Cayin A70-T vs A50T

kinku · « **on:** 28 Jan 2013, 12:06 am »

hi,
I am trying to get a cayin for my MA Silver rs6 speakers ,that I can not part with. Reviews are kind of confusing as well as opinions. The A70-T I have in mind only works with KT88 tubes and not EL34. Any experiences. The two reviews http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0107/cayin_a70t.htm and http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0707/cayin_a_50t.htm did not help much since they recommend A70T objectively.Please help

wharfrat · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Jan 2013, 12:27 am »

Maybe I'm misreading the review. At the bottom this is what it says

Tube Compliment: Four KT88s, two 12AX7EH, two 12AU7EH, and 5AR4.
Can also be used with KT88, 6550, KT66, KT77, 5881, 6L6, EL34, 6CA7, 7189A.

The body of the review says that EL34s can be used as long as you manually bias the amp.
BTW--sounds like a nice amp!

kinku · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Jan 2013, 12:33 am »

Thts how ended up kind of commited to that amp,but I check with VAS guys and older manual bias version of A70T can not be used with el34 unless you change some resistance inside. So for the time being A70T with KT88

wharfrat · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Jan 2013, 12:38 am »

I understand your confusion. That's not clear in the review. Can you use 6550s? They are a variant of KT-88s and have sonic characteristics similar to EL-34s.

kinku · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Jan 2013, 01:12 am »

Do not know,but how close is that.As far as I know 6550 were predecessors for KT88.I might be wrong.

wharfrat · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Jan 2013, 01:31 am »

My understanding (and someone who is reading please correct me if I am wrong) is that a 6550, like an EL-34, has more liquid sound presentation, warmth and less bass than a KT-88. I remember reading that people really like the Tung sol reissues.

Edited for grammar and punctuation

kinku · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Jan 2013, 02:27 am »

I guess the discussion is deviating slightly here.How about the original topic A50T vs A70T

?

jazzwave · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Feb 2013, 07:05 am »

Yes you can use EL34 or KT88 or 6550 on Cayin A70-T autobias, this make different to A50 that only can use EL34 not KT88/6500.
This make A70T price higher than A50 or A55

From sound charateristic, KT88/6550 almost simmiliar ;hi power, extended bass. EL34 more warm, bass not big as KT88, more suitable for jazz vocal, you can hear vocal better with this tube (I prefer Winged C EL34 SED) .