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Are MULLARD NOS EL34s and LTA ZOTL40 REF worth the price of admission?

I'm considering giving an older Linear Tube Audio (LTA) ZOTL40 Ref amp an audition.  LTA has a factory upgrade that includes upgrading to Mullard NOS EL34s for $800 (or less with additional discounts).  I am wondering if quad set of old-stock Mullard EL34s are worth the $800 price of admission?  I don't pretend to know what anyone else's budget is but $800 for quad EL34s seems like a lot.  If I'm paying the premium, it better be across the board and not just improvements on chamber music or obscure Chinese opera (no offense intended).  Does anyone have experience with either NOS Mullard tubes or LTA ZOTL40 Ref amp?  If so, please chime in.  Thanks.
128x128bananaslug
lancelock
1,096 posts
 
@bananaslug,
It is worth it. I love the XF2 Mullard EL34’s and will never part with them. I also have an older ZOTL40 and have taken it in to to get the  latest mods. Check with Mark but I think for the price you will be getting more than just excellent tubes. They now have different/better resistors and Mundorf caps. The improvements from my original ZOTL40, and I do have one of the first ones, is tremendous.
jderimig
28 posts
 
IMO with my ears, no.
I bought new Chinese EL34s from a local tube matcher in Cleveland and they sound wonderfull in my RAM-9mkii.  I would just start with matched new production Chinese EL34's and see how they sound.  About 160 to 200 for the octet.  I can give you the contact info on my guy in Cleveland if you want.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Amps depend on the tubes. Tubes depend on the amp. Both depend on the system and the CBLF.

Only your hairdresser knows for sure.
rickallen81
65 posts
 
I have the Linear Tube Audio Z10 and all I will say is that you should try it and prepare to be amazed. Never heard another amp play music with such clarity and power that is far beyond what the watts would suggest. It’s less Tubey by far than my Primaluna was, but the trade offs i made for the Primaluna are gone. 40 watts on the Primaluna couldn’t match the 10 coming out of this. Just try it and find out. 
perkri
909 posts
 
Hi.

So, not sure if this is of any use, but thought I would share my experience with EL34's.

Gone through a pile of them over the past 25 or so years with my amp. EH, JJ's, Psvane Phillips Replica's, Winged-C's Gold Lion KT77's (currently in amp) and some others that I don't remember??? 

Never spent the $$'s on NOS Mullards, was more than I wanted to dish out, and passed on the new production ones. However, that doesn't mean I'm not curious as hell to hear them in my amp...

The Psvanes, quite lovely sounding (open, nice extension), but my amp burned through them- two sets of quads in 18 months? Prior to those, I ran the Winged-C's for years with no problems and they sounded to me as I felt EL34's should sound. Warm, nice mids and tight bass. Would get again, but they have become a bit pricey. The KT77's rival the Psvanes as far as transparency and extension goes at half the price. 

Then there are these...

http://psvanetube.com/wordpress/purchase/shop-by-tube-model/el34-aka-6ca7/

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