Ray Tubes
Ray Tubes RESERVE EL34 Vacuum Tube
$249.00 - $1,299.00
Canadian Shipping Details
We offer free shipping in Canada on most items when an order totals $99 or more before tax. Some exceptions apply; click here for our full shipping policy.
Estimated free shipping transit time:
- Greater Toronto Area: 1-2 business days
- Rest of Ontario: 1-3 business days
- Quebec: 2-3 business days
- Maritimes, Manitoba: 3-4 business days
- Alberta & Saskatchewan: 3-5 business days
- British Columbia: 4-6 business days
- Territories: 6-10 business days
Express options available at checkout. Orders dispatch next business day. Delivery times may be extended for remote areas.
Toronto Store Pickup
Select in-store pickup at checkout and collect your order from our store in Toronto.
Find our entrance on Bay Street, near Charles Street West. We also have a pickup area in the Manulife Centre parking garage. Click here for directions. Before coming to the store, please wait for a confirmation email indicating your order is ready for pickup.
Price Protection, Returns & Exchanges
Buy with confidence, backed by Price Protection: if our advertised price goes down within 30 days of your purchase, contact us and we'll refund the difference.
Most stock items may be returned within 14 days, or exchanged within 30 days. Some exceptions apply; click here for our full return policy.
Description
SELECT EL34
The SELECT EL34 is the best EL34 vacuum tube you’ll ever need. It goes above and beyond the baseline with more involved production and stricter selection, all in pursuit of superior sound. The SELECT Collection brings out the best in all your favorites.
Hand selected and tested, the Ray Tubes SELECT EL34 features gold pins for corrosion resistance and improved conduction. The SELECT Collection is a substantial upgrade from both New Old Stock and other new production tubes. Fewer than 5% of production meets our standards.
The EL34 is a power pentode vacuum tube that was introduced by Mullard in 1955 and is usually found in an amplifier’s final output stage. Befitting its British origins, the EL34 was commonly used in amps built by companies like Marshall and Vox—as such, it became associated with British music of that era.
Sound Characteristics
The SELECT EL34 offers strong bass performance and rich mid-to-high frequency detail, perfect for users seeking balanced sound and detailed performance, particularly suited for complex compositions and large dynamic music playback.
Bass Performance
Solid and elastic, with moderate extension and very clear low-end response. Clean and powerful low frequencies with great control in the bass make it suitable for genres like rock and electronic music.
Midrange Performance
Full and natural, with excellent linearity and a warm, expressive tone. Vocals especially are delicate and realistic, with clearly presented layers and note articulation.
Treble Performance
Clear and bright, with rich detail and good extension. The high frequencies provide great transparency without being overly aggressive or sharp, maintaining a well-balanced sound suitable for extended listening sessions.
Dynamics and Soundstage
The dynamic range is expansive, particularly in large dynamic contrasts, with accurate rendering of musical shifts. The soundstage is wide, with precise imaging and strong layering, ideal for large-scale music compositions and deep spatial reproduction.
The SELECT Collection
SELECT brings out the best in all your favourites. It goes above and beyond the baseline with more involved production and stricter selection, all in pursuit of superior sound.
Above and Beyond
Every tube we sell is carefully produced and tested to make sure it’s good enough for audio applications. At Ray Tubes, that goes without saying. The SELECT Collection is about more than that. It’s not just good enough for audio—it brings out the best in audio, revealing all those hidden details you thought you’d never hear.
Not being content with industry-standard production methods, we’ve tweaked our manufacturing process. We’ve used better materials—like gold pins for improved durability and longevity. Most importantly, we’ve enlisted audio engineers to listen to our tubes and make sure only the very best get the coveted SELECT label.
The SELECT Collection takes the reliability and consistency of the CORE Collection as its starting point, then sets its sights on one goal: superior, more nuanced sound. Simple as that.
Chosen By Audio Engineers
The SELECT Collection is the best of the best. We know — you’ve heard that before, but we mean it literally. We only sell the best tubes in each of our manufacturing batches. (The others never see the light of day.) SELECT tubes? They’re the best of those.
We don’t trust just anyone to make that choice. It’s about more than gain and transconductance and other electrical characteristics. Those are useful guides, but we know they don’t tell the full story. Instead, we rely on something you can’t put a number on: expert opinion.
Our audio engineers have decades of experience and they’re involved in the selection process from start to finish. That includes the crucial final step: listening sessions under real-world conditions.
Our thorough quality control is why we can offer the Ray Tubes One Year Warranty. If you buy a NOS tube that turns out to be a dud, there’s nothing you can do. With the SELECT Collection, you’ll have peace of mind.
Unlock Your Amp’s Full Potential
Testing vacuum tubes in real-life audio equipment shouldn’t be revolutionary, but here we are. We know the Ray Tubes SELECT Collection will sound incredible in your amp because it sounds incredible in our amp.
Have you ever felt like your vacuum tubes are holding your whole system back? You’re not alone. It’s right there in the name—“amp”. Tubes are where the amplification happens. That’s why poor quality tubes hold you back.
The SELECT Collection helps your system reach its peak potential. With a lower noise floor and detailed, nuanced sound, SELECT tubes make good amps sound great and great amps sound sublime.
More Details
The Ray Tubes One Year Warranty
Most vacuum tubes are notoriously fickle. That’s why warranties are rare. But we trust our products and we’re proud to offer our One Year Warranty against manufacturing defects. Click here for details.
Compatible Amps
Click here to explore Ray Tubes' Tube Amp Compatibility List.
Package Contents
- Set of four, two, or single vacuum tube
- User handbook featuring burn-in guidelines
- Certificate of authenticity and warranty
Technical Specifications
Tube Type: EL34
Tube Socket: 8-pin
Max Anode Dissipation Power: 25 W
Max Screen Dissipation Power: 8 W
Output Power in Class A1 Amp (Single Tube): Greater than 10 W
Output Power in Class AB1 Amp: Greater than 35 W
Max Anode Voltage: 800 V
Max Screen Voltage: 500 V
Max Grid Voltage: ~15 V
Heater Voltage: 6.3 V
Heater Current: 1.5 A
Transconductance: 11 mA/V
Amplification Factor: 11
Internal Resistance: 15 kΩ
Tetrode Connection
Screen Voltage: 250 V
Anode Voltage: 250 V
Anode Current: 140 mA
Grid Voltage: 15 V
Grid Current: 3 mA
Internal Resistance: 12 kΩ
Amplification Factor: 8
Triode Connection
Anode Voltage: 250 V
Anode Current: 143 mA
Grid Voltage: 15 V
Internal Resistance: 670 Ω
Amplification Factor: 8
Specs
Dimensions
About Ray Tubes
Warranty
The Ray Tubes One Year Warranty
This warranty covers manufacturing defects for twelve months after purchase. We believe that everyone who buys our tubes deserves at least a year of quality, hassle-free sound, and if our tubes get in the way of your bliss, we'll make it right. Click here for more details.
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Personal Attention, Expert Advice
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Service Department
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