by mesherm » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:43 pm
I was intrigued so I bought a quad of the TAD EL84s for my DIY35. Just got them today. I will have to give TAD extra points for presentation. The boxes and the tubes were marked with very professional-looking labels with a number stating each tubes' plate current and transconductance. Each tube had a lot or serial number on it also. The quad I got had all identical PC and TC numbers on them. The tubes looked very well made and had thick, heavy glass envelopes. So far so good.
I swapped them in my DIY35 for the set of EI Elite EL84s and made ready to adjust the currents. Unadjusted, one side was almost perfect at 35.4 and 35.7 ma, the other side was also very close at 34.3 and 35.8 ma. Not bad at all but I tweaked them all to 35+-0.1 ma.
After about an hour's listening I must say that they sound every bit as good as the EI's they replaced. The bass sounds a bit tighter and the highs a tad brighter so I am pleased enough to leave them in for extended listening.
Just for reference info, I am running a Telefunken 12AX7 and an RCA 12BH7A black plate in the other tube positions.