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About 18 months ago I bought quads of EH, JJ, Svetlana, and Sovtek EL34s, Shuguang and Sovtek GZ34s, Svetlana, Sovtek and later EH 6550s as well as JJ, Svetlana, and Tesla KT88. Also Svetlana 6L6GC and Valve Art KT66 (Shuguang). Preamp tubes evaluated are Ei/Yugo ECC83, ECC 82 and 6CG7, Svetlana 12AX7, Sovtek 12AX7 (3 versions) EH12AX7, JJ 12AX7 and Svetlana EF86. As the JAN Philips 12AX7 is still cheap and available it was included. The EL34s: Svetlana was most neutral, reliable, and tough, with the best bass and power. JJ had the most "vintage" sound but I experienced reliability problems, some of which could have caused catastrophic amp damage. The Sovtek and EH sounded identical-- not great, being thin and "metallic" sounding. Guitar tubes. The 6550s: Svetlana all the way. Sovtek/EH were decent, but I really like the delicate top end and GE 6550A-like bass of the Svet. The Tesla copper base KT88 was the clear KT88 winner; I liked the JJ and Svetlana about equally-- both seemed to be making an attempt at approximating the GEC sound, and achieved instead less detail and punch than the Svetlana 6550, with no added texture. I had 2 Svetlana KT88s fail out of 8. The Svetlana 6L6GC was fantastic! I liked it better than anything except European subs and the WE350B. The VA KT66 was good, too, but would not take more than 400 VDC/20ma w/o hotspotting. As for the GZ34s; the Sovteks were reliable and decent; the Shuguangs were a disaster-- metal on the glasss, arcing etc at 2 weeks for one pair. I hear reliability has improved, but wouldn't use them in MY amp. I bought 6 Sovteks-- I used one pair in my DVD amps and gave the others to friends. We all experienced a predictable tapering of performance in 10-16 months, with no catastrophes. A good tube if NOS isn't your style. As for the preamp tubes-- look no further than Ei/Yugo; they must represent a modern miracle of value. Microphonics is an issue with the 12AX7-- about 5 of the 18 I bought had significant problems. At $6, I had no problem tossing the rejects-- my own selection service. The EH and Sovteks were too bright for my taste. or vintage Mac gear, they might be perfect. The real disappointment was the EF86 from Svetlana. Horrible-- however, with NOS quite cheap, not an issue... for me. The Svet "box plate" 12AX7 was about on par w/ the Phillips (after a break-in period for the Philips) No frills or thrills. The big ?: Where is the good GZ34? Come on, guys! You can make a miniature twin triode that trashes everything but NOS but not a simple diode? Chris
Follow Ups:
Chris nice info, but when you said you tried the JJs, were they the EL34s or the E34Ls? The JJ E34Ls are my personal faves, of the current production EL34 types.
Dear AA membersI am very surprised that no one at AA had tried the newest EH 6550. Chris has tried the normal EH 6550 and found them to be decent, which makes the newer EH 6550 with the KT88 shaped bottle a very interesting propsition.
As good as NOS are, we must try to support the current manufacturer in their endeavour to keep tubes production going. With a bit of tweaking and in the right system, most tubes can sound decent. The only thing that I can not condone is unrealiable tubes - many Chinese tubes got dismissed from the "try list" due to their reputation of being unrealiable. In answer to a question to me if I had tried Shuang Kwangs - the answer is that I was too afraid of anything Chinese. The marketing of Chinese tubes is also a cloak and dagger affair which further reduces consumer confidence in them.
As much as we like Svet 6550, they are (I think) no longer in production. Any comments here?
Please anyone! How about some info on the newest EH 6550 in KT88 shaped bottles?
As much as we like Svet 6550, they are (I think) no longer in production. Any comments here?First I've heard of this...we don't have any problem
getting them at all that I know of.Note that tubes aren't made continously...the factory generally will make a metric buttload of a certain type until they have a
bunch stockpiled, then switch to something else for awhile, so
on and so forth.So simply because something isn't currently being
made doesn't necessarily mean it's discontinued.Please anyone! How about some info on the newest EH 6550 in KT88 shaped bottles
Are you sure you're not thinking of the EH KT88? That's
in a KT88 bottle. They look very similar to the 6550's otherwise,
altho that really doesn't tell you much.
Dear Uncle NedI have just checked the current catalog from New Sensor's website which is the most accurate source - as they own both brands. There is no such thing as a EH KT88, only Sovtek KT88.
I clicked in to see the picture of the EH 6550. It is indeed a 6550 with KT88 shaped bottle.
By the way, what should I be expecting to pay for Svet 6550. The prices bandid around on the net has risen significantly over the last few years. Perhaps that is why there are persistant rumours that they are no longer in production.
Thanks for your post.
I have just checked the current catalog from New Sensor's website
which is the most accurate sourceThe New Sensor dealer flyer I have is more accurate, but that's
not completely accurate either.Actually, the only accurate
method of figuring out what they're up to is to break into their
warehouse in Queens after hours, but the owner and his dogs live there, too, so I wouldn't recommend it.- as they own both brands.
There is no such thing as a EH KT88, only Sovtek KT88.Sure there is. Want some? They're the same price as
Svetlana 6550-C.I clicked in to see the picture of the EH 6550. It is indeed a 6550 with KT88 shaped bottle.
Vaguely at best, it looks more like something in between a Tungsol
6550 and a KT88.By the way, what should I be expecting to pay for Svet 6550. The
prices bandid around on the net has risen significantly over the last few yearsAbout $50 a pair. In 1998, we were selling them for $43, that's
not like a huge jump.Perhaps that is why there are persistant rumours that they are no longer in production.
More like because their original US distributor went belly up
awhile ago. Rumors spread & persist on the internet like kudzu,
ya know.
They have a new US distributor, everything's just fine, AFAIK.
Dear Uncle NedYou seem to have all the inside info (are you in the trade?)- especially if you know info as to where the warehouse is and who lives there. Well, if that is the case. Hey! You are absolutely right and I am wrong. I can only rely on info from hear say and the web. I sure am surprised that New Sensor is so far off the mark with their website. Am I right that they own both EH and Sovtek Brand?
I called the bottle shaped KT88 type for the lack of a better word. It is definitely not a standard 6550 bottle which we have come to expect. What would you call the shape of the bottle for the mass media who may not know what Tungsol bottle shape looked like. But you are right again that it indeed looks like a cross between KT88 and Tungsol 6550 bottle. I think you are missing the point though.
The Svet 6550 when the stocks were running low were quoted at a price of $60. The dealer even told me to hurry before they are all out. Yes, you are right again, I have not checked the current prices before I posted in AA.
Thanks for the link, it is most valuable.
Hope to exchange more post from you in the AA.
Cheers
ned owns triode electronics, one of the retailers of tubes in the faq pages. he sells the 6550c's for $99 a quad - i know, i just bought 2 quads. reliable and fairly priced product.
Inmates,please take in mind that this new production will be the next NOS-generation. We should buy them for two reasons:
1. For our new-NOS stock (see above)
2. The manufacturers can only be alive when they earn money.We love the tube sound so we should take car to our suppliers!
Chris can you compare all this new tubes to well underrated and still
cheap easy to get Sylvania 6550 ?????????
Dear LampaIMHO the Sylvania 6550 tends to sound hi-fish. So are the GE 6550.
Cheers
The Sylvanias are your best bet, but I like the Svetlana 6550 better than GE 6550A. Chris
Well somebody liked red wine others liked red one.My list from the best :
TungSol 6550,GEC TT21,Sylvania 6550,Richardson US made KT88,very early
Golden Dragon KT88 ( GEC use them in thier boxes after '72 ). GE 6550A,
Tesla KT88 and Svet 6550C.
That of course my very personal list.
Are the Tesla KT88s presently shown on the ATSI website the same as the copper based ones that he had last spring? I don't want to pay that much if they are different from the ones that Chris refers to.
nt
Cut-Throat
Yes. They are not great; if they were OEM tubes, I'd use them until I could get Svets. They are better than their rep, though; none blew up. Chris
Dear ChrisJust to clarify your post.
Is Svet 6550 still in production? Many runours said that they are no longer being made. Judging from their prices, they are getting more expensive - which supports that rumour.
As for the EH 6550 that you have tested, are they the current ones with KT88 bottle shape?
Please tell us how long it takes for the EH 6550 to break in and if they are reliable. Any description as to their sound compared to the Svet 6550 would be much appreciated.
I can't comment on the status of Svet production; I don't have a clue. The EH were the older style, and they broke in fast-- about 20 hours of music. I like the Svetlana better; airier treble and punchier, but the EH is decent if the Svetlana is indeed going... going... Chris
One more thing; for power tubes and preamp tubes, the myth that NOS last longer is pure BS. I suspect that most faulty "NOS" (nearly all "NOS" have been fired up) have been culled long ago, giving them an artificially inflated rep for reliability. The GZ34s really do need improvement, though.
Dear ChrisWhen you say that the EH6550 were decent, can you please describe the inherent characteristics? I am using Svet 6550 at the moment and in my set up, they are too bass heavy.
I think you would like the EH; it is leaner in the bass, with a more forward midrange-- great detail on John Coltrane and Stevie Nicks' vocals on "Rumors" The treble is not as detailed, but does not annoy. I hear they are reliable as well. Chris
KIS, have you tried svet kt88's. i use svet's 6550's in my amps now and love 'em - i found the kt88's to be somewhat leaner in the bass, albeit with much cleaner high end?
I agree with your perception of the Svet '88 sound; leaner in the bass and cleaner on top, albeit at the expense of that great tube top-end "sparkle" and vivid quality on cymbals etc. Every amp I tried them in, ARC D76, DynaMKIII, Acro UL2, I could never get the sound I wanted from the Svet KT88. Overly polite and a tad mushy IMHO. Personal taste, system synergy... Different horses for different courses, right? Chris
couldn't agree w/you more. its all in the specific application. when i was going thru the recent production tubes i also tried sovtek kt88's in my main mono's - the best i can say is that they were dull. then i put these sovteks in a smaller amp by same mfg (i had never been happy with the sound of this amp w/kt99s,90's,6550's e34l or el34's althought the svet el34's were passible. these sovteks were fantastic. everything the others were not - smooth, full range balance, no specific frequency emphasis.....ad infinitum. if there was any loss it was in airiness - thats why i have the big mono's.
Dear NewbeeMy amps needs 8x6550 valves aside. They are terribly expensive to retube or to borrow to try.
I have used Sovtek KT88 and Sovtek 6550. I also tried the Chinese KT88 before. The Sovtek KT88 could not take 480V on the B+ which is required for my amps. The Sovtek 6550 were good but not as good as the Svet 6550. Most of my experiences on KT88 tested in my amps or others seem to tell me that they have great harmonic structure and are very open sounding, however their bass tends to be either overly ripe or soft but never lean.
My hope is that the EH 6550 (with new KT88 bottles) does the job, as they are easily available and affordable.
Did you try the ShuGuang New 6550-98?
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