- EL34
The EL34 is a
vacuum tube of the powerpentode type. It has an octal base (indicated by the '3' in the part number) and is found mainly in the final output stages ofaudio amplification circuits. The AmericanRETMA tube designation number for this tube is 6CA7. Russian analog is 6p27s (Cyrillic: 6п27с )Specifications
In common with all 'E' prefix tubes, using the
Mullard-Philips tube designation , the EL34 has a heater voltage of 6.3V. A pair of EL34s with 800V plate voltage can produce 90 watts output in Class AB1 in push-pull configuration.Unlike the
6L6 , (EIA base 7AC) the EL34 has its grid 3 connection brought out to a separate Pin (Pin 1) (EIA base 8ET) and its heater draws 1.5 Amps compared to the 0.9 Amp heater in the 6L6. The EL34 is a pentode, while the 6L6 is abeam tetrode whichRCA often referred to as a "beam power tube". Power pentodes and beam tetrodes are functionally equivalent.The EL34 was introduced in 1953 by
Mullard and its parent companyPhilips and, although no longer made by them, is manufactured byJJ Electronic , Svetlana andReflector (Sovtek ,Electro-Harmonix and some brands), amongst others. Some firms make a related tube called an E34L which is rated to require a highergrid bias voltage, but which may be interchangeable in some equipment.Application
The EL34 was widely used in higher-powered audio amplifiers of the 1960s and 1970s, such as the very popular Dynaco Stereo 70 and the Leak Stereo 60, and is also widely used in high-end guitar amplifiers because it is characterized by greater
distortion (considered desirable in this application) at lower power than other octal tubes such as6L6 ,KT88 or6550 . The EL34 is found in many British guitar amps and is associated with the "British Tone" (Marshall) as compared to the 6L6 which is generally associated with the "American Tone" (Fender).References
* [http://www.mclink.it/com/audiomatica/tubes/el34.htm Technical specifications.]
* Valvo GMBH, Valvo Taschenbuch 1958.
* RCA, RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC26, 1968.
* [http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/thetubestore/JJ-E34L.pdf JJ Electronics EL34 and E34L data sheet (PDF)]
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