~EL84 ( 6BQ5) This blog article is about how to get a clean sounding amp and excellent hifi performance.
The ideal valve for the hifi amp is one that has low distortion, excellent power handling and a long life.
The ideal output valve for the guitar player that likes the ultimate in clean sound also needs the same characteristics.
If your amp uses the EL84 ( US number 6BQ5), then please read more…….
Hi-Fi amps and guitar amps tended to use a lot more anode volts than was ever intended for the original EL84’s. The good news is that back in the days of the USSR the Reflektor factory in Russia made the 6P14 for military applications. The New Sensor owned factory in Saratov, Russia makes the Sovtek branded valves and also markets valves under multiple brand names. This factory was originally the Reflektor factory in the days of the USSR.
This EL84M valve is in a slightly larger bottle and the construction is much more robust as it can handle higher voltages and dissipate a lot more power , typically 14 watts. It also needs a lot more power out before it breaks up so they produce a lot more power while remaining nice and “clean”.
Many Hi-Fi amps also used the original RCA 7189 valves which were robust as they could withstand much higher voltages than the EL84. The good news is that the 6P14 today is still made in the same factory and labelled the Sovtek EL84M . the “M” stands for military. This is brand new production items and tested by the factory to meet the higher voltage ratings.
This robust military construction also gives them much longer life than commercial EL84’s.
Now it is EL84 compatible so it will drop right into the same socket as long as there is space for them. the valid slightly larger in diameter compared to the standard EL84 . This is due to the electrodes inside being larger so that they can handle the higher voltages and higher power dissipation. Some amps have the EL84’s right next to each other so the EL84M will NOT fit.
Amps where the el84M will NOT fit are :
- BadCat Model 2R
- Bad Cat Amplifier Model Black Cat
- Marshall DSL201
- Marshall DSL401
- VOX reissue AC15
The above list is just th amps we know where the EL84m will not fit. Please check the spacing in your amp.
On Thursday 30th December 2015 we will have these valves in stock these in matched quads, and are tested to the recommended set up for RCA 7189 and EL84 application on our AVO MK2 tester and we issue a test certificate showing the test results. We test them at 400 volts to ensure they really are solid.
