KEL84 Conundrum/advice

[Bonky]

Originally Posted by vitalstates

notwithstanding all other issues..

have you considered that the bass may be a bit tighter with the quad as the output impedance will likely be much lower. Is it possible that the boomy bass may have been psychological(i.e was always there) and swapping in the quad has fed your unease?

Quite possibly. I'm always alive to the possibility of 'expectation bias' etc, but in this case I thought I noticed the 'boominess' before I plugged in the Quad (which I used to see if it was the valve amp that had somehow altered the sound characteristics).

Cheers,

Richard.

[Ali Tait]

Originally Posted by Bonky

Thanks Ali, please could you give me some more details?

Thanks,

Richard.

The front end valve is an ECF80, I tried several makes of these, best to my ears were Valvo, like these-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-Valvo...4AAOSwDtVaqXkc

Have a hunt on ebay, there are lots of different makes to try and not silly prices. I find the front end valve makes more of an audible difference than the power valves.

[Bonky]

Thanks Ali; appreciated.

Richard.

[Chris]

I bought some of the Valvo gold pins for the wad 6550, 15 years ago they were £4 each nos.

Chris

[Bonky]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I've just plugged in the new power valves and, yes, I think the bass is better controlled. Yet to do some serious listening though.

How long before they are 'burnt-in'?

Yours,

Richard.


Now do I also buy pair of ECF80s?

[bob orbell]

Oh, please don't use that fraise Richard, they don't burn, bonfires burn and look what happens to them, the valves will as time goes by wear out, the emissions get less with time, so saver the sound now. Bob

[Bonky]

Thanks Bob, yes I understand that valves deteriorate over time...I was just wondering if there was a'golden moment' when they were at their zenith.

BW

Richard.

[Greg.]

Yes, probably from one hour in. Thereafter, enjoy until you detect them going off.