EL 34 tubes


Looking for EL 34 tubes for a Leben amplifier.  Not ready to spend the dollars needed for NOS.  Any suggestions on currently produced options for EL 34?
rivinyl
I like my Gold Lion KT88s, I'm going to try the EL-34s next time I need some.
Definitely try TS el34b, great top end and rich mids. Also GL KT77 if they’ll work in your amp. 
I think there is an amplifier or tube-related Forum where you might get a response from persons more obsessed with amplifier tubes.  EL34s are power output tubes, not used in phono circuits.  And, as you can see, it will be a matter of opinion.
Gold Lion KT-77's, a replacement for the EL-34. More lively, dynamic, and transparent than standard EL-34's. 


I've had good luck with Mullard EL-34's  in my Jolida JD-1000a. for years.  They have good longevity, a nice price  and sound very good.
+1 @lowrider57  The Gold Lion KT77 is the best modern EL34 variant by far to my ears.
@pdreher 
RM9 MK2...very nice. Do you know what power tubes Roger voiced this amp with?

@lowrider57 
Siemens EL34's.  Hard to come by these days without spending big bucks.  
agree w others here who have mentioned new production russian ’reissue’ gold lion kt77 and mullard/tungsol el34’s are the best of the lot

as with most tubes, they need some burn in time to settle into their true sound character
Langrex has some Winged C Svetlana tubes that are sold as quad matched pair and sound good. I ran these in my Air Tight amps with great success. I would also second the Gold Lion KT77. Jeff Day at a positive feedback likes the Sophia EL34s in his Leben but they are pricey.

Word is that the 6L6 might be interesting too, assuming you have a CS600.
@jasonbourne52

i have had poor luck w JJ EL34’s in the past in both sound quality (harsh treble and mids) as well poor reliability ... but others seem to have better experiences more recently
KT77 will give you a uniform top to bottom sonic presentation. They are very transparent. I found to be to be light in the mid and upper bass. 7581A is in the 6L6 family and has a beefier bass sound and is tonally more dense. Have fun!
I used Sophia EL34's in an AVA "Ultravalve" and thought they sounded great, at least compared to the stock tubes.
I'm using a pair of Sophia Electric EL34 ST tubes in my Auris Nirvana headphone tube amp with excellent results compared to the stock Electro-Harmonix tubes.  I also tried the GL KT77 tubes in the same amp but they were not nearly as good as the Sophia Electric EL34.
I had a customer just order a pair of Sophia EL34 for a Lampizator DAC and was raving about them.  Seems like they are delivering a pretty good tube.  
another vote for RAM in a RM-9

probably the highest precision match set you will find on the planet, Roger was a genius... RIP