This new old stock-testing matched pair of O-Getter RFT-MANUFACTURED EL34 / 6CA7 tubes was tested on our Maxi-Matcher 2 tube tester in real world conditions with 400 volts on the plates and a bias of -36 volts.
Tube One (MISSING CENTERING PIN, MARKED FOR SAFE AND EASY INSERTION) drew 36 milliamps' plate current while Tube Two's was 38. Transconductance measured 5200 and 5040 micromhos, respectively. (New nominal is within one standard deviation of 5000.
This type of EL34 tube is most-closely-associated with Siemens and Telefunken. Siemens never actually made EL34s. And although Telefunken did make EL34s, they re-branded RFTs later on as they began to close down tube production.
I mentioned Telefunken and Siemens in the title of this listing for information purposes. Take a look at the eight-hole plate structure in these tubes and then compare either Telefunken or Siemens EL34s on that other web site that used to be the world's flea market. You are likely to see RFTs listed as either Telefunken or Siemens but without a clearer explanation.
I have played them in my Dynaco ST-70 and they sound terrific.
BECAUSE OF THE BIZARRE, INTRUSIVE, PETTY AND DRACONIAN GERMAN PACKAGING REGULATIONS -- AND THE SEVERE FINES AND PRIVACY INTRUSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM -- WE NO LONGER SHIP TO GERMAN ADDRESSES. WE WILL HAPPILY SEND YOUR PACKAGE TO A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY OR MAKE SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS.
IN 2021 WE PURCHASED 150,000 VACUUM TUBES. IF IT'S NOT LISTED, WE PROBABLY HAVE IT. PLEASE ALSO SEE OUT ETSY SISTER SITE "LOWTECHTWOO" AND/OR CALL OR TEXT US AT 202-372-6931 IF YOU DO NOT SEE WHAT YOU NEED OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
1. MOST OF THE TUBES WE SELL ARE OVER 50 YEARS OLD. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE FOR FAILURES AFTER POWER UP AS THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE HOW TUBES WILL INTERACT WITH YOUR ELECTRONICS OR IF THEY WERE MISTREATED IN TRANSIT; NOR IS THERE A WAY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY MAY HAVE FATAL FLAWS! WE CAN ONLY TEST FOR THE PARAMETERS MENTIONED ABOVE. WE CANNOT TEST FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF A TUBE FAILS AFTER YOU GET IT, IT IS YOUR TUBE THAT HAS FAILED. THERE IS A .1 % CHANCE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. BE WARNED. NO REFUNDS IN SUCH CASES.
2. IN OVER 7000 SALES, WE HAVE HAD FEWER THAN A DOZEN LESS-THAN-FOUR-STAR REVIEWS OR HAVE LOST A CUSTOMER BECAUSE I REFUSED TO EITHER ISSUE A REFUND FOR A TUBE THAT WENT BAD AFTER IT HAD BEEN USED OR A BUYER KNEW NOTHING ABOUT TUBE REBRANDING AND CLAIMED THAT SOMETHING MADE BY TUNG-SOL AND BRANDED BY EMERSON WAS MADE BY EMERSON, AN ELECTRONICS COMPANY THAT NEVER MADE TUBES!
3. TUBES ARE GUARANTEED GOOD ON SHIPMENT. IF YOU FEAR DAMAGE OR LOSS OF PARCEL IN TRANSIT, PLEASE INSURE THEM! OUR SHIPPING RESPONSIBILITY ENDS WHEN THE PARCEL IS ACCEPTED AND SCANNED BY THE US POSTAL SERVICE. ETSY IS CLEAR ON THIS. SOMETIMES THERE ARE INITIAL SCANNING DELAYS. WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION YOU DO AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL WITH THE USPS SHOULD THERE BE DELAYS OR LOSS OF A SCANNED PACKAGE. PLEASE BE PATIENT FOR THE FIRST DAY OR TWO IF THE PACKAGE IS STILL MARKED AS "PRE-TRANSIT." WE SHIP THE DAY AFTER THE SALE IF THE SALE WAS AFTER 9:30 AM EASTERN TIME.
4. THIS IS NOT AMAZON. THERE WILL BE NO REPLACEMENTS FOR LOST PACKAGES OR TUBES THAT FAIL. IN PRACTICE THIS MEANS YOU TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LOSS IF THE PACKAGE IS MARKED AS "IN TRANSIT" OR AS "DELIVERED." MAIL GETS MISPLACED, STOLEN AND LOST. SOME COUNTRIES DO NOT HAVE INTERNAL TRACKING. CHINA IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE. IF YOUR COUNTRY IS SIMILAR, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INTERACT WITH YOUR CUSTOMS AND POSTAL AUTHORITIES TO FIND THE PACKAGE. CUSTOMS DELAYS CAN ADD WEEKS TO DELIVERIES.
5. I BUY TUBES IN BULK. 10-15% OF THEM ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH END AUDIO APPLICATIONS. THAT LOSS RATE IS REFLECTED IN OUR PRICES. I LISTEN TO THESE TUBES IN TUBE EQUIPMENT. SOMETIMES TUBES THAT TEST WELL HAVE PROBLEMS AND SOUND AWFUL. THAT IS ALL I CAN DO. IF THERE WERE A TEST FOR FUTURE FAILURE, I WOULD USE IT. THERE ISN'T. THERE IS RISK IN LIFE. THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER MADE. THERE ARE NO MANUFACTURERS TO TAKE PRODUCT BACK BECAUSE OF DESIGN FAILURES OR QUALITY-CONTROL ISSUES. THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT CYCLE IS OVER.