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View Full Version : TAD EL84STR vs. Genalex Gold Lion N709/EL84 reissue



goraman
19-04-2015, 05:35
Not really very much to ponder here.
I have been listing to the TADS for several years now and have been very happy with them,in fact I thought I may have wasted money and time being the TADS are much less expensive smooth and deliver rich deep sonic s. And with a 420v plate rating it would be tuff to find an amp that could kill them.
My octet are still going well into 8 years now!

Well,
I rolled in the new GL's today,biased them at 25mv and let them warm up.
The minute I turned the volume knob up to 9:00,I knew the Tads where retired.
The detail and texture in the top end was so smooth with no break in time,the sound just got deeper and wider as I turned the knob.
These tubes are worth every penny and maybe even a small body part.:D No Togger jokes please.

There is a greater sense of separation in a much wider and deeper image, It is as big as the difference between a Chinese mini tube from 10 years ago vs. a NOS Mullard.
The clear winner in sonic s is clearly the Gold Lions, Now I was told by New Sensor to dismiss the 300V max. at the plate because they are very conservatively rated.
My amp is 400V at the plate.
But not to use them with a cathode bias as this will shorten there life. Not a problem as my amp has adjustable bias.
If they only last a year the musical wonder of these paired with my NOS Mullards is still a good deal, these tubes are dynamic but are so smooth at the same time.
I have rolled alot of EL84's and the TADS stood out from all of those, but these Gold Lions are on a very different level all together.
They just give you more of everything sonicly,airy and delicate they have the most beautiful,smooth top end,vocals are to die for and the bass is strong,detailed and controlled even in the lowest notes.
These tubes are fat sounding and so smooth you may think the TADS are faster but they are not the GL's are just so smooth they seem more laid back.
Sorry TAD'S your done.

Firebottle
19-04-2015, 07:18
Isn't it great when you can get a leap in performance like that :)

As far as the longevity of the new tubes is concerned, the point to watch is the power dissipation of each tube, rather than just the voltage on the plate.
Do you know what current the 25mV bias on each tube represents? The power dissipation can then be worked out.

What is the power amp you are are using?

:cool: Alan

goraman
19-04-2015, 13:39
A Manley Labs Stingray.
Not the newer one mine is an 05 or 06.
http://www.manley.com/mst.php
It is not the older chrome and gold one,mine has a master bias and I had to change it when I took out the supplied 6P14P-EV and switched to the TAD's, I tried JJ's and they where to bright.
The 6P14P's where hard sounding, strident but they biased far out from everything else.
I am not sure but the plate is at 400v.

Haselsh1
19-04-2015, 15:58
A couple of years back I had an Icon Audio EL84 powered amplifier and I swapped to Gold Lions. Like you I was gobsmacked too but the biggest change came when I upgraded the preamp valves to Gold Lions. I am currently running a Croft Micro 25 Basic preamp and have just upgraded to Gold Lion ECC83's. Truly bloody amazing all over again.

struth
19-04-2015, 16:13
they make nice kt88 s as well

Firebottle
19-04-2015, 16:31
OK I've looked at the documentation on the Stingray (cracking looking amplifier) and it looks like the 250mV bias reading represents a current of 25mA in each valve.
Multiply this by the 400V plate voltage and it gives 10W dissipation per tube plate. The absolute max. for an EL84 is specified at 12w, so if you want to extend the life of the tubes you could try reducing the bias to 225mV or even 200mV.

Would be interesting to hear if there is any sonic degradation if you try this :thumbsup:

:) Alan

goraman
19-04-2015, 18:18
Alan Thank you, I can dial it down to 23 but dynamics suffer after that.

goraman
19-04-2015, 18:27
I use the GL ECC83's in my DAC and love them but for now I am useing Mullard ECC81 CV4024/KQDD/K's for the preamp section as it really softens the top end nicely,even Grace Slick isn't so sibilant and Diana Krall sounds so sultry with the Mullards. With NOS Tungsols/Ei's even her "S" can be alittle hard sounding in some recordings.
I am eager to try some ECC81's by GL in those sockets,mabey next month then all tubes would be the same Gold Lions with no other influence.
As I don't think the 6414 invert-er tubes will have that big an impact on sonics.