difference between the russian EL84M and el84 is the Mica spacer. The EL84M has the Rounded Square spacer. Where as the lesser el84 has the Sprocket looking mica spacer.
I see on Ebay, sellers calling both version the same tube number. Mine only have EL84M Sovtek made in Russia, on them, no numbers. But the spacer seems to be the key to identify them.

[dartanion]

Another dead give away is the getter. Halo on the Ms, flying saucer on the regular Sovteks.

I used the regular Sovteks as startup tubes and the Ms for clients who don't want to spend a lot of cash but still want decent tubes.

I abuse the Ms pretty bad in some of my amps; 350-370V on plates, and the Ms handle it fine.

The NS Mullard EL84 seems to have adopted much of the internal pieces from the Ms with different plate materials/coatings. Also a decent sounding tube, but not really a Mullard RI.