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04/30/24 at 19:38:04

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RFT EL84/6BQ5 … anyone? (Read 240 times)

My Name is Earl

Verified Member

Posts: 15

RFT EL84/6BQ5 … anyone?
04/02/24 at 18:00:49

I am considering a second SE84UFO and strapping both to mono, thus amplifying with monoblocks. So far I have pairs of rectifiers that I have tested and set aside as “best” for the project.

As for output tubes, I have been running 7189 preferred series from Thetubestore which I like a lot.

I’ve come across the RFT EL84/6BQ5 (NOS)and am curious about them but found no reference on the forum for anyone having tried them.

I would appreciate any opinions on them as RFT tubes are generally well regarded.

Earl

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CAJames

Seasoned Member

"I've run every
red light on memory
lane."

Posts: 1690

Re: RFT EL84/6BQ5 … anyone?
Reply #1 - 04/02/24 at 18:44:45

Yes, RFT tubes are generally well regarded. They are (mostly) made in the former East Germany, and if not exactly Telefunken or Siemens quality they are solid European made tubes from the golden age of tube tech.

I personally haven't had good results with EL84 type tubes, but that is JMO/FWIW/YMMV and all that. Good luck with your monobloc project, I had a pair of UFOs configured as balanced mono and they were so good I had to replace them with a pair of UFO25s. You've been warned

[FOOBAR2000 | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E
Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Senn HD-650

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My Name is Earl

Verified Member

Posts: 15

Re: RFT EL84/6BQ5 … anyone?
Reply #2 - 04/03/24 at 19:32:57

“ a pair of UFOs configured as balanced mono and they were so good I had to replace them with a pair of UFO25s. You've been warned”
Ha! I hadn’t coinsidered the balanced option, so now I’m RUINED! My preamp is the fabulous Lab12 Pre 1 which has balanced output as well as single ended. So NOW I am going to add that option to my build specs.

Sigh.

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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 1690	Re: RFT EL84/6BQ5 … anyone? Reply #3 - 04/03/24 at 19:38:20 Yes, balanced mono is pretty awesome. A couple of other posters have done it and (AFAIK) none of them have any regrets. If you haven't already check out page 17 of the UFO manual for details.
Back to top	[FOOBAR2000 \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Senn HD-650 IP Logged

Dominick

Seasoned Member

Still like that old
time Rock and Roll!!

Posts: 1165

Re: RFT EL84/6BQ5 … anyone?
Reply #4 - 04/03/24 at 23:21:12

Earl,

I strapped a matched pair of fully upgraded SE84C+ amps into a mono block setup. Be prepared for audio nirvana. You’ll have plenty of power to push most speakers to normal listening levels with headroom to spare. Having the ability to independently adjust the volume level for each speaker is great, especially for untreated/imperfect rooms.

Dom

Rasp. Pi 4 [Roon], Schiit Bifrost True Multibit DAC, ZBIT, ZROCK2, My Audio Cables Ultra Silver+, ZSB, CSP2+ 25th, DAG Cables, DHC1, Torii MKIV 25th /2 White Zen SE84C+ 25th mono’s, Rega P2 Turntable,Rega Fono MK5, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood]

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My Name is Earl

Verified Member

Posts: 15

Re: RFT EL84/6BQ5 … anyone?
Reply #5 - 04/04/24 at 18:40:54

It appears this hole for rabbits is pretty deep …

Thanks guys for the encouragement regarding going mono. My UFO sounds great now with the tubes I’ve rolled and in the rest of the system I’ve assembled.

I’m waiting for some carbon panels from Acoustic Fields (for low frequency management) to be delivered. My room is small so I’m not expecting to be able to achieve perfection, and I’ll need a different solution for 125Hz+.

I don’t want to make any significant changes to gear until the room treatment is completed.

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