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I have many in my collection that are New old stock Genelex KT88s,New old stock TS 6550 black plates and several near new old stock Genelex KT88 and Tungsol gray and black plate 6550s
I have countless NOS RCA 6L6gc black plates and EL37 Mullards and KT66 GEC/Genelex Gray glass..You have seen pieces of my collection at different times when I do test comparison.
I can tell you that my favorite tubes are the RCA 6L6gc black plates, especially in the Heathkit W-5Ms even tho they are KT66 amps..The other is the Tungsol 6550 black plate and the Mullard EL37 and the Russian 6P3SE,the Gen KT77 reissue,the TS 5881,the EI KT90 series 1 and 2,Genelex reissue KT88 and Genelex Reissue KT66.
They aren't in any particular order as I love all these tubes depending on which amp they are going in and I can tell you honestly that is there not as big a difference between NOS and new production output tubes as there once was.The gap has narrowed dramatically from where it was in the 80s and early 90s.I upgrade and rebuild my amps and preamps with modern capacitors,resistors,and diodes,so that plays a major role in bringing out the potential of the newer tubes.I can tell you for sure the Genelex reissue KT66 is better than the GEC clear bottle KT66 and the KT77 reissue has more detail than my vintage Gen KT77s..The reissue KT66s are very close to the Gray glass I have..
I can also tell you that the Shuggie Treasures are a gem.They do it all and do it right.The EI KT90s in the Mac Mc60a and the Fisher 55a amps are a treat to behold.
What I have been listening to for the last month non stop are the reissue KT77s as I'm redoing the basement where the Deuces and the Martin Logans are so I pulled out a McShaned Eico HF-87 and put my five year old reissue KT77s in the amp and I am floored.
Now,I mentioned the output tubes so now I'm going to talk about the miniature 12AX7s and 12AU7s 6sn7s.I still prefer real Telefunken 12AX7s,Amperex DD getters,RCA black plates,Raytheon 5751s windmills,and Siemens 12AX7.My favorite 6SN7 that has no equal IMHO is the TungSol 6SN7 round plates.Now even tho I say I prefer Teles and Amperex and the others mentioned,I have been using my CV4004 box plates with the Gen reissue 12AX7 gold pins in the Fisher 400c preamp with results that you may have read about a few days ago from someone who heard the big ribbons with the Eico hF87 and Fisher 400c preamp...You need to mix tubes as you do capacitors and resistors.
I still believe that selected vintage 12AX7s,12AU7s and 6SN7s have the edge in smaller tubes but again,the gap is narrowing with tubes like the Psvane and the Treasure CV series and the upscale New Sensor tubes...If you had noticed,you are paying dam near as much if not more than you pay for vintage tubes so they make some fantastic tubes.KR and Shuggie make some fabulous DHTs as does JJ so these companies will continue to get better just as the automotive industry did but we have to demand it as consumers.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
Edits: 03/27/14Follow Ups:
Mike, i always enjoy reading your posts. This may be a little off subject, but I have a question for you.
All my tube amps are modern: primaluna, dared, and audio research. I've never had a chance to hear any high-end classic amps. How do your rebuilt citation and mcintosh amps stack up agaist current tube amps?
I wish the current tubes were better in the lower price points. The reissue Mullards are not particularly good and the other low priced tubes are not a sound I like at all.
The only new tubes I like are the PSVANE high-end stuff. But, I am a bit of a tube snob. I would immediately replace any Chinese or Russian input tubes in a new tube amplifier.
If the PSVANE tubes prove to be long lived, they are certainly worth the price, but I am hoping the cheaper stuff improves. The prices for the better power tubes are a bit high for many audiophools and new old stock power tubes are scarce and very pricey.
It would be great if you could get a stellar quad of el34s for under $100 and a matched pair of input tubes for under $50.
Aren't transistors alien technology?
Michael have you heard the new re-issued Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB by New Sensor? Thoughts compared to the others?
I haven't but they are anything like the TS 12AX7s they make,they are are going to be a genuine contender because I haven't pulled those new 12AX7s out yet.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
Mikey,
Which of the output tubes do you like best that has a 0.9A heater current? This is what the Lafayette KT-550 uses with it's 7027A tubes. I have been using the current production Tung Sol KT-66, which is the only KT-66 that I know of that has the 0.9A heater current. From what I can gather, the other KT-66 tubes have 1.4A or so.
Any suggestions for something slightly less analytical with a bit more body and warmth, without rounding the edges or dynamics?
Pat
Well the RCA and the Sylvania 6L6gc black plates with the Russia 6P3SE running in second place.Pat. What you can do is get yourself a little 6.3vac toroid power transformer around 3 amps and mount it under the chassis with a wire tie..I would let the toroid run the driver tubes and let the main power transformer run the KT66s. .Digikey has them as well.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
Edits: 03/27/14 03/27/14
Mike,
Is the rationale to do this as follows: the main power transformer will now have ample amperage to drive any KT-66 including those with the 1.4A heater current needs?
Pat
Pat
I'm not sure on that because I just remembered that's a stereo amp but take out all the small tubes and tell me what you measure at the heaters of the 7027s at pins 2 and 7.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
I don't think anyone can argue otherwise. I have a very good selection of old production tubes but it is getting much more difficult to source primo examples. I'm not sure about longevity but the Psavane small signal tubes can rival the best of the old tubes in many circuits.
I have yet to find a modern 6V6GT that can take the abuse and sound so fine --- as 1940-50's NOS 6V6GT's. Esp gray glass, black plate GTY and GTA's. RCA, Raytheon, Tungsol, Sylvania, Ken-Rad, GE, Brimar --- all great tubes.
Nothing modern comes close to the reliability and durability of the Mullard GZ34. Sylvania or GE 5AR4. NOS US made 5U4GB's. Or 5Y3GT's.
IMHO, of course.
Abuse? Maybe in guitar amps. I have a 6V6 audio amp and certain older tubes are very good but the new Tung Sol, Russian black bottle and Shuguang are way up there too. I actually prefer the new issue over run of the mill older tubes. One old production I really like is the Pope/Philips.
Agreed..You and I have pretty much mirrored tastes in most tubes..The RCA 6L6gc black plates are a perennial favorite of both of ours as well as the 5881 and the 6L6g and we can go down the list.
I'm hoping New Sensor cured the GZ34 durability problems but time will tell.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
is the key. It allows new generation enjoys the wonderful tube sound and keep the industry floating.
I prefer my stash of NOS for sure but if any youngster asks me what tube to buy, I definite recommend the new production.
Our generation is extremely luck in many ways. From high quality audio tubes to something as simple as true organic milk, we tasted them all.
Remember when I said listen to the reissue KT66s and you couldn't believe how they sounded as good as the original clear bottle Genelex?.I always thought the gray glass held the edge but as the reissues got more time on them, I realized they mirrored the gray glass ones in just about every area of the spectrum..The gray glass KT66s are not black plates which I thought was odd after I took one apart that was bad..That more or less explained why the differences between the new ones and the vintage gray glass were smaller than I had originally realized.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
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