(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading...In 1959 Tung-Sol developed a premium, up-rated version of the 6BQ5/EL84 for use in industrial and military circuits. This tube was designated 7189. Due to its higher plate voltage rating and increased clean headroom, it became a favorite power tube for use in medium power stereo amplifiers and receivers made by H. H. Scott, Sherwood, Fisher, Lafayette, and many other hi-fi manufacturers. It was also used in high-end guitar amplifiers manufactured by Magnatone. Due to its increased ratings, it was considered as an upgrade for 6BQ5/EL84 amplifiers for increased performance and reliability.
The original 7189 tube production ceased in the early 1980s and vintage 7189 tubes have become expensive and hard to find. In order to allow these fine vintage 7189 amplifiers and receivers to continue be used, the Tung-Sol 7189 tube has been reissued. The 7189 Tung-Sol® reissue is built to the same specifications as the original 7189 Tung-Sol for the high fidelity and performance expected from the vintage 7189 amplifiers and receivers produced in the 1960s and 1970s.
This is definitely one of the best new production EL84 tubes. Structurally very similar to the 6P14P-ER (including grid fins to help with heat dissipation) and definitely can handle a higher voltage as specified by 7189 specs. I pushed it to 400 volts without red plating.
Sound-wise the tube is very similar to its predecessor, the ER tube. Very transparent tube that just lets the preamp tubes shine – gets out of the way, but adds great bass and sweet and smooth top end. It’s great to see new production/reissue tubes. Since 6p14p-ER is becoming rarer and rarer, this is a very good replacement.