Ray Vacuum Tube – EL84 Core

The EL84 is a power pentode vacuum tube introduced in 1953. Its original purpose was to eliminate the need for a separate driver 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.

Product highlights

The Ray Tubes CORE Collection delivers everything you know and love
about tube audio with reliability and consistency. CORE is all you need for
years of audio bliss.

• Designed and manufactured by a team with decades of experience
• Hand-selected specifically for use in audio applications
• Substantially more consistent performance than New Old Stock
• Unlike NOS and most other new production, covered by the Ray Tubes One Year Warranty

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.

• The bass is right, with a clean and punchy response. Good for genres like
  pop and light rock.
• The midrange frequencies are smooth and warm, bringing out the charm
  in small ensemble instruments and vocals, especially female vocals.
• The treble performance is detailed and non-fatiguing, making it smooth
  and easy on the ears over longer listening sessions.
• The dynamics are a good fit for simpler arrangements, while the soundstage is focused and precise.

The Ray Tubes Philosophy

Tube audio has brought audiophiles together for decades, but in recent years, itʼs become more difficult to access than ever. Ray Tubes is on a mission to change that. With rigorous quality control standards backed by the Ray Tubes One Year Warranty, Ray Tubes is making reliable, consistent vacuum tubes accessible to everyone—audiophiles old and new, musicians, retailers and amp designers around the world, and why not, even that one guy who just thinks tubes look cool on his shelf.

The bottom line: Ray Tubes puts in the work so you can experience the warm,
vintage sound of tube audio without the hassle.

Quality Control

Each tube undergoes a seven-step quality control process, including a 24-hour burn-in period, stress tests to minimise microphonics, and critical parameters that are carefully measured to ensure consistency and accurate matching. Finally, sound engineers assess each tube under real-world listening conditions.

By the end of the quality control process, only 5% of tubes commissioned
for production meet Ray Tubesʼ standards.

Ray Tubes Warranty

Books have been written about the countless ways vacuum tubes can and do fail. With most manufacturers, and all New Old Stock, a tube failure leaves the user high and dry. Ray Tubes is different. All Ray Tubes products are backed by the Ray Tubes One Year Warranty, which covers manufacturing defects for twelve months from the date of purchase.