Mullard EL34 No Cryo Reviews

4.7 Rating 80 Reviews
Read Upscale Audio Reviews
Visit Product Page

Phone:

909.931.9686

Location:

2058 Wright Avenue,
2058 Wright Avenue
California
91750

Following up. It’s been about a month and everything I stated on the original holds true. Very happy with the product. Plus it’s always a pleasure working with Upscale.
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Fabulous. Could not be happier with the product and service. Replaced the PL EL34 stock tubes in the Prologue Premium Integrated. Smoother sound. Instruments and notes are more distinct. Vocals just float above the speakers. Louis are louder. Softs are softer. Amp plays louder with out breaking up. Better in every way. I am ‘shocked’ (pun kind of intended) at the improvement. Power tubes definitely made a huge difference in my system.
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Author didn't leave any comments.
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
My amp is an almost stock, except for a solid state rectifier, Dynaco St70. I put a matched, cryoed Reissue "Mullard" quad in to see if they beat the mismatched pairs that came with the St70 -2 original double o getter Mullard xf2, and two JJ El34. The Reissue "Mullards" have a ton of power and resolution, are quiet, and create a big soundstage. But they have none of the sweet midrange punch and room filling warmth of the Mullard -JJ mix. After running the reissue "Mullards" for 100 hours, I wanted to see if the complete lack of Mullard Magic was just in my head, and put the mismatched quad back in. It is immediately apparent- the new tubes don't sound much at all like Mullards. In fact the JJ El34 sounds much more like the real Mullards than the new Russian tubes. Some might like the new "Mullards" but to me they are too detailed, flat and lifeless. Sadly- this reissue "Mullard" is just a name and a design scheme, but nothing close to the real thing. It's not surprising- that's why real Mullards are the Holy Grail-My search continues!
1 Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Just wanted to put my two cents in, in fact only $131.00 for four EL34 cryo treated and matching too. This tube kick,s my stock KT88,s out of the ring. The midrange is exactly what the others were saying, tight and no booming bass and a sweet midrange that gently reaches the high,s. The music sounds just like your at the music hall. Installed in my Primaluna Prologue five power amplifier, Thanks Kevin for keeping your standards High.
Helpful Report
Posted 7 years ago
Purchased a PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium from Upscale last year and along with it a quad of Tung Sol KT-120. I let the amp break in plus my ears with the stock PL EL34's and stock 12AU7's. The stock tubes are actually very good but of course we have to try different tubes. I will be quite honest so once I rolled in the KT-120's I didn't like them at all. Good bass and soundstaging but the mids/upper mids have too much glare and energy for my tastes. I let them play for several days off and on but the overall tone wasn't to my liking. I also bought some Mullard CV4003 to try in the front 2 slots but to no avail. So back in went the stock EL34's and I was happier. I also have on hand some EH KT-88 and KT-90. The 88's were worse than the 120's and the 90's sounded lifeless and boring. These tubes were from another amp so why not roll them in for evaluation I thought. I realized at this point I prefer the EL34 tone and sound. Enter some Gold Lion KT77. Now this is a good tube and very close to the EL34. It is a little energetic up top in comparison to the stock tubes plus they had to be broken in. I rolled in the Mullard CV4003 from Kevin and liked the sound better. As good as the KT77's are I knew I wanted to try the Mullard EL34. They arrived quickly as usual and I couldn't wait to listen. While the Mullards have more extension and energy than the stock PL EL34's I think they sound extremely good. In my opinion you can't go wrong with this tube especially at the price. If I had to rate them the Mullard is No 1 followed by the KT77 and not far behind is the stock PL EL34. The stock EL34 are warmer and have a fatter sound than either of the other tubes so if you prefer a really lush rounded sound and soft tone then this is the tube for you. The Mullard falls in between the PL and Gold Lion KT77. It probably is a little closer to the KT77 but has the EL34 sound I prefer along with good extension, and soundstaging. It doesn't have quite the bass punch the 77 has so I rolled in the Mullard CV4003 and viola, very nice bass and overall tone. If you are on the fence with this tube don't hesitate and buy it. I am very happy with the Mullard EL34.
1 Helpful Report
Posted 8 years ago
My first move after acquiring a Tube Amp is to get in touch with UPSCALE AUDIO. Through the years I learned that nobody is better qualified to advise me as to how best to achieve my sound objectives with a tube substitution. This time they suggested a tube priced so reasonably that I wondered if they hadn't made a mistake. Ten minutes into my first listening session with these Mullards and it was apparent that they got it right. Now, about a month later, I am so in love with the sweet detail of these tubes, that I listen all day, almost every day. My tweeter is the highly revealing Sequerra T-1 in the Calibrated Lab Version. With the Mullards, the T-1s sound sweet and detailed, with none of the harshness the "original" tubes presented. Yet the blare of trumpets presents with the raw edge that makes brass real. I could not be happier than I am with the Mullards, and the advice I got from Upscale Audio.
Helpful Report
Posted 8 years ago
After several years and multiple tube changes between Valve Art EL34, Gold Lion KT88 and KT66 reissues, I decided to stick with EL34. I replaced the 6922 at the same time with Electro Harmonix. Though somewhat hesitant to promote the surprising improvement in soundstage, I was, in fact, surprised at the difference beard by my wife and me. After a few days in my AE 25 Superamp, these have burned in nicely. I recommend!
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago