What is the EL86 vacuum tube?

The EL86 is a pentode vacuum tube designed for power applications. European audio output..

What is a EL86 substitute or equivalent?

Direct equivalents to the EL86 include 6CW5. These share the same pinout and operating envelope, so they can usually be swapped without circuit changes — though batch-to-batch variations between manufacturers (NOS vs current production) may shift the sonic character noticeably.

What are the key specifications of the EL86?

Amplification factor μ ≈ 8, transconductance gm ≈ 11 mA/V, plate resistance rp ≈ 23.0 kΩ, max plate voltage 250 V, max plate dissipation 12 W, heater 6.3 V / 0.76 A.

Is the EL86 still in production?

Production status varies by year and manufacturer. The current Amperatubes catalog classifies the EL86 as Common 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 EL86 sound like?

European audio output.. 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.

EL86 Pentode Vacuum Tube

Also known as 6CW5

Power pentode delivering up to 12W in pentode, UL, or triode mode

PentodeHeater 6.3 V · 0.76 A9-pin NovalPhilips 1958

Plate dissipation: 12W
Max plate voltage: 250V
Max screen voltage: 250V
Max cathode current: 100mA
Transconductance: 11mA/V

EL86

Characteristics

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

HeaterIndirectly heated

Specifications of EL86 — Heater
Heater voltageVh	6.3 V
Heater currentIh	0.76 A

Limiting valuesDatasheet maximum ratings — not to be exceeded

Specifications of EL86 — Limiting values
Plate voltageVa max	250 V
Screen voltageVg2 max	250 V
Plate dissipationPa max	12 W
Cathode currentIk max	100 mA
Grid resistorRg1 max	1 MΩ
Peak plate voltageVao	550 V

Mechanical

Specifications of EL86 — Mechanical
Base	9-pin Noval
Rarity	Common
Pinout

Small signalDatasheet parameters at the reference operating point — not limits

Specifications of EL86 — Small signal
Transconductance	11 mA/V
Plate resistance	23 kΩ
Amplification factor	8

Capacitances

Specifications of EL86 — Capacitances
Input	13 pF
Grid–plate	0.6 pF
Output	6.8 pF

Charactereditorial reading, not a measurement

Specifications of EL86 — Character
Gain	8%
Power	30%
Drive	77%
Linearity	95%

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

Typical operation

Conditions published by the manufacturers, one row per condition. Nothing is computed.

Typical operation
Setup	B+	Vg1 / Rk	Ia	Ig2	Load	Pout	THD	Source
triode connection, single-endedclass not stated · cathode bias	200 V	215 Ω	64 mA	3.2 mA	2.5 kΩ	5.3 W	10%	OCR, to be checked Mullard · 1960 · p. 1 · transcript
Class A, push-pullpentode connection · cathode bias	200 V	215 Ω	65 mA	3.2 mA				OCR, to be checked Philips · p. 4 · transcript

Using this tube

Applications

Power output

Grundig Hi-Fi consolesTelefunken Opus series

Replace or compare

Sources

By Jean-Michel Falligan DevergneReviewed May 29, 2026Source : Philips/Mullard EL86/6CW5 datasheet · amplifiedpartsActive model : Koren pentode

Manufacturer datasheets

5 manufacturer datasheets cross-checked for EL865 verified

Triode-connectedMullardOctober 1960 (1)

Ia: 64 mA
µ: 200
Pout: 5.3 W

EL86 DatasheetLocal mirror · PDF

SPICE models

Revision and verification status

Source: Philips/Mullard EL86/6CW5 datasheet · amplifiedparts
Reviewed: 2026-05-29
Status: DataModelCalc
Model: Koren pentode

Context

The EL86 is a indirectly-heated pentode from Philips, introduced around 1958. It provides a gain factor (μ) of 8 with 23.0kΩ plate resistance. Commonly used in power applications. European audio output.

History

Introduced: 1958
Manufacturer: Philips
Era: Golden Age

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