6550s and/or KT88s????

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richedie

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Hey all,

I want to order some power amp tubes to mess with. Right now I love the SED winged C El34s with the SL2 and love the Tung Sol 5881s with the EG5. However, I have heard good things about the 6550s and KT88s. What are the preferred brands for each? Heard good things about the EH KT88s.

One thing I noticed was I have had online tube stores tell me to avoid 6550s and 5881s if I want good mids. However, I find that to be false because I like the mids in the 5881s with the EG5. Maybe those just balance well.

Rich
 
richedie":3nzpn6el said:
Hey all,

I want to order some power amp tubes to mess with. Right now I love the SED winged C El34s with the SL2 and love the Tung Sol 5881s with the EG5. However, I have heard good things about the 6550s and KT88s. What are the preferred brands for each? Heard good things about the EH KT88s.

One thing I noticed was I have had online tube stores tell me to avoid 6550s and 5881s if I want good mids. However, I find that to be false because I like the mids in the 5881s with the EG5. Maybe those just balance well.

Rich
Click to expand...

False advertising...the 6550/KT88 have great, sweet sounding mids..not as prominent (or abrasive as some EL34s can be) but still great.

I've old tried the re-issue Gold Lion KT88s....huge sounding, big bottle tube...want to try the new issue Tung Sol 6550s as they have a good reputation too.

You need to remove the tube retaining clips to use 6550/KT88s..the base is too big on most I;'ve seen.
 
Totally agree w/ JKD here. I have to say, the 6550's have tons of really juicy mids. I absolutely love my Svetlana 6550's in my VHT 2/90/2, and the TS 5881's in my Mod50. Check out my clips on the Clip collective and other forum threads I've started. All of the recordings were w/ my VHT 2/90/2 with Svetlana 6550s. They have juicy mids, and sparkling highs, and tight thumping lows. For me, its the best set of power tubes I could ask for. I have recorded my COD, VX, SL2, EG5, and DLX w/ the 6550's and all have sounded amazing. It can be very muscular and agressive when needed (like w/ the EG5), and chimey and spanky when needed (like w/ the VX or DLX). It sounds very squishy w/ the SL2 also. I've been super happy w/ the 6550s. I have ran KT88's, EL34's, 6L6'S, and 5881's w/ my VHT 2/90/2 and by far and away the 6550's sounded the best across all tones.

Eric
 
Well I just want to update that after touring round EL34B (Tung Sol) back to old faithful JJ 6L6GC and Sovtek 5881s...I went and bought another pair of KT88s.....JJs this time. I think I stay with 88s.....something about 'em I can't shake :rock:
 
aeroic":1y1lyoyn said:
Totally agree w/ JKD here. I have to say, the 6550's have tons of really juicy mids. I absolutely love my Svetlana 6550's in my VHT 2/90/2, and the TS 5881's in my Mod50. Check out my clips on the Clip collective and other forum threads I've started. All of the recordings were w/ my VHT 2/90/2 with Svetlana 6550s. They have juicy mids, and sparkling highs, and tight thumping lows. For me, its the best set of power tubes I could ask for. I have recorded my COD, VX, SL2, EG5, and DLX w/ the 6550's and all have sounded amazing. It can be very muscular and agressive when needed (like w/ the EG5), and chimey and spanky when needed (like w/ the VX or DLX). It sounds very squishy w/ the SL2 also. I've been super happy w/ the 6550s. I have ran KT88's, EL34's, 6L6'S, and 5881's w/ my VHT 2/90/2 and by far and away the 6550's sounded the best across all tones.

Eric
Click to expand...

Eric, do you like TS 5881 in the MOD 50 over the 6550?
 
EWSEthan":2j30zo5p said:
aeroic":2j30zo5p said:
Totally agree w/ JKD here. I have to say, the 6550's have tons of really juicy mids. I absolutely love my Svetlana 6550's in my VHT 2/90/2, and the TS 5881's in my Mod50. Check out my clips on the Clip collective and other forum threads I've started. All of the recordings were w/ my VHT 2/90/2 with Svetlana 6550s. They have juicy mids, and sparkling highs, and tight thumping lows. For me, its the best set of power tubes I could ask for. I have recorded my COD, VX, SL2, EG5, and DLX w/ the 6550's and all have sounded amazing. It can be very muscular and agressive when needed (like w/ the EG5), and chimey and spanky when needed (like w/ the VX or DLX). It sounds very squishy w/ the SL2 also. I've been super happy w/ the 6550s. I have ran KT88's, EL34's, 6L6'S, and 5881's w/ my VHT 2/90/2 and by far and away the 6550's sounded the best across all tones.

Eric
Click to expand...

Eric, do you like TS 5881 in the MOD 50 over the 6550?
Click to expand...

I put the Svet 6550s and the SED 6550s in my Mod50, and I like those better than the TS 5881s for what I'm looking for.

Eric
 
hey, just wondering what you bias your 6550's at in your mod 50.
 
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