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Have a situation I need a pair and have two a xf3 B4C3 and a xf4 B9F3 Mullards so need to get another to have a pair. So do I get a 3 or 4 and what should I look for to match them best possible. I am running a Cayin ta30 through Lowther DX3 drivers in Acousta cabinets Mapleshade cables Mullard 12au7 and Sylvania triple mica black plates 12ax7 tubes. Changing from Tesla el34 to the Mullards. Out of the two xf3 or 4 which is the better audio tube and or should I sell them individually and get some xf1 or 2 in a pair? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you
Follow Ups:
Any issues mixing xf3 with xf4 Mullards?
Thank you
I Have the same amp and the Psvane Phillips metal bass reissues are the best I have heard. 2nd best would be the Gold Lion KT77. If you want a bit more smoothness, try Mullard (NOS) preamp tubes.
Mullard EL34 s have gotten too damn expensive.
Aren't transistors alien technology?
Interesting heard a lot about the KT77 tubes but you really like the Psvane tubes? And agree whole heartily on the Mullards in the pre, installed and loving them. Can't tell you how many sets of 12au7 and ax tubes I tried and now have thinking the clear tops were the best then the Hammonds then RTF .......until I went SET by pulling two tubes putting in the Mullards mixed xf3 and the 4 all say no issues re-biasing and changing from mapleshades to Atlas Hyper 2.0 well whole new world!
Interesting heard a lot about the KT77 tubes but you really like the Psvane tubes? And agree whole heartily on the Mullards in the pre, installed and loving them. Can't tell you how many sets of 12au7 and ax tubes I tried and now have thinking the clear tops were the best then the Hammonds then RTF .......until I went SET by pulling two tubes putting in the Mullards mixed xf3 and the 4 all say no issues re-biasing and changing from mapleshades to Atlas Hyper 2.0 well whole new world!
I am a big NOS fan but in my opinion NOS Mullard EL34 are not a great tube for home audio ,maybe for guitar amps. I find the Mullards a little rolled off at the frequency extremes and a little slow and thick in the mids.
Most consider the earlier xf1s and xf2 superior to the later variants. In my Rogue Stereo 90 I prefer the black bottle Treasure 6ca7 to my Mullard xf2s .
Not sure about the differences between xf3s and xf4s but these later tubes may not have been produced in the Blackburn England plant. They are all equivalent electrically so you can certainly use a mixed quad but obviously 4 of the same type would be best.
Thank you for your thoughts. Have tried numerous new el34 and they just don't have the musical sound I am looking for and the reason I went to tubes the newer el34 seem to make my amp sound like a cheap SS amp. Went to a pair of Tesla's and they are more to my liking and plenty of air and presence. So figured I would try Mullards as everyone seems to lean that way. I got two they were suppose to be a pair but once I got them one is a xf3 the other a xf4 b codes not L. Thinking might sell them as separate tubes and find a pair. It's amazing how different they sound but really want to try a matched set of Mullards to make a decision.
Here is a thread for the OP.
His two xf3 B4C3 and the xf4 B9F3 were all made in the Blackburn plant. That's what the "B" stands for.
Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
Personally, I would get new production power tubes. Long gone are the days of finding quality and affordable power tubes. Do a search here.
Thank you for your thoughts. I have tried quite a few of the new issue tubes and just haven't landed one that does it so blowing out my collected winged c.......so now trying NOS and the first pair Tesla brown base where far better than any of the new issue stuff and not just a little major improvement so now going down the NOS or used old stuff road.
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