Mullard Re-issue EL34 Valves

My introduction to the tube audiophile world started when I heard my Dynaco ST-70 for the first time. It was indeed fortunate that it had a quad of excellent vintage Mullard EL-34 xf2's that still had good emissions and good match as shown by grid shift method. I soon learned that it would be a pricey proposition if one of those tubes burned out and I had to replace them with another vintage matched quad. I figured a burn out was a real possibility for power tubes I would be be running all day.

So I started tube rolling and was finding that most of what I tried was not too pleasing. But soon I tried a quad of these Mullard Reissues from the Saratov plant of New Sensor. I could hardly believe it! They were very faithful to the originals. With the exception of a slight improvement in detail, they sounded much the same as the vintage xf2's to me. They also seem built to last.

I have about 2100 hours on them and they are still as good as new. In fact they don't even look aged and the bias could go without tweaking but I do it anyway. I would have just ordered Reissues in the first place if I'd had any idea how nice these were going to turn out!!

Well I've bought a Matched quad set of these Mullard re-issue EL34 tube's to try & here are my findings on A Yaqin MC-10L amp.

First thing I noticed after I fitted them & reset the bias the was a very strong smell, in fact they stunk the lounge out, it was so bad I had to open the patio doors, after about two hours the smell died away.

The second thing I noticed is a lot of glow from the heaters, not a problem, does if fact look nice.

They've had about 20 hours of burning in now & are sounding very nice.

They are a big step up from the original Shuguang tubes, then again Milk Bottles are a up from them! (no to be fair their not bad)

I would also rate them above my beloved JJ's, but I can't decide if I prefer them to my Svetlana winded "C" tubes? close, but with a slight tonal shift.

Sound is very un-objective, a personal thing, one person's idea of the perfect tone may not be to everybody's taste. Some people hate valve amp's (poor fools) while others hate solid state amps! you see my point?

However I think they are very good tubes, the bass is solid & well controlled, the top end is a little higher than the JJ's, maybe I'm hearing an 1k of treble.

They have had good reviews on other forums, the guitar boy's seem to like them in their Marshal amp's.

I think for the price (£68 inc P&P for a quad set), your not going be able to buy anything better at the price, if there is anything better?

Good luck Bob.