Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

[Chas]

http://thetubestore.com/glel84single.html

Very expensive anyone have these?

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

$28 is "very expensive" for an EL-84?

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

Modern Gold Lion tubes are reissued by New Sensor, like modern Mullards.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

A friend of mine got a set of Gold Lion valves and was not impressed. I've not tried them, however ...

 

[elscorcho]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

:1:This one is "very expensive" and at least a fair amount of hype....
http://www.tubedepot.com/pe-n709.html

 

[LoFiBrian]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

I bet its just another NS inspired by design. none of their RIs have been close to original spec.

 

[Curly]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

AFAIK, JJs are still considered the best current production EL-84, and they're only about $10.

"caveat emptor"

 

[Invader09]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

I hate JJ's EL84. Also hate their 12ax7's. Sovtek Longplate 12ax7's are my fav. new production

 

[jimijames]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

How do the JJ el84's compare to the mullard reissues? Sorry for the thread hijack, I was reading old threads and I read somewhere from TGWIF that he didn't like JJs and preferred the tone of mullards (the new reissues, not NOS ones).

 

[James Rock]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

The tube store review seemed good for GOld Lions but they are a shop ....

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

I hate JJ's EL84. Also hate their 12ax7's. Sovtek Longplate 12ax7's are my fav. new production

I kinda dislike JJ's 12ax7s myself (too dark, not enough gain), but really? No love for the EL-84s? Any modern production EL-84s you like better? I'm genuinely curious because the JJs are better than the few other EL-84s I've tried.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

Let me tell you my experience with them. Bought a pair from a very reputable dealer, got them in and put them in my Maz 18....sounded beautiful with warm creamy overdrive and chime for days. This lasted about 5 minutes and one red plated. Sent them back to the dealer and it took over a month to get a new pair returned to me. Second set: same scenario in my Maz but they lasted about 20 minutes this time until one of the tubes red plated again. Back they go and I'm still waiting for a new set....3 weeks later. Each time that this happened I popped in an old set of JJ's that I've had for about a year and have abused in my other 18w and they are still going, albeit not as good as they used to be. If I could ever get a set that was reliable it would be awesome, tonally they were much warmer and creamier than the JJ's.

 

[eggman]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

Howdy,

I won't rule out a matched pair in the future for my Carmen Ghia head. I'd prefer NOS, but that's another thread..

Eggman

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

Let me tell you my experience with them. Bought a pair from a very reputable dealer, got them in and put them in my Maz 18....sounded beautiful with warm creamy overdrive and chime for days. This lasted about 5 minutes and one red plated. Sent them back to the dealer and it took over a month to get a new pair returned to me. Second set: same scenario in my Maz but they lasted about 20 minutes this time until one of the tubes red plated again. Back they go and I'm still waiting for a new set....3 weeks later. Each time that this happened I popped in an old set of JJ's that I've had for about a year and have abused in my other 18w and they are still going, albeit not as good as they used to be. If I could ever get a set that was reliable it would be awesome, tonally they were much warmer and creamier than the JJ's.

Is this for a ReIssue set, or an original set. From what I recall, the old-world tubes were unbelievable. (And thus about $500 to $600 a pop on Tubesdepot).

 

[Northwinds]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

Granted these are not the same but I'll tell you what, if these were the original "Genalex" Gold Lion KT-88's, you'd fall over at the price if you think $28 is expensive for a tube. Not sure if it was a batch issue with them redplating. I'm thinking a biasing issue? Maybe running a bit too hot? Maybe JJ's are more tolerant of possible fluctuating plate voltages during initial break in?

Just being the devil's advocate :1:

Genalex era Gold Lion is a legendary name in audiophile circles, low noise, warmth, depth and smoothness at breakup is to be expected, at least in the old days

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

Here you go...NOS Genalex/Gold lion and others.Great prices....should I say Great Big prices.

Scroll through this,
- https://www.tubeworld.com/index_high.htm - choose Vacuum Tube stock on the left and go to "power" and choose your valve type [6BQ6/EL84]

Apart from that,there is lots of NOS tubes.

Plus there's Gold Lion and Gold Dragon.

The Golden Dragon KT88 Retro is produced to a similar shape to the original GEC/MO design, and has identical operating characteristics.

Price variations are weird.Down Under I get my valves from this place.
- http://www.evatco.com.au/webcat1p10.htm -
Gold Dragon EL84's-$20AUS.

$28 is "very expensive" for an EL-84?

But JJ's are $28AUS.

I use GL KT88's and I used to pay around $120AUS. each from "other" suppliers.Now I only pay $75AUS. each.
The last couple of GD12AX7's i got ,one seemed slightly Microphonic,but still usable.
[I use all GL's and GD's in my amp.]

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

Is this for a ReIssue set, or an original set. From what I recall, the old-world tubes were unbelievable. (And thus about $500 to $600 a pop on Tubesdepot).

This was for the New Sensor reissue Golden Lions...only about $50 a set.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

I got hit @ $1500 for a matched quad of NOS Genelex/GEC KT66s... :eyecrazy:

I went with the JJ's.

 

[Tom Huff]

Re: Gold Lion EL84 Is this tube all hype?

I saw those recently when shopping for new 12AX7 and EL34 tubes. I went for the new Mullards and am extremely happy with them.