KT 88 and EL 34 lovers ?
- Thread starter Paul
- Start date
SoundRebels
Active member
I've tested Rogers amp - the main problem was ringing tube cover :-/
octadyndude
New member
Well regarding EL34's 6550's KT88's KT90's and KT120's I have them all. I agree the SED EL34 has that mid range magic but suffers a bit in the highs and lows. I have the SED 6550's and the original Tung Sol solid black and grey plate 6550's. Talk about different - the SED 6550 is very linear from top to bottom (almost like SS) but a little dry sounding. The TS black plate has the EL34 midrange magic but even just a hair better and it has the lows the EL34's miss. The highs are just a tad rolled off. The grey plates have a slightly more forward midrange presentation.
Now KT88's - I have the SED KT88 which is a lot warmer sounding than the SED 6550. The EAT KT88 well if you want a very quiet extremely linear sound this is the tube. My problem with the EAT is they are rated for a plate voltage of 600 but were designed to work best at 450V. My Octave uses 540V and I lost 3 of 7 in less than 1 month :disbelief:. The KR Audio (rebranded Tesla before JJ) similar to the EAT but not as detailed. Lost 1 from the quad in less than a week. Again they do not do well with a plate voltage exceeding 450V. Original MO/Gec/Gold Lion KT88 (made in England) very similar to the SED 6550 including dry sounding. The Gold Lion reissue from Russia - not a bad tube for the money. Warmer than the SED 6550 and not quite as warm as the SED KT88 but the highs are a bit better.
KT90's I only have Ei type 2 and 3. Very very good mids sparkling highs and punchy lows. Huge soundstage. I can run these at either 540V or 620V (620V sounds a bit more in control).
KT120's - my least favorite of them all - too forward all around but especially in the mids. Very SS sounding.
My favorites in order
1 - TS 6550 black plate
2 - TS 6550 grey plate
3 - Ei KT90
4 - MO/Gec KT88
5 - SED EL34 also lacks power and punch
6 - Gold Lion KT88 reissue (good value for the $$ spent)
7 - SED KT88
8 - KR KT88
9 - EAT KT88
10 - TS KT120
Of course these are my opinions using the Octave V70se and V110
YMMV
Now KT88's - I have the SED KT88 which is a lot warmer sounding than the SED 6550. The EAT KT88 well if you want a very quiet extremely linear sound this is the tube. My problem with the EAT is they are rated for a plate voltage of 600 but were designed to work best at 450V. My Octave uses 540V and I lost 3 of 7 in less than 1 month :disbelief:. The KR Audio (rebranded Tesla before JJ) similar to the EAT but not as detailed. Lost 1 from the quad in less than a week. Again they do not do well with a plate voltage exceeding 450V. Original MO/Gec/Gold Lion KT88 (made in England) very similar to the SED 6550 including dry sounding. The Gold Lion reissue from Russia - not a bad tube for the money. Warmer than the SED 6550 and not quite as warm as the SED KT88 but the highs are a bit better.
KT90's I only have Ei type 2 and 3. Very very good mids sparkling highs and punchy lows. Huge soundstage. I can run these at either 540V or 620V (620V sounds a bit more in control).
KT120's - my least favorite of them all - too forward all around but especially in the mids. Very SS sounding.
My favorites in order
1 - TS 6550 black plate
2 - TS 6550 grey plate
3 - Ei KT90
4 - MO/Gec KT88
5 - SED EL34 also lacks power and punch
6 - Gold Lion KT88 reissue (good value for the $$ spent)
7 - SED KT88
8 - KR KT88
9 - EAT KT88
10 - TS KT120
Of course these are my opinions using the Octave V70se and V110
YMMV
wow great write up!!! very informative, thanks for posting it!!!Well regarding EL34's 6550's KT88's KT90's and KT120's I have them all. I agree the SED EL34 has that mid range magic but suffers a bit in the highs and lows. I have the SED 6550's and the original Tung Sol solid black and grey plate 6550's. Talk about different - the SED 6550 is very linear from top to bottom (almost like SS) but a little dry sounding. The TS black plate has the EL34 midrange magic but even just a hair better and it has the lows the EL34's miss. The highs are just a tad rolled off. The grey plates have a slightly more forward midrange presentation.
Now KT88's - I have the SED KT88 which is a lot warmer sounding than the SED 6550. The EAT KT88 well if you want a very quiet extremely linear sound this is the tube. My problem with the EAT is they are rated for a plate voltage of 600 but were designed to work best at 450V. My Octave uses 540V and I lost 3 of 7 in less than 1 month :disbelief:. The KR Audio (rebranded Tesla before JJ) similar to the EAT but not as detailed. Lost 1 from the quad in less than a week. Again they do not do well with a plate voltage exceeding 450V. Original MO/Gec/Gold Lion KT88 (made in England) very similar to the SED 6550 including dry sounding. The Gold Lion reissue from Russia - not a bad tube for the money. Warmer than the SED 6550 and not quite as warm as the SED KT88 but the highs are a bit better.
KT90's I only have Ei type 2 and 3. Very very good mids sparkling highs and punchy lows. Huge soundstage. I can run these at either 540V or 620V (620V sounds a bit more in control).
KT120's - my least favorite of them all - too forward all around but especially in the mids. Very SS sounding.
My favorites in order
1 - TS 6550 black plate
2 - TS 6550 grey plate
3 - Ei KT90
4 - MO/Gec KT88
5 - SED EL34 also lacks power and punch
6 - Gold Lion KT88 reissue (good value for the $$ spent)
7 - SED KT88
8 - KR KT88
9 - EAT KT88
10 - TS KT120
Of course these are my opinions using the Octave V70se and V110
YMMV
octadyndude
New member
Thanks Steve
But let me say it again these are my opinions with my setup. Also and very important that I didn't mention. I have yet to hear a bad tube. All the tubes that I have I could listen to forever but after tube rolling there are differences. Most of those are minor. But the swing from the Tung Sol 6550 black plate to the EAT KT88 Diamond is very significant.
But let me say it again these are my opinions with my setup. Also and very important that I didn't mention. I have yet to hear a bad tube. All the tubes that I have I could listen to forever but after tube rolling there are differences. Most of those are minor. But the swing from the Tung Sol 6550 black plate to the EAT KT88 Diamond is very significant.
dlb2
New member
I agree. With my amp there are subtle differences and while I like NOS tubes the best, if they dried up tomorrow I would be happy with many of the new production tubes available today.
Hey I'm planning to make a tube power amp this year. it would be either 300B or EL34 based.
I want a be next Shindo brand.
The price is starting at $ 4,444 .
300b. I'll take one!
Paul
Senior Member
- Thread Author
- #32
Unison Research P40 ( anybody heard them yet ? ) I like it a lot.
Technical characteristics
Type: Stereo Integrated Valve Amplifier
Output Stage: push-pull ultraliner
Classe: AB
Output Power: 40W
Output Impedance: 6 ohm
Inputs: 4 line
Outputs: 1 tape, 1 sub woofer, loudspeakers
Feedback factor: 14dB
Frequency Response: 20 – 30000 Hz
Valves: 4 x EL34, 2 x ECC82, 1 x ECC83
Remote Control: IR for volume
Power Consumption: 300W max
Dimension: 16.5 x 15.7 x 8.3 inch.
Net Weight: 55lbs
Reviews
Stereoplay Germany
HiFi News
Suono
Downloads
P40
An amplifier with a push-pull circuit consists of a stage with two power tubes–each of which amplifies one half-wave, either positive or negative, of the audio signal.
The special design of the output transformer in the P-40 then enables the correct reconstruction of the amplified signal at the output terminals. The advantage of the push-pull system lies in its ability to produce greater output power than is obtainable from a single-ended design using the same type of valve. This advantage is determined by the greater efficiency of the push-pull system, which translates to lower heat dissipation for any given output power.
The disadvantage of push-pull stages is that since they rely on the amplification of two separate half-wave signals by two separate amplifying devices, they must be particularly well-engineered in order not to encounter significant distortion. The P-40 boasts an impressive specification: 40 watts into a 6 ohm load with full-bandwidth distortion less than 0.2%. This performance is similar to that of a well-engineered amplifier using a single-ended topology.
Note: The glass of P40 and P70 is made in one piece, and not all colors are always available.
Technical characteristics
Type: Stereo Integrated Valve Amplifier
Output Stage: push-pull ultraliner
Classe: AB
Output Power: 40W
Output Impedance: 6 ohm
Inputs: 4 line
Outputs: 1 tape, 1 sub woofer, loudspeakers
Feedback factor: 14dB
Frequency Response: 20 – 30000 Hz
Valves: 4 x EL34, 2 x ECC82, 1 x ECC83
Remote Control: IR for volume
Power Consumption: 300W max
Dimension: 16.5 x 15.7 x 8.3 inch.
Net Weight: 55lbs
Reviews
Stereoplay Germany
HiFi News
Suono
Downloads
P40
An amplifier with a push-pull circuit consists of a stage with two power tubes–each of which amplifies one half-wave, either positive or negative, of the audio signal.
The special design of the output transformer in the P-40 then enables the correct reconstruction of the amplified signal at the output terminals. The advantage of the push-pull system lies in its ability to produce greater output power than is obtainable from a single-ended design using the same type of valve. This advantage is determined by the greater efficiency of the push-pull system, which translates to lower heat dissipation for any given output power.
The disadvantage of push-pull stages is that since they rely on the amplification of two separate half-wave signals by two separate amplifying devices, they must be particularly well-engineered in order not to encounter significant distortion. The P-40 boasts an impressive specification: 40 watts into a 6 ohm load with full-bandwidth distortion less than 0.2%. This performance is similar to that of a well-engineered amplifier using a single-ended topology.
Note: The glass of P40 and P70 is made in one piece, and not all colors are always available.
KeithR
Active member
I really dig the Soul Superflies...best value in the line. I own Def 4s these days, but if i ever have to downgrade, SSuperfly it would be.
KeithR
Active member
Yup- i had exactly the same comparo/thoughts. No reason to have the tube headache.
some Black Treasures might work well with the Vacs however.
KeithR
Active member
Btw, $100 bucks says Valin loves the Vacs hes reviewing. Nuff said.
Unison Research P40 ( anybody heard them yet ? ) I like it a lot.
Technical characteristics
Type: Stereo Integrated Valve Amplifier
Output Stage: push-pull ultraliner
Classe: AB
Output Power: 40W
Output Impedance: 6 ohm
Inputs: 4 line
Outputs: 1 tape, 1 sub woofer, loudspeakers
Feedback factor: 14dB
Frequency Response: 20 – 30000 Hz
Valves: 4 x EL34, 2 x ECC82, 1 x ECC83
Remote Control: IR for volume
Power Consumption: 300W max
Dimension: 16.5 x 15.7 x 8.3 inch.
Net Weight: 55lbs
Reviews
Stereoplay Germany
HiFi News
Suono
Downloads
P40
An amplifier with a push-pull circuit consists of a stage with two power tubes–each of which amplifies one half-wave, either positive or negative, of the audio signal.
The special design of the output transformer in the P-40 then enables the correct reconstruction of the amplified signal at the output terminals. The advantage of the push-pull system lies in its ability to produce greater output power than is obtainable from a single-ended design using the same type of valve. This advantage is determined by the greater efficiency of the push-pull system, which translates to lower heat dissipation for any given output power.
The disadvantage of push-pull stages is that since they rely on the amplification of two separate half-wave signals by two separate amplifying devices, they must be particularly well-engineered in order not to encounter significant distortion. The P-40 boasts an impressive specification: 40 watts into a 6 ohm load with full-bandwidth distortion less than 0.2%. This performance is similar to that of a well-engineered amplifier using a single-ended topology.
Note: The glass of P40 and P70 is made in one piece, and not all colors are always available.
maybe you can get a package deal.
this is built in the clear audio factory, but has a bunch of bells and whistles you dont get with the clearaudio table. it sounds very interesting. and is cool looking. better bearing, better arm, better isolation feet. among other things. tone audio had a good review on it.
unison research gyro table
Keith - I tried all black treasures - KT88's and CV181-Z's (6SN7's) and still no go. I got close with GoldLion KT88's and 1950 Sylvania 6SN7's and very clean AC. But compared to my CARY 211 FE's (845/300b/EL34 combo) - they weren't even in the same zip code. And the Cary and VAC are exactly the same price.
Now, if you had a tubby sounding speaker, the VAC's might be a better Ying to their Yang than the CARY.