EF86 Favourite choices

JamieMcC

JamieMcC

Active member
There seem to be a few of us who have recently started building the Eros and I wondered if those of you who have been running them for some time might pass on some of your tube rolling experiences and share your favourite tube combinations with us Eros newbies.

Cheers
Jamie
 
I took Aaron's advice a picked up six 6BR7 NOS Brimar tubes to use in my Eros. This tube requires the A and B sockets to be rewired, because of the different pin out of the tubes. I downloads the data sheets for both tubes and went through the manual and made pen and ink chances to help with the build.
 
I should've given a little more info when I posted this. The 6BR7 is a great tube and cheap compared to other offers.  There are a lot of others you can use and Grainger posted a list of them in the Eros forum.  Traditional Telefunken EF86's are quite expensive and it's getting harder to find very quiet pairs. EF86's are prone to noise and it takes quite a few to find an ideal quiet pair. The Soviet tubes that BH ships with the kits are good quality and a nice starting point. Be aware that this is a very high gain tube and it doesn't take much to have noise of which you will notice.

I prefer the 6BR7 because it's still relatively cheap, it sounds good in my experience and I can afford to buy 20 of them to find one or two extremely quiet pairs.  There are other tubes out there you can do this with also.

 
Probably 24 hours on my Eros so not fully broken in yet but...

#1 Telefunken EF86's - they just have a sparkle and separation...
#2 Soviet tubes that came with the amp
#3 Siemens EF86's - a bit dark, nothing wrong with them, must rather have the Tele's in.
 
An update, if you do use the 6BR7, you will need to keep the servo circuit in your build.  Of the 20 or so I have, none of them can get the voltages without the servo.  It's a great sounding tube regardless, just a little different than the EF86 that PJ built the circuit around.
 
Hello fellow Eros users, My Eros is finally fully broken in and like so many of you, I just can't leave well enough alone. Bought a pair of Telefunken Chrome Plate Red top EF86's. Wow, they are great. Everything is clearer, more forward. They also seem to have a tad more gain. Totally musical. Looking to experiment further, but I can't imagine it can get much better.

Alan
 
It's pretty easy. It helps to have extra grid stoppers at home as it's easier to replace than move them. Grainger posted a how to already. Take a look through the Eros phono pages.
 
Hello All,

I am always looking for something that might add a little extra to my Eros.  So I got on E-Bay  and found some Telefunken EF86.  Just got them in, put them in my Eros and listened to Dire Straights "Brothers in Arms" LP.  While it was not a huge change, the clarity and separation has taken the Eros to the next level.  Plus, I noticed the bass is deeper and tighter.    I cannot imagine it getting much better than what I have right now.  Thanks to all who made the above recommendation. 

So I would say this is a definite worthwhile upgrade.  I think with this upgrade and my previous capacitor upgrade I am done with the Eros modifications. 

Richard
 
After some extended conversation with Aaron(johnsonad), I've tried some some 6DJ8's in place of the stock 6922. Currently running a Dutch made RCA along with the Telefunken EF86s. Mind blowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaron also pointed me toward Brent Jessee( www.audiotubes.com) where he recommended an Amperex 1964 6DJ8 that Brent calls "butt ugly" for $35. Prettier ones are very sought after and can run around $100 or more. Haven't had a chance to try it yet, but will soon. Don't know if it can get better than what I'm hearing now.

Debra, notice you also are using a Bob's Devices SUT. Love mine. Bob's a delightful guy to deal with. Interaction with the Eros is excellent.

Alan
 
Plug for Brent Jesse - Knows his stuff and stands by his products.  I had a 2A3 start to go bad that I purchased from him.  No questions asked other than to do basic t'shooting (switch positions of the tubes).  He only asks the original tube be shipped back to him.

Oh...I'm the "other" Aaron.  ???

 
Aarons, Pauls and other tube rollers,

Spent a lot of time tube rolling during the past few days All the stock tubes have been replaced. This is not to say my Eros did not sound    terrific in stock form. It just sounds terrificer now.

The Telefunken Chrome Plate Red Tops are still in. Tried the Butt Ugly 1964 Amperex EF86 from Brent Jesse but prefer the Dutch made RCA I was running earlier. 12BH7 is now NOS RCA.

Great fun but I'm determined to leave things alone now. It's just that good!

Alan
 
Alan,

Did you mean the butt ugly 6DJ8?

I'm thinking of picking up some different 6DJ8 variants to try and reading about others preferences are help. I'm running the 6N23P-EV tubes I had on hand. Don't have any other tubes to use in that spot.

I wired my Eros for the 6BR7, so I'm limited to one manufacturer.

Brad, the one and only.
 
Isn't Brad a car?  :o

I've got some E80F's on order from the 'bay.  Will be a few weeks before they get here from someplace far far away.

I tried an Amperex 6922 white label - didn't like it as much as the Siemens 6922 that I've left in.  I've got a bucket of single 6DJ8's to go through also.  Some I know are bum tubes but some should be ok.
 
Yes Brad, my mistake, did mean 6DJ8. All these letters and numbers, it's just too much for my feeble aged brain. Telefunkens are EF86's.
 
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