KT-88 / 6550..soo many to choose from

[beardog03]

I have been kickin around the idea of re-tubing the `ol Cary V12, and with so many choices out there I always come down to the same conclusion....

WTF ?!!

6550 or KT-88 ?

Tung-Sol or Gold Lion ?
EH or Black Sable ?

If I didn`t need 6 pairs of tubes , it would be much easier (cheaper), as I could roll many more to thin out the herd, so to speak !

It`s hard to get a good read on what works best with a certain amp.

So let`s start with the first thought/question...


6550 or KT-88 ?

I am looking at these at the moment...http://thetubestore.com/svetlana.html

and these.....http://tubedepot.com/6550kt88.html


I also have 8 or 10 EH KT-88`s....I could just get a couple of matched pairs and use these....!!

Sure would be cool to have a tester....and know how to use it !!!
That way I could widen my search options........I only know a few places to look at the moment

[187CAM]

Like the Tung Sol 6550's over the SED winged C.

Genalex Gold Lion KT88's over anything else I've used.

[beardog03]

So Tung Sol 6550, or Gold Lion KT-88...!

That is the question !!

Those are the two I am considering at the moment !

Leaning toward the GL KT-88

[thuffman03]

I don't know much about tubes but I do know Bob Carver does and he likes the KT-88's

He has been putting together some tube gear lately and been selling them on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180422190969&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Ern Dog]

For my Rogue tube amp, I tried EH KT-88 and it sounded ok, but the Tung-sol 6550's took the amp to a new level. Never tried gold lion.

[RuSsMaN]

Throw my hat in the 6550 pile broham. In my experience, they are just a more involving, more musical tube. Gold Lions are supposed to be the bees knees, but who can afford them, seriously.

Cheers,
Rus

[george daniel]

One of our Polkies has a Cary 120S,, I have listened to jerryj12's rig extensively,and with great pleasure I might add,,so with that said,,if you go with KT 88's and wanna' spend less,, them EH KT 88's,,,BUT,, if I had to choose between the EH and GL and money did not factor in,,,then it would be the GL KT 88's.

EDIT; If you go with something in the KT 88 series but not the Gold Lion,,then an e-mail to Jim McShane would be well worth the time--good luck,let us know what you end up with.

[187CAM]

If its either or....I say for the money (bang for the buck) Tung Sol 6550's...sweeeeeet tubes.

[beardog03]

Thanks for all the input...

Good to hear from ya Russmn !!
Hope you are doing well....I owe much of my audio knowledge / experience to you and the help and direction you have given me over the years...

I have been doing alot of research, and contacted Cary Audio and a few others, and it seems to be that the Gold Lion KT-88`s are the ones.

Like Russ said, the 6550`s are the prefered tubes, but I cannot get / afford the ones I am looking for, so the GL 88`s are the ones !!

The Tung Sol 6550`s are second .... and if I cannot get the GL`s then I will get those.

Believe it or not, the EH`s are what is recommended in the front output stage.
I am running JJ`s up front right now, with the "C" winged EL34`s for power.

Now I must sell a few items to pay for the re-tubing of my girl !!
She takes ALOT of tubes !!

[187CAM]

I buy a ton of tubes from this guy. He will do deals on his tubes if you buy in quantity. Make him some offers. His matching is spot on too.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1261064079&/Genalex--Gold-Lion-KT88-tubes-

[Face]

I buy a ton of tubes from this guy. He will do deals on his tubes if you buy in quantity. Make him some offers. His matching is spot on too.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1261064079&/Genalex--Gold-Lion-KT88-tubes-He's a tool.

[187CAM]

He's a tool.

????

[Face]

I had a bad dealing with him. His old website managed to store information from prior customers, such as names, addresses, CC info, etc... Fortunately, I used Paypal, so my CC info didn't appear on his site, but my name and address did. I emailed and called him multiple times to report the problem and he never responded. A few days later, the website was taken down.

[187CAM]

I never have had a problem.

[F1nut]

I had a bad dealing with him. His old website managed to store information from prior customers, such as names, addresses, CC info, etc... Fortunately, I used Paypal, so my CC info didn't appear on his site, but my name and address did. I emailed and called him multiple times to report the problem and he never responded. A few days later, the website was taken down.

I can verify this as fact.

[dorokusai]

I won't deal with him again either.

[beardog03]

They have what I need here

http://www.tubedepot.com/gl.html

KT-88`s and EL84`s

Now I just need to get the 6922`s, and those are everywhere....just not the Gold Lion brand

Looks like Garage Sale is in order to fund the re-tubing !!

[malikarshad]

I recently retubed my Cary Audio V12 with TungSol El34's, GoldLion El84 and NOS Jan-Sylvania 6922 and I'm happy with it over the stock Ruby El34's, Ei EL84 tubes.
I'm thinking of replacing 6922 with Telefunken E88CC (diamond bottom) but they are very pricey.
Would it make a much difference if i replace them?

[beardog03]

As I understand it, yes, the front end does make a difference

[lyzbai]

I have been doing alot of research, and contacted Cary Audio and a few others, and it seems to be that the Gold Lion KT-88`s are the ones.

[janmike]

I'm sure that article helps a lot.