What's the greatest EL34 ever made?

[SoundCity85]

Telefunken?

Blackburn Xf2 double ring getter?

Blackburn Xf3?

RFT short base?

Metal base from Eindhoven?

Xf... from Sittard?

 

[shooter]

 
sorta like asking who made the best 7404 
If it was build to design specs, everything else is aesthetic, or smokin mirrors 

[SoundCity85]

Surely each of those tubes are made differently, and it's not just about amplification specs.

[Bieworm]

All things considered the  =C= comes to mind... but that's just performance wise..

[acheld]

The answer is:

The one you can find.

[sluckey]

sorta like asking who made the best 7404 

I know that one! It's easy... TI

[HotBluePlates]

Telefunken?

Blackburn Xf2 double ring getter?

Blackburn Xf3?

RFT short base?

Metal base from Eindhoven?

Xf... from Sittard?

 

Surely each of those tubes are made differently, and it's not just about amplification specs.

Honestly, these days few will have even played all of those in an amp to have an informed opinion.  And even if they did, it will be a subjective opinion based on the amp and their preferences.

Keep in mind, if the amp has a feedback loop around the output section (and most do), there won't be as much difference between tubes until the amp is distorting (because it has then overwhelmed the feedback loop).

The folks I've encountered that are most tuned-in on the differences among different examples of the same tube-type describe the differences relative to other types of the same tube.  Even when they have their favorite model, they tend to ask what you're using now, what you're hearing now, and how you want that to change. 

[Bieworm]

+1 on that!!!
I don't have a real preference. I mentioned the =C= because when I had my bogner shiva  that one was recommended, almost prescribed. Due to the extremely high plate voltages in the shiva and how the =C= can handle those.
For my 6L6 amps it varies.. my marble sounds best with sovtek 5881 WXT's. My vibro king loves the EH. My CVR wants the tung sol 5881 RI. I've had a 59 RI Bassman that sounded best with TAD 6L6GC.. which I believe are chinese tubes...