Tube Ratings and what they all mean.....

[fluff191]

I have searched high and low for an answer to my question but have found nothing to specific.

I ordered some EL34's for my Dual Recto a while back and asked them to be rated accordingly. They came with stickers on each of the boxes that have "35" handwritten on a sticker. I assumed that this was for the voltage that is set for my amp.

Then I go to order a set of 6L6's, and instead of saying "52" or whatever, they all say 14 (LA)...Is this right? The tubes sound very cold and channel 2 and 3 have half volume and about half gain.

So what is (LA), (GA) and (GM) in terms of tube ratings????? Are they related? Any help is apperciated guys.

 

[stephen sawall]

Who did you get the tubes from ? What else does it say on the tube ?
Most of the time the numbers on a tube is only stock numbers so they can trace runs. Does it say any place on the tube or the box that is what it is rated ?

 

[fluff191]

They all say 14.1(la) and around 2400(gm)......

I'm just having the guy send me a new set, cause there is something wrong with these but I dont know what.

 

[stephen sawall]

Who are you getting the tubes from ?

 

[fluff191]

An eBay store. I have gotten lots of sets before and never had a problem. He sent out another set today and has been very good to deal with.

 

[Koreth]

the 14.1 la sounds like plate current to me and the gm sounds like a transconductance rating.