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View Full Version : 6P14P-EB sub for 6BQ5/EL84?

dbx
03-09-2007, 07:56 PM
Anyone try this?
59Vampire
03-09-2007, 08:05 PM
is this the one known as the Saratov 7189? if so i have a pair and they sound nice in my 18 watt clone. byt i prefer the tesla rosnov hexplates
dbx
03-09-2007, 08:13 PM
Maybe so, the particular tubes I was referring to are 80s era Russian military surplus from the original Reflektor factory (before the New Sensor take over) but that IS located in Saratova...

Just got a set to try in an old Gibson Explorer I found recently and they kicked the original RCA 6BQ5s out of their sockets...I'm pleasantly surprised...I have a set of NOS Tesla EL84s coming in so I'll be curious how they compare...
hasserl
03-09-2007, 10:25 PM
I've done some testing on some 6n14N EP tubes, which I'm sure are a variant of what you've got, and they sound great! Funny thing is they look just like crappy Sovtek EL84's, which I suppose is not unusual as they come from the same factory. But while the Sovteks sound dull, lifeless and wooden, these are brimming with harmonics and sound lovely. They are stout too, I purposely cranked the bias up to see what they would take. I slowly increased the bias, on a fixed boas amp, monitoring the current flow and the plates for sings of redness until I finally had the bias pot at max travel, with greater than 50ma running thru the tubes & about 390v, and not a hint of red on the plates.
dbx
03-09-2007, 10:39 PM
I've done some testing on some 6n14N EP tubes, which I'm sure are a variant of what you've got, and they sound great! Funny thing is they look just like crappy Sovtek EL84's, which I suppose is not unusual as they come from the same factory. But while the Sovteks sound dull, lifeless and wooden, these are brimming with harmonics and sound lovely. They are stout too, I purposely cranked the bias up to see what they would take. I slowly increased the bias, on a fixed boas amp, monitoring the current flow and the plates for sings of redness until I finally had the bias pot at max travel, with greater than 50ma running thru the tubes & about 390v, and not a hint of red on the plates.

Dam*...you could have made a meal with those readings...since they're military spec they had to be robust...really like the tone of these (as you said) and think they are a very economical alternative to some of the other Euro and US NOS equivalents out there, and the supply is still good...I think I read that New Sensor was making a "reissue" of them but they're not the same, can't find the link at the moment...the 80s Diamond "O" logo are the ones..thanks for the post...
rockon1
03-10-2007, 07:48 AM
I like the Sovtek EL84M's for there robustness. If these are even more stout I will have to try some!:)
5992
03-10-2007, 07:53 AM
I like the Sovtek EL84M's for there robustness. If these are even more stout I will have to try some!:)

I believe the regular Sovtek EL84 is a 6P14P. The Sovtek EL84M is the 6P14P-EV. The EV suffix means "extended lifetime (3,000-10,000 hour rating)" and "mechanically ruggedized" respectively.
dbx
03-10-2007, 06:27 PM
I like the Sovtek EL84M's for there robustness. If these are even more stout I will have to try some!:)

The numeric designations are similar but I think of the current Sovtek EL84Ms as "reissues" of the 80s version...
rockon1
03-10-2007, 08:48 PM
The numeric designations are similar but I think of the current Sovtek EL84Ms as "reissues" of the 80s version...


So these are the same then? Thanks Bob


http://www.tubedepot.com/so-el84m.html

http://thetubestore.com/russianel84m.html
dbx
03-10-2007, 10:24 PM
So these are the same then? Thanks Bob


http://www.tubedepot.com/so-el84m.html

http://thetubestore.com/russianel84m.html

Hey Bob,

Same construction style and designation but different eras. The versions I have also have the Diamond "O" logo like those from the tubestore date coded from '92 (from the original Reflektor plant) but mine are date coded from '83. The tubedepot version "Sovteks" are date coded from '00 and are after the New Sensor (Mike Matthews) takeover:

http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/newsensor/newsensor.html

Price points being the same I'd go with the "real deal"...If I have some time this weekend I'd like to do a taste test of EH, JJ, RCAs and the Reflektor/Saratovs. I've not been happy with the EH versions in the past, JJs were a better sounding option up 'til now...
rockon1
03-10-2007, 10:37 PM
Yeah I think Id like to pick up a quad of the older "originals" too. I actually prefered the sound of the JJ's over the new EL84M's. However durability wise the M's win out and hence I'll go with them. I wonder if the older versions sound better than the new ones? I guess I'll find out. Thanks Bob
hasserl
03-11-2007, 02:54 PM
Dam*...you could have made a meal with those readings...since they're military spec they had to be robust...really like the tone of these (as you said) and think they are a very economical alternative to some of the other Euro and US NOS equivalents out there, and the supply is still good...I think I read that New Sensor was making a "reissue" of them but they're not the same, can't find the link at the moment...the 80s Diamond "O" logo are the ones..thanks for the post...

Note that I only did this because I was asked to test the tubes, try them out and let the guy know what I thought of them. I'm still running the tubes in the same amp now, and have probably a few dozen hours or so on them. Not a whole lot, but they still sound very good. I've mostly just used it at band practice, besides playing it here in my shop. I just spent a couple of hours yesterday using that amp in some side by side comparisons with another amp, and will be taking it to a blues jam this afternoon.
dbx
03-11-2007, 03:57 PM
Note that I only did this because I was asked to test the tubes, try them out and let the guy know what I thought of them. I'm still running the tubes in the same amp now, and have probably a few dozen hours or so on them. Not a whole lot, but they still sound very good. I've mostly just used it at band practice, besides playing it here in my shop. I just spent a couple of hours yesterday using that amp in some side by side comparisons with another amp, and will be taking it to a blues jam this afternoon.

I figured you were just trying to find the extremes of the performance of these tubes...good to know they handled the "torture test" ;) yet still retain their tonefulness...are you checking out an organized local blues jam or hooking up with friends?
hasserl
03-11-2007, 04:57 PM
A little of both. It's an organized jam, but we're pretty friendly now. We get together once a month, there's always a new person or two, and maybe couple that can't make it. You never know, there might be keys, sax & harp joining us; or just bass, guitars and drums.

In any case it's always fun. I'm getting ready to load up now. Gonna give the ES135 a whirl this time. Everybody does Strat's, I like to mix it up.