PCL86 driver tube and sound quality in Allnic T1500

ECL86 (PCL86 should be the same but with different heater voltage) is a great sounding tube; I have an electrostatic headphone amp that uses a quad. Vintage 12ax7 (half) and vintage EL84 in one envelope. The only downside is it’s harder to track down pairs/quads of the different makes, than with the more commonly used audio tubes (like 6SN7, 12AX7, etc).

They probably switched to 6SN7 and 6SL7 because of supply concerns - those types have modern production. But I would think an EL84 (the one in PCL86) would be a hell of a lot better at driving a 300B? If you can source the tubes you might actually have the better version.

Why obsessively worry? Use and enjoy your Allnic amp. I am sure it sounds excellent!

What output tubes in your Allnic amp? 300B's? Then the 6BQ5 half of the PCL86 is the driver - a good choice!

You can buy and try PCL86's from different mfgrs. Otherwise you are stuck with them in your amp. You cannot substitute 6SN7's for the PCL86's 

Actually contemplating a purchase , hence the question. In the past I had a Cary 300sei and it used 6sn7 and I could affect the sound by switching them out, as it used 3 and one was for the "preamp" section, I have no experience with the Allnic amps.

The PCL86 is half a 12AX7 and a 6BQ5/EL84. There are plenty of NOS available on eBay. The vintage Yugoslav EI's are a good value! 

Do you like the way your amp sounds now? That's the only thing that matters!