Siemens EL 34

Thanks for your insights.  My amplifier can use 6L6 or EL34 tubes.  I find myself going up and back as each brings different characteristics to the sound.  Interestingly I am currently running 5881; which to my ear sound the best.  But I have noticed the NOS EL 34 world is drying up and wanted to get one more quad for the future.  The RAM EL34 NOS and Tesla both seem interesting.  Do you know if anyone is still stocking the Tesla tubes?

Yes, I have a set of Amperex/Mullard EL34.  They are very nice indeed.

If you are interested in finding some, you should contact Early at HiFiTown; he often has nearly NOS tubes including EL 34.  He is an encyclopedia of vintage tube knowledge !

His email salesdesk@hifitown.com.

Only thing to keep in mind; he sometimes takes  a little while to fill the order.

So I have two quads of Mullards; one is amperex and the other true Mullards.

My only point of comparison was the Groove Tube EL 34 . the Mullards are much richer sounding.  I remember when I first used the Amperex Mullards, my son commented that it sounded like the musicians were in the room with us.

My 6L6 quads are NOS GE and RCA.  I actually like the GE better.

Both are better than the stock Sovtek the amp came with.

I like the 6L6 better than EL 34 in my amp ( Leben 600). The bass is much tighter with the 6L6 and the sound stage a bit larger.

I also have 5881 RCA/ Tungsol.

They are wonderful.

Lastly I am embarrassed to admit I have two sets of Russian NOS 6n3cE which are very musical in the Leben cs600.

Clearly this is an illness; the search for the "perfect" tube. I have more tube life than biological life left.  I calculate that I should have over 40 years of tube-life ( assuming a conservative 5000 hours per quad ).  That should last me into my early 100's.  Hopefully my hearing will last that long as well.

Hope this helps

Mike

I do not have  pics; but they are the EL34 sold by RAM tubes.

Does that shed any light?

BTW have you heard the Tesla EL34 from the 90's?