[rushfan71]

Hey everyone,

                           I am in the market for a set ( of 6550 s for my primaluna dialogue premium HP power amplifier. I got some good advice to check out vintage tube services and I see they have NOS 6550. Tung sol, ge, sylvania a bit higher priced than todays production tubes. And then there are the current offerings such as tung-sol, sovtek, svetlana, eh, sed winged c that were good but then toward the end of their run were inconsistent in quality and now pricey and who knows which ones your getting. It's enough to make me reach out to you guys. What can you tell me? What are your opinions if you have heard any or several of these tubes?  I've about gone cross eyed with all the reading I've been doing on this.

Thanks in advance everyone.

[rushfan71]

That should say a set of 8

[FullRangeMan]

The best for me are the longer life.

[SteveFord]

I'd probably go with Gold Lions with Sovteks a second choice. 
Shame the Winged Cs are no longer available, they were my second choice after Ei.

[eichlerera1]

Listen to Andy!!!

[Tyson]

I'd go KT88 which will last longer because it's built to handle a bit more power.  And Gold Lion makes great KT88s, as does Psvane and Shuguang. 

The Gold Lions are more punchy and energetic, the Psvane/Shuguang have better mids. 

[rollo]

Listen to Andy!!!

   +1 Andy knows his tubes.  However what does Kevin recommend for his amp ?


charles

[rushfan71]

According to Primaluna's owners manual for this amp:

EL34 switch position: EL34, 6CA7, 6L6GC, 7581A, AND KT66

KT88 switch position: 6550, KT88, KT90, KT120, and KT150

Im interested in 6550 opinions

Thanks John

[FullRangeMan]

IMO you could take the most durable 6550 according Andy suggestion, a bit of better sound quality is a secondary value since all sound good, the difference is marginal.

The ugly duck are the KT90, mids are dry, treble are flat, a tube suited to bass amps.

[rotarius]

Tung-Sol 6550 seem to be the best current production 6550s.

[dolsey01]

Tung-Sol 6550 seem to be the best current production 6550s.

I liked these in a Rogue Eighty-Eight.  I wanted something besides the usual EH Rogue was offering and had problems with Gold Lions in that particular Rogue amp (I use them currently in another amp).  Upscale Audio was recommending the Tung-Sols at the time.  Great all around tube and they were reliable.