What is the PCF86-T vacuum tube?

The PCF86-T (PCF86 (Triode)) is a triode vacuum tube designed for preamp applications. Series-heater triode..

What is a PCF86-T substitute or equivalent?

Direct equivalents to the PCF86-T include None. 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 PCF86-T?

Amplification factor μ ≈ 17, transconductance gm ≈ 5.7 mA/V, plate resistance rp ≈ 3.0 kΩ, max plate voltage 250 V, max plate dissipation 1.5 W, heater 8 V / 0.3 A.

Is the PCF86-T still in production?

Production status varies by year and manufacturer. The current Amperatubes catalog classifies the PCF86-T 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 PCF86-T sound like?

Series-heater triode.. 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.

By Jean-Michel Falligan Devergne · Reviewed May 29, 2026

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PCF86-T PCF86 (Triode) Triode Vacuum Tube

Triode8V / 0.3A9-pin NovalSPICE

SourcePCF86 datasheet (vintelec · r-type.org)Reviewed2026-05-29StatusDataModelCalcModelNorman KorenPDF

Medium-gain triode for driver and line stage applications

Datasheet ↗SPICE

PCF86 (Triode) — Philips — triode vacuum tube — (1958)

3.0kΩ

5.7mA/V

2.4pF

2.0pF

1.10pF

GAIN17%

POWER4%

DRIVE97%

LINEARITY92%

SPECIFICATIONS

Heater8 V · 0.3 A

Max Plate Voltage250 V

Pa max1.5 W

Gain Factor17

gm5.7 mA/V

rp3.0 kΩ

Inter-electrode capacitances

Cgk2.4 pF

Cgp2 pF

Cpk1.1 pF

Pinout9-pin Noval

Era1958

RarityCommon

HEATER8V / 0.3A

MAX PLATE250V / 1.5W

BASEnoval

Source datasheets

3 manufacturer datasheets cross-checked for PCF86 (Triode)

3 verified

Triode-connectedPhilips1969 (sheets 1969.12 / fig. 1969.01)

Specs when the screen grid (g2) is tied to the anode — the tube acts as a triode.

100 V

Vg1

-3 V

14 mA

5.7 mA/V

According to Philips (Data handbook) (1969 (sheets 1969.12 / fig. 1969.01)): « en triode »

TYPICAL OPERATING POINT

Va135V

Ia8.58mA

Vg-6.654999999999999V

Pd1.16W

RL6kΩ

Av23.4dB

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The PCF86-T is a indirectly-heated triode from Philips, introduced around 1958. It provides a gain factor (μ) of 17 with 2982Ω plate resistance. Commonly used in preamp applications. Series-heater triode.

APPLICATIONS

Voltage amplifierLine stage

Generic triode preamp stage

• Hi-Fi stereo• Headphone amp

HISTORY

Introduced1958ManufacturerPhilips

Golden Age

PCF86-T Datasheet

Local mirror · PDF

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METRIX TESTER

Test this tube on a Metrix

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