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

beardog03
beardog03 Posts: 5,550
edited November 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
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
Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
Parasound HCA-3500
Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
Jolida JD-100 CDP
Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
SVS PC-Ultra Sub
AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
PS Audio Plus Power Cords
Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

:cool:
Post edited by beardog03 on
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Comments

  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    Like the Tung Sol 6550's over the SED winged C.

    Genalex Gold Lion KT88's over anything else I've used.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2009
    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
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited November 2009
    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
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited November 2009
    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.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited November 2009
    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
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2009
    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.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    If its either or....I say for the money (bang for the buck) Tung Sol 6550's...sweeeeeet tubes.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2009
    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 !!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    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-
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    187CAM wrote: »
    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.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    Face wrote: »
    He's a tool.

    ????
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    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.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    I never have had a problem.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,564
    edited November 2009
    Face wrote: »
    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.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2009
    I won't deal with him again either.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2009
    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 !!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • malikarshad
    malikarshad Posts: 527
    edited November 2009
    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?

    Speakers=>Salk Soundscape 8, Soundscape Center,Surrounds-Dali Rubicon LCR, Lsi7
    PreAmp, Amp => Marantz AV8801, ATI 6007 amp, Oppo HA-1 DAC
    Source => Sonore MicroRendu, Oppo BDP-103, Mede8er 600XD, Dune HD Smart D1, Synology DS1813+(16TB)
    Sub - JTR Captivator S2 (Dual 18")
    Power - Furman IT-Ref20i on dedicated 30Amp circuit with Furutech GTX-R outlet
    Screen=> JVC RS-45 projector Da-Lite HP 133" 2.35
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2009
    As I understand it, yes, the front end does make a difference
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • lyzbai
    lyzbai Posts: 1
    edited November 2009
    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.
    Assurance retraite vie complementaire fr | Vie assurance retraite complementaire fr
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2009
    I'm sure that article helps a lot.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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