6550's?

[Buckeyedog]

Must say I also love the Svet 6550's, although I run them a bit cooler.....around 44/45 or so. They compressed a bit much when I had them hotter for some reason.

And yes, those darn TAD's are really cool as well..........not sure how I got two sets of them though?? UB, do you have any idea about that??

And surprise, I popped a set of Ruby EL34's in there the other day and damn if they didn't sound killer with the GnR (and they didn't blow!)...........these amps are just too damned fun!!

 

[richedie]

Jason, did you try other 6550s and KT88s? I might order some EHKT88s although I know Eric hated them. They are fantastic in my friend's RM100.
I also want to try the EH 6550s and SED Winged C 6550s which are supposed to be great.

 

[jmgman69]

Jason, did you try other 6550s and KT88s? I might order some EHKT88s although I know Eric hated them. They are fantastic in my friend's RM100.
I also want to try the EH 6550s and SED Winged C 6550s which are supposed to be great.

Borrow them from your friend first

 

[Buckeyedog]

Borrow them from your friend first

+1

 

[Perttu]

I just got a pair of Svet 6550s and biased them around 43. The pair was perfectly matched.
Unfortunately, it is too late for real testing...got to wait till tomorrow!

 

[aeroic]

I just got a pair of Svet 6550s and biased them around 43. The pair was perfectly matched.
Unfortunately, it is too late for real testing...got to wait till tomorrow!

That's awesome man. What ones did you get? The Svetlana 6550s??? I typically bias mine around 47 or so.

 

[Perttu]

I just got a pair of Svet 6550s and biased them around 43. The pair was perfectly matched.
Unfortunately, it is too late for real testing...got to wait till tomorrow!

That's awesome man. What ones did you get? The Svetlana 6550s??? I typically bias mine around 47 or so.

Yep, I got the Svetlana 6550s. The guy at the tube shop told me that they are "the best". I was reading this thread before biasing 6550s and I noted that you guys bias your 6550s little bit hotter than what is recommended in the manual (35mV-45mV). I was wondering how strict these limits are, if you exceed the maximum with couple mVs? Will the amp blow up?

I tested 6550s only for a minute at the low volume and noticed a big difference to the original 5881s.

 

[aeroic]

I just got a pair of Svet 6550s and biased them around 43. The pair was perfectly matched.
Unfortunately, it is too late for real testing...got to wait till tomorrow!

That's awesome man. What ones did you get? The Svetlana 6550s??? I typically bias mine around 47 or so.

Yep, I got the Svetlana 6550s. The guy at the tube shop told me that they are "the best". I was reading this thread before biasing 6550s and I noted that you guys bias your 6550s little bit hotter than what is recommended in the manual (35mV-45mV). I was wondering how strict these limits are, if you exceed the maximum with couple mVs? Will the amp blow up?

I tested 6550s only for a minute at the low volume and noticed a big difference to the original 5881s.

The manual is just guidelines. You won't blow up the amp..you'll just go through your tubes a bit faster that's all. W/in 3-4mV is fine...much more than that, you'll really run through the tubes much faster.

I"ve been running my 6550s at 48ish for a LONG time with great results.

Eric

 

[Perttu]

I just got a pair of Svet 6550s and biased them around 43. The pair was perfectly matched.
Unfortunately, it is too late for real testing...got to wait till tomorrow!

That's awesome man. What ones did you get? The Svetlana 6550s??? I typically bias mine around 47 or so.

Yep, I got the Svetlana 6550s. The guy at the tube shop told me that they are "the best". I was reading this thread before biasing 6550s and I noted that you guys bias your 6550s little bit hotter than what is recommended in the manual (35mV-45mV). I was wondering how strict these limits are, if you exceed the maximum with couple mVs? Will the amp blow up?

I tested 6550s only for a minute at the low volume and noticed a big difference to the original 5881s.

The manual is just guidelines. You won't blow up the amp..you'll just go through your tubes a bit faster that's all. W/in 3-4mV is fine...much more than that, you'll really run through the tubes much faster.

I"ve been running my 6550s at 48ish for a LONG time with great results.

Eric

Ok, i have to do some research. Thanks!

 

[richedie]

So I guess it doesn't matter if I had my 5881s at 34/36!

You guys ever find some nights in the same place or house you'll have noise and other nights none, dead silent? I reinstalled the 5881s tonight...fired up the amp and there wa s alot of buzzing on the gain channels. Then put the 6550s back in and same thing!.....This weekend it was SILENT!

 

[aeroic]

So I guess it doesn't matter if I had my 5881s at 34/36!

You guys ever find some nights in the same place or house you'll have noise and other nights none, dead silent? I reinstalled the 5881s tonight...fired up the amp and there wa s alot of buzzing on the gain channels. Then put the 6550s back in and same thing!.....This weekend it was SILENT!

That's what we call dirty electricity. Happens to a lot of ppl at night, especially when electricity usage is higher.

Get a good high end power conditioner / voltage regulator...and you shouldn't have an issue.

Eric

 

[Perttu]

Just couple of thoughts.... I spent sometime with 6550s and I have to say that they are really different from 5881s. 6550 seem to have a tighter low end, a bit different mid range, and less high end. I like tight low end, and I do not usually crank the high end very much, so a bit darker sound is ok to me. But there is some frequency in the mid range that I do not like very much and it was somewhat difficult to dial out. It may be also my cab that has V30s (The local shop is now a dealer of Egnater GC stuff, I was wondering whether I should change my cab to TM 2x12 w/C80s).

I found it interesting that using 6550s brings the sounds of the different modules closer to each other, say EG3/4 and SL2X. Weird.

ps. Any idea how hot are the stock 5881s biased at Egnater factory?

 

[muudrock]

So I guess it doesn't matter if I had my 5881s at 34/36!

You guys ever find some nights in the same place or house you'll have noise and other nights none, dead silent? I reinstalled the 5881s tonight...fired up the amp and there wa s alot of buzzing on the gain channels. Then put the 6550s back in and same thing!.....This weekend it was SILENT!

That's what we call dirty electricity. Happens to a lot of ppl at night, especially when electricity usage is higher.

Get a good high end power conditioner / voltage regulator...and you shouldn't have an issue.

Eric

Also watch out for light dimmers in your house. They are notorious for backfeeding alot of noise into the house electrical lines which your equipment will amplify. I have a couple in my basement that are noisy as hell if the lights are dimmed below 1/2.

 

[aeroic]

Just couple of thoughts.... I spent sometime with 6550s and I have to say that they are really different from 5881s. 6550 seem to have a tighter low end, a bit different mid range, and less high end. I like tight low end, and I do not usually crank the high end very much, so a bit darker sound is ok to me. But there is some frequency in the mid range that I do not like very much and it was somewhat difficult to dial out. It may be also my cab that has V30s (The local shop is now a dealer of Egnater GC stuff, I was wondering whether I should change my cab to TM 2x12 w/C80s).

I found it interesting that using 6550s brings the sounds of the different modules closer to each other, say EG3/4 and SL2X. Weird.

ps. Any idea how hot are the stock 5881s biased at Egnater factory?

I will have to say 6550s + V30s....are not a combo I really enjoy. I'd recommend you get the TM 2x12 and throw a CL80 and a K100 in there...and you'll be in TONAL BLISS!

6550s + V30s is the worst speaker / tube combo IMHO. I do agree that certain frequencies that the 6550s accentuate do NOT vibe w/ V30s at all IMHO. I really tried to like V30s in my Egnater cab...and I just couldn't ever do it.

I HIGHLY recommend the CL80 / K100 combo...or for a good second..T75 / CL80. But the K100 / CL80 is my #1 for sure.

Eric

 

[Perttu]

Yes, I've been thinking this issue for a while. Gotta check them out when the dealer gets them...

 

[richedie]

Speaking of dirty electricity. Tonight...no noise at all! None.

 

[richedie]

Lots of tube testing today! EL34s, E34Ls, 6550s, 5881s....


In the end, I think I like the JJ E34Ls the best. They seem a bit warmer and saggier than the 6550s, but still bigger sounding than standard EL34s. 5881s are nice but too cardboardy to my ears. Matt hates me for this.

My Svet 6550s were biased 46/50. E34Ls at 40/40. So far these are my two favorites.

 

[jmgman69]

Lots of tube testing today! EL34s, E34Ls, 6550s, 5881s....


In the end, I think I like the JJ E34Ls the best. They seem a bit warmer and saggier than the 6550s, but still bigger sounding than standard EL34s. 5881s are nice but too cardboardy to my ears. Matt hates me for this.

My Svet 6550s were biased 46/50. E34Ls at 40/40. So far these are my two favorites.

Those 2 sets have permanent residency in the Mod1000 and RT2/50 Mod 50 is different outcast bastard he is

 

[richedie]

So you like the E34Ls as well? What's a Mod 1000?

Lots of tube testing today! EL34s, E34Ls, 6550s, 5881s....


In the end, I think I like the JJ E34Ls the best. They seem a bit warmer and saggier than the 6550s, but still bigger sounding than standard EL34s. 5881s are nice but too cardboardy to my ears. Matt hates me for this.

My Svet 6550s were biased 46/50. E34Ls at 40/40. So far these are my two favorites.

Those 2 sets have permanent residency in the Mod1000 and RT2/50 Mod 50 is different outcast bastard he is

 

[muudrock]

So you like the E34Ls as well? What's a Mod 1000?

Lots of tube testing today! EL34s, E34Ls, 6550s, 5881s....


In the end, I think I like the JJ E34Ls the best. They seem a bit warmer and saggier than the 6550s, but still bigger sounding than standard EL34s. 5881s are nice but too cardboardy to my ears. Matt hates me for this.

My Svet 6550s were biased 46/50. E34Ls at 40/40. So far these are my two favorites.

Those 2 sets have permanent residency in the Mod1000 and RT2/50 Mod 50 is different outcast bastard he is

It's the latest offering from Bruce and CO. Holds 30 modules and puts out 1000 watts stereo!

Oh yea, and needs it's own generator to power it.