Will these tubes work in my VTL compact 100 monoblocks

Jhayman

http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/EL34-6CA7-Tube-Types/Winged-C-SED-EL34

I just heard back from my tech he said my tubes are shot which I believe they were, he says the amp is fine just needs new tubes, so he wants me to buy them ( no sale for him) and bring them in and he will install and bias the voltages properly for me.
I see all kinds of different types of EL34's so I want to be sure these will work.
Thanks

I can get 2 matched Quad sets for $300 NOS

nooshinjohn

The reviews listed below kind of scare me off of those...


http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Factory-Matched-Genalex-Gold-Lion-KT77-El34-/380046880514?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item587c8f2f02

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-8x-Genalex-Gold-Lion-KT77-Matched-Octet-Eight-Power-Tube-EL34-6CA7-FREE-SHIP-/141511208584?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20f2b9ae88
I would perhaps consider these, though I must confess to no experience with the el34 tubes...

I had a set of Psvane tubes (not el34) and thought they sounded very good as well.

ZLTFUL

I have a matched quad of the Genalex Gold Lions to roll into my AMC along with several others. My favorites have been the Genalex Gold Lions and Mullard EL34s with the white shield logo and fat brown bases.

voltz

here a link to some el34's you may find interesting. I have bought tubes several times from them and would buy from them again, I don't know if these will work for you though.

https://www.tubedepot.com/t/tubes/power-tubes/el34-6ca7

F1nut

The Psvane 6CA7 black bottle would be an excellent choice. The 6CA7 has the nice mids of the EL34, but better extension up top and greater authority on the bottom.

F1nut

Forgot to say, the Psvane 6CA7's take 300 hours to settle down, then the magic happens.

ZLTFUL

Thanks for the suggestion Jesse. I will have to bring the AMC home and pick up a set of the 6CA7s...

marvda1

the eh 6ca7eh is a good sounding tube and is not that expensive.

tonyb

Jhayman wrote: »

http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/EL34-6CA7-Tube-Types/Winged-C-SED-EL34

I just heard back from my tech he said my tubes are shot which I believe they were, he says the amp is fine just needs new tubes, so he wants me to buy them ( no sale for him) and bring them in and he will install and bias the voltages properly for me.
I see all kinds of different types of EL34's so I want to be sure these will work.
Thanks

I can get 2 matched Quad sets for $300 NOS

Nothing seems odd to you that ALL the tubes are shot ? Maybe retrace what your doing or how your operating the amps. Also a good idea to have extra tubes on hand so your not without music should some fail. Tube amps require some care and attention, they are not set and forget for lengths of time.

I've always said tube amps are like a needy girlfriend, always wanting something from you.

tonyb

Pre amps won't need the attention tube amps do, especially when you have lots of tubes. I'm still concerned the OP is doing something wrong for all the tubes on both monos to go bad at the same time is not normal. Maybe a tutorial in biasing and checking the bias is needed. Constant flipping on and off too can play havoc. Tubes need some warm up time.

For some of us more accustomed to tubes, it's no biggie, but to some just getting into tube amps we should have a thread on care and use of tubed gear, especially amps.

Jhayman

tonyb wrote: »

Jhayman wrote: »

http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/EL34-6CA7-Tube-Types/Winged-C-SED-EL34

I just heard back from my tech he said my tubes are shot which I believe they were, he says the amp is fine just needs new tubes, so he wants me to buy them ( no sale for him) and bring them in and he will install and bias the voltages properly for me.
I see all kinds of different types of EL34's so I want to be sure these will work.
Thanks

I can get 2 matched Quad sets for $300 NOS

Nothing seems odd to you that ALL the tubes are shot ? Maybe retrace what your doing or how your operating the amps. Also a good idea to have extra tubes on hand so your not without music should some fail. Tube amps require some care and attention, they are not set and forget for lengths of time.

I've always said tube amps are like a needy girlfriend, always wanting something from you.

First off Thanks for the help guys I'm checking out some tubes on eBay and things.
Second, Tonyb he only had my left mono block which he fixed before and the same issue happened again.
This is my issue, I was Enjoying the monoblocks for awhile then I started to NOT enjoy them more and more to the point I was not turning on my stereo because I could not really tell why, and finally my buddy came over and wanted to hear something so I turned it on and something I knew sounded Great before now sounded like Crap and he pointed out right away how the vocals were coming out of the left speaker predominately and when I turn it up it was a lot more distorted..
So I swapped monoblocks to see if the issue followed and it did..
So I brought it in for repair and got it back and I was enjoying tunes again and my buddies came over and now we're in agreement with me about my Casta's sounding very nice, which they hated them before because amp was faulty.
Now the issue started again and was told it was my tubes they tested very low he said, now I'm positive they are either original tubes or ones that did not have very much life left, now knowing the guy I bought them from..
Back to know, I just figured I would get 2 matched sets so I had extras or I had heard it is better to replace them all at the same time right?
The ones in their now are Russian..

tonyb

Gotcha man....but with tubes, the second it doesn't sound right is the second you need to find out why and not keep playing them. My guess is as you said, the tubes didn't have a lot of life left or you keep playing them out of bias. Have your repair guy go over how to do this yourself at home. You should at least check them every 2 weeks or so and especially if the sound changes.

F1nut

Jamie, the original power tubes would have had VTL printed on them in red and I'm pretty sure they were Yugo Ei tubes. Since yours are Russian they have been replaced at least once. VTL/Manley amps are not generally hard on power tubes, so expect a life span of 5,000 to 10,0000 hours. As Tony stated, you have to check the bias every so often, but I recommend once a month.

Yes, it's best to replace all at the same time because if one has started to go, the others will not be far behind.

pitdogg2

Brent Jesse is another tube seller that I have had great results with. Call him up and tell what you like and he'll be more than happy to shoot the snot about all things tubes. I know this is not the same but when I was looking for something out of the ordinary for my tube buffer that takes 6SN7 tubes he sold me a wonderful set of Sylvania 6BL7 triple mica that were NOS from the early 50's and they were super cheap. I find in my case they are better sounding that the Sylvania 5692's I have.

Jhayman

F1nut wrote: »

Jamie, the original power tubes would have had VTL printed on them in red and I'm pretty sure they were Yugo Ei tubes. Since yours are Russian they have been replaced at least once. VTL/Manley amps are not generally hard on power tubes, so expect a life span of 5,000 to 10,0000 hours. As Tony stated, you have to check the bias every so often, but I recommend once a month.

Yes, it's best to replace all at the same time because if one has started to go, the others will not be far behind.

Thanks Jesse, I learned how to bias from VTL's website and I was checking them regularly the right monoblock was always fine, but the left one seemed to always need a slight adjustment and as I mencioned before the in another thread the front 2 tubes I could not check their bias as they both read Zero on the meter and if I swapped out a rear tube to check it just started glowing Red right away..
But anyway I'm getting some new tubes and the guy said he would install and bias for me no charge.
I also told him to fix the issue of not being able to bias the front 2 tubes, so I can do it myself when I get it back from him..
Looking at the tubes I have in there are they regular Russian tubes or better than regular tubes?

Jhayman

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Brent Jesse is another tube seller that I have had great results with. Call him up and tell what you like and he'll be more than happy to shoot the snot about all things tubes. I know this is not the same but when I was looking for something out of the ordinary for my tube buffer that takes 6SN7 tubes he sold me a wonderful set of Sylvania 6BL7 triple mica that were NOS from the early 50's and they were super cheap. I find in my case they are better sounding that the Sylvania 5692's I have.

Pitdogg2 I'm not sure if you're talking to me and if so not sure who you're refering too..?

F1nut

I also told him to fix the issue of not being able to bias the front 2 tubes, so I can do it myself when I get it back from him..

Sounds like you had 2 tubes that were basically shot unless the bias resistors were bad, but I'd bet it was the tubes. A bad tube can still glow like normal, so just looking at them doesn't tell you much.

Looking at the tubes I have in there are they regular Russian tubes or better than regular tubes?

Those are Winged C's and definitely not original. David Manley had a thing for the Ei's. I never tried the Winged C's because after I started using 6CA7's I did not want to go back to EL34's. I still recommend getting the Psvanes.

I believe Pittdogg2 was simply recommending Brent Jesse as a good source for knowledge and tubes, which he is.

pitdogg2

F1nut wrote: »

I believe Pittdogg2 was simply recommending Brent Jesse as a good source for knowledge and tubes, which he is.

yes that I was, If you're looking for NOS. Sorry I wasn't very clear there.

Ivan