Another update:
Tried good ol EL34, got slightly higher power output, posted 32 watts at clipping, which was rounded on the edge and maxed at 34 watts. Installed an AC balance pot, was able to lower total harmonic distortion down to 0.12% . The AC balance pot allowed me to use unmatched El34s and still trim down the distortion.
Now the sound is glassy and more transparent, and bass extension was lower on my Focal monitors.
I am starting to enjoy it better than the 6L6 but I will go back to it and retest, but as for todays experimentation it looks like El34 is winning.