NAD: the mighty Dual Terror

[GingerTerror]

Got a used Dual Terror a little while ago on a trade and am thinking of putting some fresh power tubes in. Anyone out there try the JJ EL844's yet? Was curious about the lower output power. Currently running Tungsol's in the the preamp.

[Ronnie Robinson]

Got a used Dual Terror a little while ago on a trade and am thinking of putting some fresh power tubes in. Anyone out there try the JJ EL844's yet? Was curious about the lower output power. Currently running Tungsol's in the the preamp.

I've not used them but have used tungsol preamps in many Orange amps and I think they are excellent. The internet view on those lower powered JJs seems very mixed.....

I take it the amp is too loud for your use ...

[GingerTerror]

It's primarily just being used at home so even the seven watt mode can get pretty loud. Was more of a curiosity than anything else. I guess if there really isn't that big of a difference I was gonna spend less and get standard JJ 84's or spend a little more and get some TungSol's. The volume of the amp though pretty loud for a bedroom type setting isn't exactly a problem. Just curious if anyone had tried them.

[Les Paul Lover]

To be honest, 7w is very loud already - and 30w isn't twice as loud...... You'd need a 70w rated terror to have an amp sounding twice as loud.

The JJ EL84 are rated as 25% lower power, which would bring your amp from 7w to 5.25w at max clean volume on the lowest power setting - roughly as loud a s a trumpet at full blast. This isn't quiet, and if you live in an apartment, your neighbours wouldn't be happy at all. Let's not forget, depending on your cab, that with a Celestion V30, 1w power will produce 100db at 1 meter from the speaker.

Where the EL844 would really make a difference, imo, is if you're asked to turn down a touch by the sound men when gigging, and you feel like you're losing the cooking power valve magic. That's really all it is about. If you aren't pushing your power valves into overdrive anyway, and are happy with your sound, there's probably very little to gain as you are happy with your preamp valve OD.

Of course, experimenting is nice, and you may find out that cooking power valve is your thing..... But even with 25% less power, it'll still be loud.

[Martin Maniac]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.