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What is the best EF86 in production at the moment

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#7
What is the best EF86 in production at the moment?
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New Sensor currently makes 2 EF86 variants. The EH labeled tube has already been mentioned. The other variant is labeled TungSol and its type is EF806SG. The TS labeled tube has gold plated pins and is better than the EH. It's up to you to decide if the EF806SG is worth twice the price of the EH EF86.

AFAIK, no other EF86 varieties are currently being manufactured.
 
#11
I know I am getting all of this wrong.
M. Gregg is located in the UK. He is asking for current production. And I know that an EF804S is not exactly an EF86. But - I still thought this might be interesting for some of those reading this thread.
German military are selling a batch of NOS EF804S of different brands.
The auction will be running till Sep 30th 2013.
Here is the link:267 Stück Pentoden "AEG/Telefunken/Siemens u. a." Typ EF 804 S | Ausschreibung/Los 1340170.059 | VEBEG Ausschreibungen
 
#12
DeathRex said:
For the money I'd try some 6EJ7s. They are too cheap for audiophiles. Maybe someone needs to cull the non-microphonic ones from a group and sell them for $35 each.
Click to expand...

Oops - the 6EJ7 ain't no EF86! It's European equivalent is called EF184, a high gm pentode of frame grid construction, originally intended for IF strips in TV receivers, Perhaps this tube might also be a good AF valve, but it is by far no plug-in replacement for an EF86. Be cautious!

Best regards!
 
#13
Eli (and others),

I also occasionally use EF86s, mainly in power amplifiers. Perhaps further than adjectives, would you explain what you mean by 'shaky'? Noise-wise, life duration, other matters? I have found quite a tolerance between various EF86s although not prohibitively so, but no single make stood out as better (but my experience is few and far between).

Thanks
 
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#14
Just wanted to add that the "best" EF86 I've ever heard was the GEC CV4085 - made up until some time in the 70s. Perhaps running neck in neck is the original Mullard version. The Svetlana/Soviet/Sovtek version had a harshness that really stuck out.

This was connected in triode with no feedback. But connected in pentode and in a tube amplifier with GNFB, differences became much harder to define. In that case, I was quite happy with standard bog Philips or RFTs.
 
#15
Johan Potgieter said:
Eli (and others),

I also occasionally use EF86s, mainly in power amplifiers. Perhaps further than adjectives, would you explain what you mean by 'shaky'? Noise-wise, life duration, other matters? I have found quite a tolerance between various EF86s although not prohibitively so, but no single make stood out as better (but my experience is few and far between).

Thanks
Click to expand...

JJ has had all sorts of QC problems. Their recent Octal production has been dreadful. JJ made a fine 6922, their E88CC. The latest runs of the E88CC have been unreliable. Talk to Jim McShane, a highly reputable tube dealer. He can give you gory details I'm not familiar with.

FWIW, my read on the situation is that JJ knows how to make good tubes, but the will to do so is absent.
 
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