Stereo 20 valves

[tackleberry]

I’ve bought a stereo 20.

I’ve never really been one for valves in the past but it’s just lovely. As it sat on the shelf in front of me last night I started to look up valves, which can be a potential money pit! I wondered about the ecc83’s(variants) el84 and 7189.

Do these different valves make a lot of difference to the sound?

 

[rabski]

'A lot of difference'? No. 'Some difference'? Yes. Unfortunately, the difference is usually the subtle details that make the difference between wow and WOW.

There are a couple of Stereo 20s here. From experimentation so far, the EL84s actually make the least difference, but as they're in an ultralinear push-pull circuit that's no surprise, as things tend to cancel out. The biggest difference is likely to be in the first ECC83. It's worth getting a little spendy on that one, but I wouldn't go mad.

 

[tackleberry]

I’ve messaged nut as he has a pair for sale…

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

I’ve messaged nut as he has a pair for sale…

So how has your stereo-20 got on with its new valves? I'm running mine with the same audio valves as the ones fitted when I bought it 20 years ago but I had to replace the GZ34 when its getter flash went white during the last house move. Still sounds excellent.

 

[pmcuk]

The Russian GZ34s are excellent. Sovtek etc. That's what I use.

I have a bunch of good ECC83s if anyone wants to PM me.

 

[tackleberry]

The early 50’s long plate mullards are much sweeter than the new equivalents!

 

[Burdy]

I recently installed RFT ECC83's in my Mullard 5/10 amps. Very happy with them