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Original Message

EML 2a3 mesh and JJ 2a3-40

Posted by andy evans on July 11, 2012 at 01:52:50:

Hello Dennis,

I haven't heard these tubes, unfortunately. Bear in mind that though I'm posting on the SET asylum because people here know their 2a3s, I'm actually using a PP 2a3 amp. That means FOUR output tubes! EML mesh comes to over $1,000 a quad. And so does JJ 2a3-40. I'm not looking to spend $1,000.

My amps are on all day and sometimes all night if I fall asleep to music - my Mac Mini is the source for everything - TV, radio, music etc. So I may be looking at replacing tubes once a year at least. So I'm putting a ceiling of $250 for a quad, and preferably under $200. That's perfectly possible with 6B4G, 6C4C or 6A3.

I've made several 300b SETs with excellent iron and after investing a lot of time and money in these, I find that a good 2a3 PP amp works better with my speakers which are full-range Mark Audio Alpair 10s. I like them - they're musical and detailed and easy to drive, and are in thin vertical columns so fit nicely in my front room. It's taken decades to evolve this system. I would prefer panal speakers - had Maggies and Apogee Caliper Sigs and stacked Quads previously, but I just don't have the space in my listening room. So same would apply to horns, which aren't my taste anyway. I don't need the sensitivity of horns - my Alpair 10s can be driven by a 300b SET anyway.

So back to the 6B4G variants. I prefer all the biplates I've heard to the Sovtek monoplates on classical music, which is my main listening. Friends who are musicians like me and listen to orchestral music have tried Chinese 2A3C against 6C4C and prefer those Svetlanas. I can't confirm or deny this myself - haven't tried them and would like to.

I don't doubt that mesh 2a3s sound great! Don't need the JJ 2a3-40s for power. But look at the $$$$$$.........

Best

Andy