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Philips Audio Tubes

(Valvo Amperex Mullard)

Logos and Labels

Characteristics

Understand Codes

Common Labels
Label Colors

ECC81

ECC82
ECC83
E88CC

EF86

EL34

EL84

EZ80/81

GZ34

Other Tubes

Go to Sie/Tel EL34

EL34 Tube Amps A-K

EL34 Tube Amps L-Z

Some EL34 history

 

The EL34 Gallery     6CA7   E34L   CV1741   KT77

           
 

 

  The story of the developement of the EL34 tube is not short. Coming from the first Tetrodes Valvo got the patents for the pentode in 1927. The first working popular pentodes were the AL5 and EL5 in 1937.

Then they introduced the

- 4688 and 4689 in 1940 the

- EL60 and EL61 (having the same characteristics as EL34s but with

  different socket) and finally the

- EL34 in 1954.

  Do not regard the labels or logos. The Philips EL34 is the best example for the fact, that they stamped on the tubes whatever they wanted or concerning where they want to sell them.

All shown tubes have the following common charecteristics (except where otherwise noted):

   - welded plates
   - center hole in guiding pin

 

  Tubes from dutch production   Tubes from British production by Mullard
           
  Eindhoven, NL

1954

  Blackburn UK

1958-1961

  Philips EL34 6CA7 with large metal base EL60 Einhoven

Code: 5X KEX

Identified by:

- flat ring getter

- extended metal base

Comment:

Extremely rare. This is an EL60 with an octal socket adapter!

  Mullard EL34 6CA7 with large big base Blackburn xf1 code double ring getter

Code: xf1 BXX

Identified by:

- double ring getter

- base larger than glass

Comment:

Rare. There are 7 different large bases. Some without hole in guiding pin!

   

 

       
  Eindhoven, NL

1954

  Blackburn UK

1962-1968

  Philips EL34 6CA7 with metal base Einhoven SYA code

Code: 5X SYA

Identified by:

- flat ring + disc getter

- black metal base

Comment:

Ultra rare. Samples found with 5O, 5W and 5X code.

  Mullard Philips EL34 6CA7 with dark brown base Blackburn xf2 code double ring getter

Code: xf2 BXXX

Identified by:

- double ring getter

- dark brown base

Comment:

Quite common type. Good sound from these!

   

 

       
  Eindhoven, NL

Dec. 1954 - 1956 (1957?)

  Blackburn UK

1969-1970

Philips Valvo EL34 6CA7 with black metal base Einhoven SY0 SYO SYN code

Code: 5XX SY0 or 5X SYN

Identified by:

- one piece disc getter

- black metal base

Comment:

Very rare. SY0 Samples found from 54K until 56F, but also one from 57A (Jan. 1957) and SYNs: 5D and 5F

Mullard Philips EL34 6CA7 with dark brown base Blackburn xf2 code single ring getter welded plates

Code: xf2 B9XX or B0XX

Identified by:

- single ring getter

- dark brown base

Comment:

Common type.

 

 

 

       
  Eindhoven, NL

1956

  Blackburn UK

1971-1973

  Philips Valvo EL34 6CA7 with brown metal base Einhoven SY1 code

Code: 56K SY1

Identified by:

- two piece disc getter

- lighter brown metal base

Comment:

Ultra rare. 2 samples found:

both with SY1 56K code

  Mullard Philips EL34 6CA7 with black base Blackburn xf2 code ring getter

Code: xf2 B1XX B2XX B3XX

Identified by:

- single ring getter

- black base

Comment:

Common type.

 

           
  Eindhoven, NL

1956 - 1957

  Blackburn UK

1973-1975

 

Code: 56X/57X SY0/1

Identified by:

- one piece disc getter

- darker brown metal base

Comment:

Very rare. Also found with 56K SY1 code !!!

  Mullard Philips EL34 6CA7 with black base Blackburn xf3 code ring getter 10 dents on top spacer

Code: xf3 BXXX

Identified by:

- 10 dents on top spacer

- folded plates (stapled)

Comment:

Late tubes - quite rare !!!

           
  Sittard, NL

1957-1962

  Blackburn UK

1976-1980

  Philips Valvo EL34 6CA7 with brown bakkelite base Sittard DD-Getter D-D xf3 code

Code: xf3 L7X - LXX

Identified by:

- DD getter

- brown bakkelite base

Comment:

Quite rare - great sound. Maybe my favourite one!!

  Mullard Philips EL34 6CA7 with black base Blackburn xf4 code ring getter 4 dents on top spacer folded plates

Code: xf4 BXXX

Identified by:

- 4 dents on top spacer

- folded plates (stapled)

Comment:

Last EL34 made by the Philips company.

   

 

       
Sittard, NL

1957-1962

  Philips Valvo EL34 6CA7 with brown bakkelite base Sittard DD-Getter D-D xf4 xf5 code

Code: xf4/5 L7X - LXX

Identified by:

- DD getter

- brown bakkelite base

Comment:

Quite rare - great sound. Maybe my favourite one!!

     
 

Tubes from German production

     
Hamburg

1954 - 1956

  Philips Valvo EL34 6CA7 Hamburg metal base SYA code flat ring getter

Code: SYA DX

Identified by:

- flat ring getter !!!

- black metal base

Comment:

Ultra rare! I found DB, DK, DM, D5, D6 coded samples.

     
           
 

!!! FAKES !!!

   

!!! FAKES !!!

!!! FAKES !!!

 

You don't believe that there are fakes circulating? So look at these pictures! The xf code looks self made, no D-Getter and the hole in the guiding pin was made with a drilling machine!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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