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Tube Dilemma

108.86.69.108
Posted on October 7, 2014 at 15:16:02
IEaudiodude
Audiophile

Posts: 2814
Location: So Cal
Joined: February 11, 2010
 I want to purchase a couple of new tubes for my amp. Currently it has a pair of Chinese 6L6 power tubes. I want to try out a couple of Electro- Harmonix either the 6550's or KT-88's which tube do I want to use and why? Does it matter ? are they really different animals ? Or do I want to spean a little more and go with another brand, Tung-sol, Mullard etc.? As you may have noticed I don't know a whole bunch about tubes or tube amps for that matter. I have owned a Dynaco ST-35 before and now my current amplifier.The website and owner state that amp is compatible with 6L6, KT66,5881,EL34,KT77,KT88,6550 tubes I was going to experiment a bit since the amp only uses two power tubes and the prices for most don't seem to bad.I use the tube amp with the Klipsch KG3.2 speakers since they seem to be a better match than the GNP's
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RE: Tube Dilemma, posted on October 7, 2014 at 16:55:44
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 10455
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
 Your amp came with 6L6s. Stay with 6L6s. Soviet surplus 6П3С-Е (6p3s-e) stock rates to be fine. Contact AA sponsor about them or other suitable 6L6 variants.


Eli D.

 

RE: Tube Dilemma, posted on October 7, 2014 at 21:53:45
TubeAcolyte
Dealer

Posts: 366
Location: Ottawa, ON
Joined: December 13, 2009
 To answer the question, in my opinion, yes, power tubes make a difference, especially if you're steering away from the 6L6 type. If you have flex up to a KT88, the countable number of possible sonic characters you could play with gets a little gross.

I find power tubes can do a great deal to tame, enliven, or focus a speaker's voice. Think about it long and hard: what did your current setup miss, and are you willing to explore? Answering these questions will determine, A) if you should move away from a 6L6, B) which brands/vintages you might wish to aim for.

Eli's suggestion is bang on. Those tubes are apparently the meow. Just make sure to get the right stock. There are a few variants of the Russian 6L6 types. Be mindful if you're going to go fishing for them on your own.

What exactly is your current amplifier and speaker setup? It's not exactly clear :(
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May your tubes be lively, warm, and long-lasting. Holy be thy heater.

 

RE: Tube Dilemma, posted on October 8, 2014 at 01:32:48
IEaudiodude
Audiophile

Posts: 2814
Location: So Cal
Joined: February 11, 2010
 Eli:Staying with something like these?
TungSol 6L6G-TS $48 pair
Electro-Harmonix 6CA7-EH $38 pair

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RE: Tube Dilemma, posted on October 8, 2014 at 06:03:13
danlaudionut
Audiophile

Posts: 5480
Location: Schenectady
Joined: June 6, 2002
 IE

I have a SE amp that uses them all too.
Here is what I found ...

Tung-Sol 6L6G is a romantic intimate sound.
Highs are silky and slightly recessed.
Mids are liquid and to die for - male and female.
The bass is rich and harmonic.
Jazz club type presentation.

Genalex KT66 is very dynamic and powerful.
The highs are crystalline and very extended.
The mids are very clear and articulate.
The bass is very powerful and dynamic.
Front row center at a concert presentation.

Winged C KT88 have a powerful and dynamic presentation.
Slightly rolled off highs but deep powerful bass.
They are the choice for rocking down the house.

I didn't like the EL34/KT77 because they
didn't do anything well just OK.
The 6p3s-e did everything well but nothing great.
It was very neutral sounding but boring.

DanL



 

RE: Tube Dilemma, posted on October 8, 2014 at 07:48:47
IEaudiodude
Audiophile

Posts: 2814
Location: So Cal
Joined: February 11, 2010
 Thanks Dan, your impressions and descriptions will help me eliminate some from my list.I started with a couple different preamp tubes The 6J8P Shuguang's that I picked when I purchased the amp, a pair of RCA 6SH7's and GE 6SH7's both the metal types. I had an ever so slight (annoying) hum using headphones and the Chinese tubes, The hum went away with the GE's and I picked up the RCA's just because they were NOS and cheap spares. :)
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RE: Tube Dilemma, posted on October 8, 2014 at 15:51:53
SETdude
Audiophile

Posts: 3944
Joined: January 20, 2000
 These are nice tubes that won't break the bank and should complement your Klipsch speakers.

Your amp manufacturer recommends 6L6's for headphones and the above are a nice variant. I use 'em and like them. Valve Art 6550's are nice too.

 

RE: Tube Dilemma, posted on October 8, 2014 at 18:17:30
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Exactly
The 6P3S-E that Eli is talking about is very close to an RCA 6L6gC black plate sonically which is my all time favorite tube along with the New Jersey built TungSol 6550s.
The 6L6g that Dan speaks of is also a charmer.If you want more power,the Genelex KT88 is sonically on par with the original Genelex/GEC KT88s only the new ones sound more alive IMHO.Get a hold of Jim McShane and he can set you up with what you need.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

Have you read the Audio Karma thread on this amp?..., posted on October 8, 2014 at 18:23:58
DeKay
 An interesting recommendation (the AK thread) is old stock RCA 807's, but you would need to purchase 807 to 6l6 adaptors for each tube.

 

RE: Tube Dilemma, posted on April 22, 2017 at 14:52:03
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Dan
A lot of it depends on the amps we are putting them in but I agree with a lot of your analysis. I use PP amps and I didn't think highs were recessed in the 6L6G however,with the mids being so fantastic,maybe our brains and hearing mechanism are being seduced by that so much that we think the highs suffered.You are the one that got me to try the 6L6G if you recall and I was fortunate to get a couple of quads before they raised the price.

"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

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