[leftside]

Is it just me or are tall dark and handsome pentodes almost as visually stunning as is the glorious the sound they produce. Here are Siemens EL11 driving Ken-Rad 6Y6G, a warm but clean sounding combination which is quite musical:

Indeed I find that whole family of tubes EL11/EL12/EL3N/EL6/EL33/6M6G/etc to be on the slightly warmer side - with the exception of the Telefunken. All great tubes.

 

[bcowen]

Is it just me or are tall dark and handsome pentodes almost as visually stunning as is the glorious the sound they produce. Here are Siemens EL11 driving Ken-Rad 6Y6G, a warm but clean sounding combination which is quite musical:

Not just you. Those are some gorgeous tubes. And I'm a triode guy, even.

 

[UntilThen]

Indeed I find that whole family of tubes EL11/EL12/EL3N/EL6/EL33/6M6G/etc to be on the slightly warmer side - with the exception of the Telefunken. All great tubes.

Did I hear mention of EL11? My ears pick up at the mention of that tube because my amp drivers are custom made for it. I had my share of EL3N in Elise and Euforia but it's the more neutral, transparent EL11 that has all my attention. So much so I wanted them as alternate drivers in my tube amp Odyssey.

These Telefunken EL11 in straight jackets arrived today. I have to spend the next 15 mins cleaning them with wet ones, tissues, then the once over with Deoxit D100L Red and G100L Gold.

So now they present like new.


Next to the coke bottle EL11 so you can see the size.

 

[UntilThen]

Now for the listening test. I swear they sounded more linear than the coke bottle or it could be my imagination. In the setup with Tung Sol 6550 and Sittard EZ34 rectifier, these straight Telefunken EL11 sounded incredible with Odyssey switch to ultralinear mode with feedback on. Headphone is He1000se with NAD M51 dac on duty. As good if not better than the GEC A2900 next to it. However they are different sound signatures. I love them all !!!

Song I'm listening to - Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy. I get emotionally stirred when I listen to this.

 

[UntilThen]

Listening to the remix Sadeness from Enigma and I'm ready to nominate the TFK EL11 black straight glass for the next Academy Awards !

Strange I still feel very excited receiving tubes after 5 years of tube madness but I'm selective now.

 

[UntilThen]

How does a lighted black glass look like? Straight from Diablo theme !

 

[leftside]

Did I hear mention of EL11? My ears pick up at the mention of that tube because my amp drivers are custom made for it. I had my share of EL3N in Elise and Euforia but it's the more neutral, transparent EL11 that has all my attention.

EL11 and EL3N are meant to be the same tube, just with different bases. Obviously different manufacturers and factories may sound different though.

"Other base:
6M6G ; EL33 ; EL3N"
https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_el11.html

 

[UntilThen]

EL11 and EL3N are meant to be the same tube, just with different bases. Obviously different manufacturers and factories may sound different though.

"Other base:
6M6G ; EL33 ; EL3N"
https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_el11.html

They do sound different and it's not subtle. EL3N is certainly warmer and EL11 is clearer to put it simply. That difference alone is a pretty stark contrast to my ears.

I had 10 EL3Ns at one stage because I was so into it with Elise. That said others might find it useful in their setups.

Jan 2016. How time flies.

 

[triod750]

EL3N is certainly warmer and EL11 is clearer to put it simply.

How much of this is 'factory sound'? Are both types available from the same manufacturer?

 

[UntilThen]

How much of this is 'factory sound'? Are both types available from the same manufacturer?

EL3N is from Philips Miniwatt and EL11 is from Telefunken. Different base and different sound signature for sure. Telefunken has it's sound signature and Philips Miniwatt has it's own sound signature but that is generalising.

For instance I don't think I have heard a Telefunken tube that I would categorise as warm.

 

[triod750]

For instance I don't think I have heard a Telefunken tube that I would categorise as warm.

Agree, and this was my point or rather my question. I have no experience of my own with these tubes.

 

[UntilThen]

Dang dang dang. That the opening chords of Beethoven 5th symphony. Excitement abounds with the arrival of this package from Jack Woo.

 

[leftside]

They do sound different and it's not subtle. EL3N is certainly warmer and EL11 is clearer to put it simply. That difference alone is a pretty stark contrast to my ears.

Would be more accurate to say "They do sound different and it's not subtle. Philips EL3N is certainly warmer and Telefunken EL11 is clearer to put it simply." I totally agree with you If Philips made an EL11 and an EL3N at the same time, then they would sound the same, because they would be the same tubes, but simply with different bases.

They are all fun to try. I believe Telefunken only made the EL11.... so if you want to listen to one of those, you will either need to use adapters, or do what UntilThen did and have a custom amp made. Looks like others have done the same as well:
http://glowinthedarkaudio.com/el-11.html

Mullard EL33 and Visseaux 6M6G are also worthwhile trying.

@gibosi I see RFT EL11 for sale. Do you think RFT actually made those, or maybe they are rebranded Telefunken?

 

[UntilThen]

Oh for crying out loud. Jack gave me the wrong adapter after we clarified. I needed a 5 pins into my amp but the adapter came with 8 pins.

But the tube is brand spanking new. Pity I can't use it until I sort this out with Jack.



See my amp. It needs 5 pins.

 

[gibosi]

Would be more accurate to say "They do sound different and it's not subtle. Philips EL3N is certainly warmer and Telefunken EL11 is clearer to put it simply." I totally agree with you If Philips made an EL11 and an EL3N at the same time, then they would sound the same, because they would be the same tubes, but simply with different bases.

They are all fun to try. I believe Telefunken only made the EL11.... so if you want to listen to one of those, you will either need to use adapters, or do what UntilThen did and have a custom amp made. Looks like others have done the same as well:
http://glowinthedarkaudio.com/el-11.html

Mullard EL33 and Visseaux 6M6G are also worthwhile trying.

@gibosi I see RFT EL11 for sale. Do you think RFT actually made those, or maybe they are rebranded Telefunken?

I suspect that RFT actually did make the EL11. However, in the chaos after the war, RFT acquired the former Telefunken factory located in Neuhaus. And in my experience, at least with rectifiers, RFT tubes look and sound very similar to Telefunken. So I wouldn't be surprised if the EL11 sounds like a Telefunken. After all, it likely was made using Telefunken assembly line equipment.