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  1. #51
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    Geez, I have a NOS GE 6550 that came from ARC as a spare for a D-79 I used to own. I wonder how that would sound in the Ref 6?
    I bet they would be great.


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  2. #52
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Mark it will sound fantastic! This is what I am using in my REF5SE. Try it you may like it...….

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    Geez, I have a NOS GE 6550 that came from ARC as a spare for a D-79 I used to own. I wonder how that would sound in the Ref 6?
    Marty

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  3. #53
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Hi Mark !!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    Geez, I have a NOS GE 6550 that came from ARC as a spare for a D-79 I used to own. I wonder how that would sound in the Ref 6?
    Last edited by joeinid; August 10, 2018 at 01:34 AM.
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  4. #54
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    [QUOTE
    WOW!!! These things are great! Thanks Mike!

    =Mike;245924]I swapped out the Sovtek 6550’s today and installed my NOS, matched SED Winged C 6550’s (from here: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F283069212072)

    Much fleshier sound, slight increase in sweetness, just a touch of warmth. Vocals were the most improved. Vocals and instruments had a greater 3D presentation. I would consider the improvement quite significant.




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]
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  5. #55
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Rance, that’s fantastic.
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

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  6. #56
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?







    Tried a NOS 6550 today. Added quite a bit of warmth. Not as sweet on top as the Winged-C, but certainly warmer.


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    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

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  7. #57
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Mike I ordered a Winged-C- for the REF5SE on your review and recommendation. Thanks for being the Guinea pig for us.
    Marty

    Aurender N20 / SonicTransporter i7 / Roon
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  8. #58
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Marty

    Aurender N20 / SonicTransporter i7 / Roon
    MSB Premier
    Constellation Inspiration Preamp 1.0 / Mono 1.0
    Dynaudio Confidence 50 / SVS SB13 Ultra
    PS Audio Powerplant 15

  9. #59
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Quote Originally Posted by nc42acc View Post
    Nice Marty! Keep us posted.
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

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  10. #60

    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Mike...I may be incorrect however I kinda read Marty's post more along the lines of I would like to hear about user experience of this implementation before I consider such, rather than, I am in the process of making the swap to KT88's watch this space.

  11. #61
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Sorry Mike the GE had to go back in. There is much synergy with this one!
    Marty

    Aurender N20 / SonicTransporter i7 / Roon
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  12. #62
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Quote Originally Posted by nc42acc View Post
    Sorry Mike the GE had to go back in. There is much synergy with this one!
    It’s wonderful!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

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  13. #63
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    This may have been mentioned elsewhere, but whatever 6650/KT88 power tube you like in your ARC Reference power supplies, you may not be hearing what they sound like if you're not using tube dampers on them. As I've improved my system setup, I began to notice a very slight haze/dryness using the SED Winged "C"s. It made me wonder too about my REF10 phono where I switched to Shuguang Treasure Zs.

    For the last week, I've been using Herbie's Audio Lab high-temperature HAL-O IIIs on these tubes and really noticed a significant improvement in clarity and detail without any downsides of a more analytic presentation. They are made with titanium, not PTFE/Teflon or Sorbothane. Note, these tubes reach temperatures of 450 F so I wouldn't cheap-out with dampers of some other material, although PTFE ones will work.

    I liked them enough, I'll be experimenting with the smaller size on the 6H30s instead of the ARC supplied dampers.

    Note that Herbie's recommends the "50s size" for bulb-shaped KT88s, but that only allows them to be placed at the very top of the tube, not the middle. That seems to be just fine though. Have fun!

  14. #64
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    Thanks for sharing that info Barry. Will def have to pick some up for my REF 10 and other gear. The comments/reviews on these are insanely positive. Never heard of these suckers before....could be a game changer!!
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  15. #65
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    Re: So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

    So I tried the smaller Herbie's HALO-IIIs on the 4 ARC REF40 6H30 gain stage input tubes in place of the dampers that ARC supplies. Can't categorically say they're better. It would take more A/B listening and that's complicated since I'm using Center Stage Feet and it takes a while for those to settle when I move the preamp. I am going to leave the dampers in however. The HALO-IIIs on the big 6550/KT88s power supplies still sound like a good improvement to me. I don't think you can't go wrong with them. They seem to eliminate a slight haze that was bothering me.

    These damping titanium rings are a tight fit and the pads don't seem to roll on the tubes like some others. Be patient and careful when you put them on!

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So has anyone replaced the 6550s in their Ref 10 with KT88s?

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