Those EL84 Amps

If ever an urban myth there was, there is, the myths regarding EL84 tubes.

I have had the pleasure of listening to both the Ming DA and Shuguang EL84 tube amps (with of course, Shuguang EL84 tubes) and came away with a completely different disposition that I had going in. Most audiophiles are not familiar with these tubes or amps and on first notice, see their diminutive size (in both tube and amp size) as a negative. Hmmm. For those of you With size issues, I am here to help.

Myth # 1 - The Power is too small.
That's what I thought. Until I heard these amps drive Quads, Acoustats, ribbon speaker etc. to reasonable listening levels with uncanny detail and smoothness.

Myth # 2 - These small tubes can't produce deep bass
If ever a myth needed dispelling, its this one. On the contrary, watt for watt, these tubes produce a deeper bass than a comparable EL34 amp and even close to KT88. They even take the best of a solid state amp - deep bass and transparency to a new level. I am not talking tubby bass here, folks. Bass real tight and deep. Kick drums are a new experience

Myth # 3 - Folks will make fun of me if I drive Large horns with these amps

This of course, I cannot help. But, they will not make fun of the sound. These amps are the most neutral and detailed of all tube amps that I have heard and a perfect match for folks who own horns and other high efficiency speaker systems.

Myth # 4 - I am not the SET amp type.
Well, these EL84 amps really do not soud like a SET amp. As mentioned before, the deep kick drum bass response and the extended high end are not necessarily what I associate without the best of SET amps. With the EL84, you get seem to get the best of solid state/SET / KT88 amps in a low cost package.

What a shame if will be this year, when folks take their hard earned money and buy and NAD, Rotel or Cambridge amp and miss the detail, deep bass and righteous high end of these amps.

All the best ....

Vic

The State of the DAC Union -

So, I have been kind of out of it. But, I promise to be back with a vengeance discussing DACs, CD Players, preamps and amps. But first back to the DACs.

So much has happened since we started the foray into the upsampling comparison. I have had to stop and re-think my ranking. So far, this is what I have. (and by the way, after much berating, I am switching my ranking. #1 being the best and #X being, well, the most challenging to listen to.)

1. DAC 62
2. Modified DAC 60
3. DAC 68
4. DAC 38
5. DAC AM Modified
6. Great March Madness!
7. DAC AM
8. Great March Modified
9. Great March
10. DAC AH Modified
11. DAC AH

If its not on the list - I have not heard it. More DACs we will be getting in: Musiland MD 10, Great March II and DIYEDEN DAC 05.