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I am looking to pick up a quad of Winged C EL34s, before the price gets too crazy. Is there any difference between the original pre 2000 tubes and the last of production run of SED?
Thanks!
Follow Ups:
Thanks for all of the responses. I already have a quad of GL KT77s that I am very satisfied with, in my Cayin A-50T. However, several years ago, I had a Primaluna with SED EL34s that I that I also liked quite a lot. So, I was just thinking about picking up a quad just to have on hand. Upscale has them for $200/quad, but I see that KCA has the pre 2000 Svetlanas for $155/quad...
One thing that did occur to me, in light of Michael's response--Does the same factory in Russia make all of the current versions of the EL34, as well as the GL KT77? If so, I assume that they would be capable of reproducing the SED EL34s under the Svetlana label?
That's a good question. I don't think I've ever seen a current Russian made EL34 with the original manufacturer's etched factory symbol. Like the symbol on Reflektor made tubes. Or any other Russian factory.
Could be wrong. I haven't bought many brand new models.
The price is already crazy.
Other than normal batch to batch production variation I am not aware of any particular differences in the EL34s. Some claim the early ones are better - my experience is those are people with a lot of early ones they want to sell (not in every case, but often).
In the USA & Canada, tubes made in the St. Petersburg plant are identified as "winged C" or SED; these have the "flying C" logo applied to them. The "Svetlana" name and the stylized "S" mark were purchased from the bankruptcy court by New Sensor and are applied to tubes made in Saratov, Russia. They are not the same tubes as were made in St. Petersburg.
Do be aware that prior to the New Sensor purchase of the name the rules were different, you can do a Google search and find more than you'll ever want to know. Also, outside the USA/Canada the rules are different too.
St. Petersburg made EL34s are nice tubes, but you have to be sure of what you buy.
If true, 3 grid, pentodes are what you want, consider recent production "reissue" Mullard labeled stock made by New Sensor at Saratov, Russia.
The best available value in this category may very well be the ElectroHarmonix (EH) "fat bottle" 6CA7. However, the EH tube and its more costly relative, the "reissue" GEC KT77, are beam power tetrodes.
Eli D.
Bob
Here are a few of mine and I have several more SED and Svetlana EL34s but they are from 1992 to 1998..Some say SED and some say Svetlana..New Sensor did the buy the name rights but to be honest,I can't tell any huge difference..What I did notice was this..New Sensor still has Svetlana EL34s and while they may be made by New Sensor,they sure look and sound an awful lot like the others I have.If the SEDs are too expensive,the New Sensor Svetlana may be an option and Jim McShane may have some of these.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
As I understand it, New Sensor cannot use the SED -W-C logo or name. I have no idea if the Sveltana tubes are the same as the winged C. Know your seller. ;-)
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