New 6L6 tubes

[tomp]

https://audioxpress.com/news/tube-amp-d ... cted-tubes

[m1garandusa]

I think I will give them a try. I haven't heard any new 6L6s that come close to the Svetlana/SED 6L6 (I haven't tried any traditional Euro/US NOS), and the SEDs are getting hard to come by.
JJJ

[SoundMods]

I think I will give them a try. I haven't heard any new 6L6s that come close to the Svetlana/SED 6L6 (I haven't tried any traditional Euro/US NOS), and the SEDs are getting hard to come by.
JJJ

If you like 6L6s you'll love KT-66s. The Chiness "Golden Dragon" KT-66s are about as close to the ca 1950s Genelex KT-66s as you can get and if biased at around 36-ma you get music -- nice with the "breathe of life" music.
You will not be disappointed.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/KT66-Retro-GOL ... Sw4shYAkz1

Then of course if you want the real deal -- they are still available.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Four-Genalex-G ... SwPlFei4Q9

[ratbagp]

I haven't played much with the typical tubes like 6L6, the various KT** and 6550. Could somebody describe the sonic advantages / disadvantages of the various types.

I see I have a Cunningham 6L6 and a Sylvania.

Hopefully this weekend I will check out the power supply on the Roscoe amp. I need to get the US taxes done first however.

ray

[Grover Gardner]

I think I will give them a try. I haven't heard any new 6L6s that come close to the Svetlana/SED 6L6 (I haven't tried any traditional Euro/US NOS), and the SEDs are getting hard to come by.
JJJ

If you like 6L6s you'll love KT-66s. The Chiness "Golden Dragon" KT-66s are about as close to the ca 1950s Genelex KT-66s as you can get and if biased at around 36-ma you get music -- nice with the "breathe of life" music.
You will not be disappointed.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/KT66-Retro-GOL ... Sw4shYAkz1

Then of course if you want the real deal -- they are still available.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Four-Genalex-G ... SwPlFei4Q9

I very much like the (Russian-made) Gold Lion KT66. A beautiful tube, with a slightly lush, liquid sound. They are wonderful in my Williamsons. Another good 6L6 variant is the Tung-Sol 7581a resissue--very smooth, great instrumental tone and tight bass. Not a flashy sound but extremely involving.

The Chinese KT66's I did not have good luck with, but YMMV.

[Grover Gardner]

I haven't played much with the typical tubes like 6L6, the various KT** and 6550. Could somebody describe the sonic advantages / disadvantages of the various types.

I see I have a Cunningham 6L6 and a Sylvania.

Hopefully this weekend I will check out the power supply on the Roscoe amp. I need to get the US taxes done first however.

ray

Well, the 6550 is another animal altogether. I've never been that fond of them but Charlie makes them work. The 6L6 family is unlike the EL34 family in that they have less gain, and a slightly drier, less mid-rangy sound. The KT66 is also slightly different in terms of gain and filament current, but works very well in 6L6 amps.

[SoundMods]

I haven't played much with the typical tubes like 6L6, the various KT** and 6550. Could somebody describe the sonic advantages / disadvantages of the various types.

I see I have a Cunningham 6L6 and a Sylvania.

Hopefully this weekend I will check out the power supply on the Roscoe amp. I need to get the US taxes done first however.

ray

Well, the 6550 is another animal altogether. I've never been that fond of them but Charlie makes them work. The 6L6 family is unlike the EL34 family in that they have less gain, and a slightly drier, less mid-rangy sound. The KT66 is also slightly different in terms of gain and filament current, but works very well in 6L6 amps.

I found that the Svetlana 6550C worked well in my Jadis Defy-7 when I had it. At least they did a much better job than the GE 6550s that came with it. Yet -- the KT-88 did a better job. Sovtek and JJ KT-88s specifically. The Svetlana KT-88s made the Jadis sound like it was a solid-state amp. -- not good. I lusted after Genelec KT-88s but did not have the deep pockets to indulge in that fantasy -- the Defy-7 took 12 power tubes to develop a modest 100-watts/channel.

Happiness now is 845/300B based SET.

[m1garandusa]

I have mostly vintage amps, and my various sources tell me that the filament windings on most older 6L6 amps cannot handle KT-66 filament current draw, which is a shame.
V/r
James

[Grover Gardner]

I have mostly vintage amps, and my various sources tell me that the filament windings on most older 6L6 amps cannot handle KT-66 filament current draw, which is a shame.
V/r
James

It depends on the amp. Most of the Heathkits will easily handle the extra filament current. What amps do you have?

[m1garandusa]

Grover,
I have McIntosh and ARC in 6L6. Do you know if they can take the extra heat?
JJJ