Question for the Tube Guru's

[NL5]

OK, I have a pair of Gefell UM92.1S's. I think the tube is dead in one, and in researching a new tube, I see a Telefunken EF806S is recommended over a EF86. The only pair I can find is $700. So, my question is this. Better to buya Telefunken/Mullard?etc EF86 or a JJ EF806S? Or, is there a better answer?

Help!!!

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by NL5

OK, I have a pair of Gefell UM92.1S's. I think the tube is dead in one, and in researching a new tube, I see a Telefunken EF806S is recommended over a EF86. The only pair I can find is $700. So, my question is this. Better to buya Telefunken/Mullard?etc EF86 or a JJ EF806S? Or, is there a better answer?

So your question is whether to buy a pair of EF806S tubes for $700 ($350 apiece) or a JJ/Tesla tube for $29.95. I know what I'd do, and it doesn't involve paying 10x for a particular tube just because it says NOS.... It would probably involve trying three or four different types of tubes at $30-40 each and comparing the results, then picking the best one and blogging about their relative merits, then either buying the NOS or not and selling the rest of the tubes on eBay.

Tung Sol has a tube that's designed to be a clone of the Telefunken tube for $35. If I had one working and one non-working EF86, I'd definitely try that alongside my working EF86 before I even considered spending $700 on a pair of tubes (or even the $300 that a pair of EF86 tubes would probably cost you). There might be a huge difference, in which case you can sell the Tung Sol on eBay and you've lost maybe $10, or you might find it sounds as good or better, in which case you've saved $630. Either way, it would be crazy not to experiment.

Just my $0.02.

[NL5]

No, no, no. I can't afford $700 tubes, and don't know I'd spend that much if I could.

I can get Telefunken EF86's for $100 give or take. Mullards or Similiar for less than $100. Or JJ EF806S's for 30. Just wondering which of those would be better.

[dgatwood]

I think the JJ/Tesla EF806S is the same tube as the Tung Sol EF806S. I've generally heard good things about the Tung Sol tubes, but I don't have any firsthand experience with them.

[xstatic]

I will look through my stock and see what EF86's (if any) that I have left. So far all fo the people I have dealt seem to be in agreement that any of the vintage tubes just have a much larger and sweeter sound than the newer tubes available.

[PhilGood]

Originally Posted by dgatwood

I think the JJ/Tesla EF806S is the same tube as the Tung Sol EF806S. I've generally heard good things about the Tung Sol tubes, but I don't have any firsthand experience with them.

Tung Sol made all of Telefunken's EF86. I have a pair in the drawer right here and they look identical to the Telefunken EF86 that I have, and even have the same diamond logo on the bottom. A Telefunken trademark.

It shouldn't matter to get strictly Telefunken. EF806 is a much lower noise tube anyway. Almost any EF806 is guaranteed to be way better performance than the best EF86, which is a good tube by any right. Plus its important to remember that all tubes sound different, even from the same batch. Its important to audition a tube, not just buy a brand.

[NL5]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

It shouldn't matter to get strictly Telefunken. EF806 is a much lower noise tube anyway. Almost any EF806 is guaranteed to be way better performance than the best EF86, which is a good tube by any right.

This is mainly what I wanted to know. Thanks!

[NL5]

Well, after hearing back from three well respected tube sellers, there is apparently no other Telefunken EF806's around. I can't (and won't) spend $700 for a pair of tubes. So, I went ahead and ordered TS806's, and paid a few bucks extra for even lower noise testing. Hopefully they rock. The stock mic's are pretty noisy, so low noise would definitely help out.....

Thanks again for all the advice....

[PhilGood]

They're pretty noisy stock?! That's not good.

Makes me wonder what kind of resistors are in there. Does the noise increase as the tube warms up, or are they noisy from the word "go"?

[NL5]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

They're pretty noisy stock?! That's not good.

Makes me wonder what kind of resistors are in there. Does the noise increase as the tube warms up, or are they noisy from the word "go"?

Well, it's a matter of perspective I guess. They aren't super noisy, but they aren't real quiet either. The recommended upgrade is to an EF806s to lower the noise floor. Theer is also an electronics upgrade that I will probably do later this year.

Here's a crappy pic of the resistors and such. Don't know if that will tell you anything.


Here's a link to some info -

http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/m/319697/0/

I read some suggestions from Klaus Heyne as well, but can't seem to find them right now........

[PhilGood]

Well, it's certainly not from lack of filter caps.

[NL5]

Just wanted to update-

I got a pair of Tung Sol EF806's. The noise is slightly less - I think. It does sound a bit more open, and a bit fuller. Not a drastic change, but it does seem like an improvement.

Thanks to kojdog, I just snagged two Telefunken EF806's, so I'll update with how they compare in a week or so.

[kojdogg]

sweet-- glad you scored those!

[NL5]

Originally Posted by kojdogg

sweet-- glad you scored those!

Thank you! I got in in the nick of time - if not for your PM, I would have missed them.

[NL5]

Originally Posted by NL5

Just wanted to update-

I got a pair of Tung Sol EF806's. The noise is slightly less - I think. It does sound a bit more open, and a bit fuller. Not a drastic change, but it does seem like an improvement.

Thanks to kojdog, I just snagged two Telefunken EF806's, so I'll update with how they compare in a week or so.

Update 2 -

After using the Tung-Sol's on several projects, I have come to realize that they made a pretty dramatic improvement. I think part of it was just that the stock EF86's were pretty shot.

The mic sounded slightly better than the one with the old tube when I spoke into it, but now with actual singers, the improvement is pretty obvious.

Can't wait to throw the Telefunkens in!