Valves for a Quintet

[glenann]

Hi all,

I hope you can help me out a little bit please? I've just bought a second hand Art Audio Quintet MK1. It's fixed in triode mode and seems so far to be a nice amp. However the EL34's are neither matched or even all the same make! 3 JJ's and a Winged C!
My question is one that has probably been asked a million times in various forms, which Quad Matched Valves should I buy?
I've done some reading (a mistake maybe) and seen that I can get EL34's, KT77's or 6CA7's! Does anyone have any favourites? I prefer a detailed, but also natural sound, free of harshness and sibilance. I was tempted by the Psvane TII, but that'll cost over £200! I can get a set of Winged C's for just over £100, as you know. As you can see I'm getting all confused. Any direction or input would be much appreciated. Also where is the best place to buy them from?
Many thanks

[Ali Tait]

I've used in the past cryo'd Shuguang which I thought were very good, as good or better than the NOS RFT set I also had.

[IHP]

The Gold Lion KT77 are a great valve at around £120 a quad. Always worth looking here.....

http://www.wiwitubes.com/en/about.php

I've dealt with Lorenz a number of times and he's very trustworthy and good on price. The RFTs he has look interesting, but the comment above is acknowledged. Just to annoy you (!) it's said that mucking around with the signal valves is also worthwhile. Sorry ;-).

[montesquieu]

The Gold Lion KT77 are a great valve at around £120 a quad. Always worth looking here.....

http://www.wiwitubes.com/en/about.php

I've dealt with Lorenz a number of times and he's very trustworthy and good on price. The RFTs he has look interesting, but the comment above is acknowledged. Just to annoy you (!) it's said that mucking around with the signal valves is also worthwhile. Sorry ;-).

I've had good results with the Gold Lion KT77 too.

[Reffc]

I use KT77's (Golden Lion) which seem good. I think that the KT can operate at a higher screen voltage but is considered as interchangeable with the EL34 as heater voltage/current are the same; however most circuits (push pull Class AB) are probably optimised to run around 400 plate volts (EL34 or KT77) to keep current high enough to avoid high crossover distortion. Will from Radfords might be able to offer a more enlightened opinion. I think The CA7 uses a much smaller heater current than the EL34 (0.3A as opposed to 1.5A for the EL34) so you need to be careful there and check that it wont damage valves or amp by using them. Art Audio, I'm sure, will be able to confirm.

[Radford Revival]

My boring but sensible answer would be to put a quad of matched JJ EL34s or E34Ls in!

[glenann]

Thank you all so far for your input. It would seem that for as many valves there are, there's as many opinions! I may just get a matched quad of something reasonably priced as the above comment suggests, then as funds allow, and I get used to the amp, I can change and have a play.
Thank you again and feel free to add your thoughts...

[glenann]

Ive read a lot and am now bored of it... So I've just ordered a set of Genalex KT77's and we'll see how we go! Got the best price from Hotrox..
Thanks all again

[glenann]

15 minutes in and the KT77's sound absolutely brilliant! I'm well pleased. Tighter, deeper and still smooth. More detail too. Thank you guys for the pointer.

[glenann]

Just one question for anybody please? The two valves on the right side of the amp seem to be glowing more than the other two. Not massively but they are slightly brighter. Is that anything to worry about?
Cheers