Best Sounding EL84 - 7189

Tough choice. Fisher, Scott, Lafayette are all great. Personally, I like Pilot 245B. However, the Pilots are usually hard to find and ugly compared to a nice Fisher. Check out mapleshade.com They do restorations on some of these that will make you think very hard...

Best tubes by far Telefunken 7189 followed by Mullard EL84

Depends what YOU like - Listen to them. BTW- restorations do not neccessarily sound better than the originals then again they may sound better...Try the Eico hf-12 & the Scott 222 for starters

I have a Scott 299a 2nd. edition, I had it restored a while back, time to update the output tubes.

I read Jsman's inquiry to mean he's interested in tubes rather than amps.

The 6BQ5/7189 "sound" is my preference. I have done extensive research and have owned monobloc amps from Fisher, Heathkit, Sherwood, Eico, Magnavox, Scott and others. Having tried Amperex, Telefunken, Mullard, RCA, Sylvania, Tungsram, Matsushita, et al, I can say that the KING of the EL84/7189 heap is the GE grey oval plate manufactured in the Kentucky plant, mark 188-5. Mullard a close but certain second.

I reveal this only after stocking up on a lifetime supply at affordable prices compared to the better known brands favored by Elevick and others. Respect to them and their choices.

Anyone who dismisses the GE without trying it is doing himself no favor.