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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 15:22:55 GMT
Can I share my experience of NOS valves? I bought some Valvo ECL86s from a reputable seller who tested them before listing. They arrived but my amp started playing up soon after, I took amp and tubes to The Maughan Amplifier Company, who build bespoke amps and also handle a lot of valve amp repairs. The father is an encyclopaedia on valve amps and was a pleasure to spend time with.
Anyway, he had an incredibly huge and sophisticated test rig and found the valves were uselss when operating at full temperature and subjected to real world operating conditions. His advice was to stay away from NOS as many of the valves are no longer fit for use, He said he saw lots of people like me with supposedly new valves that were no use. He reckoned the sort of test equipment most valves are tested on will not reveal problems,
I'm not technical, but I know he was and I saw his test equipment, personally I'd never trust NOS valves again. Clearly many will still work, but I'd rather buy brand new after my experience.
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Post by Mr Whippy on Jan 4, 2016 23:44:59 GMT
Oh, can I ask how much they were? One time you could get ECL86s for £7 - £9. Now they cost something like £35. That's £140 for a set.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 23:48:09 GMT
They were around £100 for four.
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Post by Mr Whippy on Jan 5, 2016 0:19:27 GMT
I have an old Heathkit amp that uses them. The power-amp is just the four of them. I have wondered about using EL84s with a driver instead. ECL82s tend to go for less, but I'm not sure how they differ. Can't remember if they have a different heater voltage.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 9:12:02 GMT
In the case of my amp back then (Audio Innovations 300) it wasn't possible to change valves. Maughans found a supplier who held them (CVC). I think the cost was around £120 for four but it may have changed. It seems really hard to get ecl86s these days, It's a pity because judging by the 300 they can be really fun to listen to,
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Guest
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Post by Guest on Jan 6, 2016 14:43:45 GMT
Can I share my experience of NOS valves? I bought some Valvo ECL86s from a reputable seller who tested them before listing. They arrived but my amp started playing up soon after, I took amp and tubes to The Maughan Amplifier Company, who build bespoke amps and also handle a lot of valve amp repairs. The father is an encyclopaedia on valve amps and was a pleasure to spend time with. Anyway, he had an incredibly huge and sophisticated test rig and found the valves were uselss when operating at full temperature and subjected to real world operating conditions. His advice was to stay away from NOS as many of the valves are no longer fit for use, He said he saw lots of people like me with supposedly new valves that were no use. He reckoned the sort of test equipment most valves are tested on will not reveal problems, I'm not technical, but I know he was and I saw his test equipment, personally I'd never trust NOS valves again. Clearly many will still work, but I'd rather buy brand new after my experience. So as the Rogers is a nose valve, you wouldn't recommend me offering him £17 for it, is that right? I'm leaning toward the Russian which looks attractive at roughly the same price new, to get as a spare/replace for the Shoe Gang that is in my Douk. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2016 21:29:03 GMT
Personally I would buy new and be sure I was getting a working valve. It's not a lot of money I guess, if you fancy taking a punt on NOS.
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Post by Mr Whippy on Jan 7, 2016 0:39:35 GMT
I have an old Heathkit amp that uses them. The power-amp is just the four of them. I have wondered about using EL84s with a driver instead. ECL82s tend to go for less, but I'm not sure how they differ. Can't remember if they have a different heater voltage. It's the PCL86 that's equivalent to ECL86 but has a heater voltage of about 13v instead of the usual 6.3v that the ECL86 has. They are pretty cheap, too. At the moment there is a set of 10 for £24: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371397071455It might be worth having a 12v transformer fitted to use a set. I might do that myself. |
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Post by Chris on Jan 7, 2016 9:55:21 GMT
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Post by Mr Whippy on Jan 7, 2016 20:37:59 GMT
Can't find any message, Chris.
They do look interesting. Some do regard the larger octal valves as offering better sound quality than the smaller variety. I know Croft used.
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Post by Chris on Jan 8, 2016 5:45:19 GMT
Sorry Mr Whippy - that was meant for guest
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Guest
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Post by Guest on Feb 9, 2016 0:04:05 GMT
Personally I would buy new and be sure I was getting a working valve. It's not a lot of money I guess, if you fancy taking a punt on NOS. Hmmm |
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Guest
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Post by Guest on Feb 11, 2016 13:32:46 GMT
I'm thinking of rolling my nose toward Russian BSN
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Post by Chris on Feb 11, 2016 17:19:05 GMT
If you must then Winged C rectifiers are available - very,very good. EL34s - JJ Cryos and the small signal valves Russian 6N9S.
I have all of these that I am willing to loan you to play with. Cover p&p, look after them and enjoy!
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