Beyond the Ordinary

The CORE EL84 delivers everything you know and love about tube audio. With modern production and uncompromising selection processes ensuring reliability and consistency, the Ray Tubes CORE Collection is all you need for years of audio bliss.

Hand selected and tested, the Ray Tubes CORE EL84 vacuum tube is manufactured with modern production and selection processes for reliability and consistency. The CORE Collection leaves the uncertainty of the New Old Stock market behind and makes uneven performance and tube failures a thing of the past.

The EL84 is a power pentode vacuum tube introduced in 1953. Its original purpose was to eliminate the need for a separate drive tube in cheap radio equipment, but it quickly found a place in music history as a component in guitar amps like the legendary Vox AC30, favoured by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, and countless other bands.

Sound Characteristics

The CORE EL84 offers a natural and clean sonic experience, ideal for users who value vocal clarity and tonal balance. It pairs well with a variety of low to mid-power systems.

1. Bass Performance
   Relatively tight, with a decent sense of speed and moderate quantity. While it doesn’t emphasize deep bass extension, it delivers a clean and punchy response. Well-suited for rhythm-driven genres like pop and light rock.
2. Midrange Performance
   Smooth and warm, with clear definition and an intimate vocal presence. It brings out the charm in female vocals and small ensemble instruments.
3. Treble Performance
   The highs extend moderately, presenting details in a straightforward yet non-fatiguing manner. Overall, smooth and easy on the ears, making it ideal for long listening sessions.
4. Dynamics and Soundstage
   Dynamics are moderately elastic, with decent microdetail performance, a good fit for simpler arrangements. The soundstage is focused and precise, making it suitable for near-field listening environments.

Technical Specifications

• Tube Type: EL84 / 6BQ5
• Tube Socket: 9-pin

Heater

• Heater Voltage: 6.3 V
• Heater Current: 0.76 A
  

Maximum Ratings

• Anode Voltage: 500 V
• Anode Dissipation Power: 12 W
• Screen Grid Voltage: 300 V
• Screen Grid Dissipation Power: 2 W
• Cathode Current: 65 mA
• Control Grid Voltage: –100 V
• Heater-Cathode Voltage: ±100 V

Grid Circuit Resistance

• Fixed Bias: 0.3 MΩ
• Self Bias: 1 MΩ

Interelectrode Capacitance

• Input Capacitance: 10.8 pF
• Output Capacitance: 6.5 pF
• Transfer Capacitance: 0.5 pF
• Grid-to-Heater Capacitance: 0.25 pF

Misc. Operating Parameters

• Anode Voltage: 256 V
• Screen Voltage: 256 V
• Cathode Resistor: 120 Ω
• Anode Current: 48 mA
• Screen Current: 7 mA
• Transconductance: ≥9 mA/V
• Internal Resistance: 38 kΩ
• Amplification Factor: 19

Package Contents

• Set of two, or single vacuum tube
• User handbook featuring burn-in guidelines
• Certificate of authenticity and warranty

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. For more details, check out our warranty page.