What is the EC8020 vacuum tube?

The EC8020 is a triode vacuum tube designed for preamp applications. Ultra-high Gm frame-grid..

What are the key specifications of the EC8020?

Amplification factor μ ≈ 55, transconductance gm ≈ 60 mA/V, plate resistance rp ≈ 1.1 kΩ, max plate voltage 300 V, max plate dissipation 8 W, heater 6.3 V / 0.28 A.

Is the EC8020 still in production?

Production status varies by year and manufacturer. The current Amperatubes catalog classifies the EC8020 as Rare availability. NOS (new-old-stock) examples from RCA, Mullard, Tung-Sol, GE, Sylvania and Telefunken trade among collectors; modern production where it exists comes mostly from JJ Electronic, Electro-Harmonix, Tung-Sol (New Sensor), Genalex, and a handful of small-batch makers.

What does the EC8020 sound like?

Ultra-high Gm frame-grid.. Sonic character also depends heavily on the circuit operating point, the surrounding tubes in the stage, and the output transformer when present — use the interactive loadline calculator on this page to explore the trade-offs.

EC8020 Triode Vacuum Tube

Medium-gain triode for driver and line stage applications

Dual triodeHeater 6.3 V · 0.28 A9-pin Noval2 sectionsTelefunken 1962

Plate dissipation: 8W
Max plate voltage: 300V
Max cathode current: 70mA
Transconductance: 60mA/V

EC8020

Characteristics

Datasheet values, once each. Every value cites its sheet.

HeaterIndirectly heated

Specifications of EC8020 — Heater
Heater voltageVh	6.3 V
Heater currentIh	0.28 A

Limiting valuesDatasheet maximum ratings — not to be exceeded

Specifications of EC8020 — Limiting values
Plate voltageVa max	300 V
Plate dissipationPa max	8 W
Cathode currentIk max	70 mA
Peak plate voltageVao	550 V

Mechanical

Specifications of EC8020 — Mechanical
Base	9-pin Noval
Rarity	Rare
Pinout

Small signalDatasheet parameters at the reference operating point — not limits

Specifications of EC8020 — Small signal
Transconductance	60 mA/V
Plate resistance	1.1 kΩ
Amplification factor	55

Capacitances

Specifications of EC8020 — Capacitances
Grid–cathode	12 pF
Grid–plate	3.3 pF
Plate–cathode	0.23 pF

Charactereditorial reading, not a measurement

Specifications of EC8020 — Character
Gain	55%
Power	20%
Drive	99%
Linearity	73%

datasheet cited · model or editorial reading · catalogue value, no citation attached yet · nothing invented

Using this tube

Applications

Push-pull output
Voltage amplifier
Headphone output
High-gain preamp
Phase splitter

Generic triode preamp stage

Hi-Fi stereoHeadphone ampStudio/recording

Replace or compare

Sources

By Jean-Michel Falligan DevergneReviewed May 29, 2026Source : Telefunken EC8020 datasheet (vinylsavor)Active model : Norman Koren

Manufacturer datasheets

1 manufacturer datasheets cross-checked for EC80201 verified

EC8020 DatasheetLocal mirror · PDF

SPICE models

Revision and verification status

Source: Telefunken EC8020 datasheet (vinylsavor)
Reviewed: 2026-05-29
Status: DataModelCalc
Model: Norman Koren

Context

The EC8020 is a dual indirectly-heated triode from Telefunken, introduced around 1962. It provides a gain factor (μ) of 55 with 1100Ω plate resistance. Commonly used in preamp applications. Ultra-high Gm frame-grid.

History

Introduced: 1962
Manufacturer: Telefunken
Era: Late Production

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