EF86 too expensive

[ChuckD]

Hello,

I have been getting tired of trying to source Amperex/Valvo/Phillips EF86s  Pentodes for microphones and was pondering a replacement tube.  
In my opinion (not yours)  the Holland EF86s above sound the best. Germany comes in a very close second... everything else is crap.
Or replacing the 12AY7A Triode as well...   But I really want to first design a  G7 , MK7 , type with a more available tube.
The prerequisite is that it need to be available and cheap!!!  i.e. under the radar of the tube dealers

Here are some front runner candidates:

D3A   pentode  
http://tdsl.duncanamps.com/link.php?target=002561FC

E180F pentode    or Siemens E280F
http://tdsl.duncanamps.com/link.php?target=A72560AE

6J32P pentode
http://oldradio.qrz.ru/tubes/russian/short/6j32p.shtml

EF184 pentode  (6EJ7)
http://tdsl.duncanamps.com/link.php?target=4C25608C


Anyone have any schematics with the above tubes?
Or any opinions of which of the above is the best?


Chuck

 

[Kingston]

This one is easy, no need to look far: PF86

There are no reissues available or any shoddy brands. All of them made in the golden days of tube quality control (and machining). It's a very close replacement, just with lower heater voltage.

Oh yeah, cheap.

I'm actually surprised this one flew under your radar, especially since it's G7 or MK7 projects you need it for. Fits like a glove.

 

[jackies]

I'm still getting my parts together for a MK7 - just bought a pair of Telefunken EF804S.
Supposed to be low noise, low microphonics, etc... Supposed to be the same as EF86, just different pinout.
Will comment on how it worked in a few weeks...
8)

 

[ChuckD]

Thanks

Yes I have the PF86.  Made a couple mics with some nice Valvos of this lower heater version.
Sorry should have put this up there.

However I have found these are hard to find. Do you have a large source? Occasionally I see them on ebay.
But still rare.  

 

[Kingston]

However I have found these are hard to find. Do you have a large source? Occasionally I see them on ebay.
But still rare.  

That's the way I've found them too. They are available every once in a while in ebay, I grab some when I can. Not that rare, but certainly dripping slowly. probably because it has no famous use cases.

 

[lassoharp]

You may want to give the 5879 a try.  It was used as the first stage tube in 60's Gates broadcast consoles and was later replaced with the EF 86.

In contrast, someone on this forum - may have been CJ - remarked that he had to sort through a bunch of EF86s to find a quiet one.  If that's the expected case it makes them even more impractical - who wants to spend $100+ to find a quiet one?

Same thing said about the 1620 (premium) vs the 6J7.

 

[Kingston]

In contrast, someone on this forum - may have been CJ - remarked that he had to sort through a bunch of EF86s to find a quiet one.

That's just the way things work with the very high impedance tube/mic/capsule setting. Data on tube spec sheet gets a little unreliable also since manufacturers didn't test for this situation. No other way than just to sort them out by hand for lowest noise. Throw away the hissers basically. EF86 is in no way a special case when it comes to this.

 

[schmidlin]

+1 on the 5879.  Top notch tube.  Still cheep and I have yet to find a noisy one.

 

[Davo]

+1 on the EF804S... I've got one in my MK7 and it sounds great

 

[deuce42]

I seem to see Telefunken EF86's on Ebay Australia for about $30. Seems good to me. Am I missing something obvious? What is their market value normally?

 

[ihscoutlvr74]

I've had good luck with quiet EF86s made by Brimar for under $20 ea often on ebay.

How about 6BR7?

 

[CJ]

if you run the mic tube in triode

then the screen is gonna have to be kept low,

i found the best way to make them quiet was to keep the screen  low with respect to the plate,

so if running triode, lower the B+ and the hissing and popcorn might go down.

popcorn, reminds me of the redneck smoke detector,

a tin of jiffy pop hanging over the door! 

 

[Kingston]

+1 on the 5879.  Top notch tube.  Still cheep and I have yet to find a noisy one.

In a triode configuration these are surprisingly microphonic, even if they sound great. something to keep in mind especially in a microphone that gets shouted at.

 

[mrclunk]

This guy has a bunch of PF86.
http://cgi.ebay.ie/1-PC-PF86-Philips-Pentode-Tube-Valve-NOS_W0QQitemZ220501600122QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Consumer_VintageAudio_RL?hash=item3356eb677a

 

[strangeandbouncy]

Hi,


    I remember using a Phillips SQ E80F in our U67 back in the day. I dunno if it's recommended as a replacement. It was a tight fit due to greater length, but is sounded great. vv quiet to boot. I've used them in a hifi phono amp as well. Dunno how much they are now, but they were much cheaper than decent Mullard or Telefunken EF86 at the time.

  Kindest regards,


      ANdyP

 

[noulou]

My Brauner VM1 uses a gold pin E80F AEG tube for what fwiw