Recommend new EL84 tubes


Hi all, I have been contacted by a good friend asking me to source 8 X EL84 for his Manley Stingray which is a parallel P-P integrated amp.

He has had the original valves for about 10 years, which I think are rebranded Sovteks or Electro Harmonix 6Pi14Pi-EB.  

2 sets of matched quads will do. He is looking to improve on the originals. The amp has individual bias pots for each valve so perfect matching is not paramount.

He also needs a pair of 12AT7's. Best quality needed for this position.

lemonhaze

If you can find them, NOS military grade Mullard 12AT7s are the best you can get.

You might try Upscale Audio as they rep Manley gear and they also sell tubes.

 

Think the early Stingray amps came with EI (Yugoslavia) EL84's.

 

They have not been produced for years, but Upscale has them in stock.

 

I used the EI's in a Pilot 232 power amp and a single ended Magnavox amp with good results (sound was similar to Philips/Holland EL84's).

 

I also used old Russian 7189 types (later marketed by Sovtek as the EL84M).

 

They were not as 3D, but I still liked them in the Pilot.

 

However, the Pilot uses gobs of negative feedback (unlike the Stingray).

 

Maybe old production Amerex/Holland if they want to splurge on the input tubes.

 

Not familiar with the driver tubes.

 

DeKay

Andy at Vintage Tube in Michigan and Brent Jesse should both be able to help. Best wishes on your journey to help your friend ;-)

Jim

I replaced the stock Sovtek EL84's in my Leben CS-300xs with Tungsram's that I picked up from Upscale Audio.  Nice upgrade.