[jdandy]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

Hello folks,

Yesterday evening I had a terrific listening session.
I received this week a replacement set of tubes for my Manley Snappers amps, that I initially ordered for a back up.
They asked me if I wanted the EH 6CA7 ( "american equivalent of the EL34") which are the tubes my amps were fitted with, or the Tung Sol EL 34 for the power tubes, telling me that the EL34 are considered by some people more "musical".
I have listened to 5 complete vinyls yesterday, with the P9 and burning in the EL34's and honestly, if the sound could be sweeter than this, it will flood on the ground like a Dali painting !
I never heard the voice of Ben Harper as sweet and sensual as this.
The 2301's are very sweet amps on the sens that they sound as sweet as natural sounds. But the Snappers fitted with those EL34 tubes sound extremely sweet. Certainly not like in the "real life" but extremely beautiful and enjoyable. And yet, they have punch and drive oh boy !
I'm a laughing at the "american equivalent of EL34" for the description of the 6CA7 and I understand now why so many people adore this tube.

If you use an amp with 6CA7 tubes and think that you're listening to the EL34 sound, well you're not.
The 6CA7 is probably more neutral than the EL34 so depending on your system, you may prefer the american tube actually but it could be worth to buy a set of EL34 and compare them.
For my ears, the "real" EL34 is more enjoyable and sounds much more "delicious".

PS / Ivan, I realize that this thread could be in the Tubes forum. Move it there if you wish to. Thanks !

Jérôme.......I found this graph interesting. It appears the EL34 is slightly flatter at the 20kHz line than the 6CA7.