[bycead]

I'm looking at tube rolling and am currently running Electro-Harmonics EH-6550 tubes. They sound great, but I don't have any reference to that. I would like to listen to other tubes for any difference of quality, control, tones and or sound stage.

Any comments on other 6550 tubes characteristics, sound definition etc, would be appreciated. I mainly listening to jazz and classical on 385 Tannoys.
Thanks.

[Freo-1]

IMHO. the e GE 6550A is the BEST of the 6550 family.  Not cheap, but worth the effort if you can find them.  There is a guy on Audio Asylum that sells leftover NOS. 


The Russian KT88 Gold Lion is a good sub as well.

[FullRangeMan]

Many 88 custumers say Gold Lion are the best,
NOS Mullard 88 also are great, both expensive.

This is an article on KT88:
https://jacmusic.com/techcorner/ARTICLES/English/Portraits/KT88/KT88-Testing.html

[johnss]

I'm looking at tube rolling and am currently running Electro-Harmonics EH-6550 tubes. They sound great, but I don't have any reference to that. I would like to listen to other tubes for any difference of quality, control, tones and or sound stage.

Any comments on other 6550 tubes characteristics, sound definition etc, would be appreciated. I mainly listening to jazz and classical on 385 Tannoys.
Thanks.

I did that a number of years ago. a lot depends on what amp you are rolling the tubes in. The EH 6550s are pretty nice. The EH KT88s have a bit more of a dynamic sound. If your plate voltages are not too high the Shuguang Treasure KT88s are super organic sounding.

[shakey]

I have both NOS and current production in my collection, which includes Tung Sol black plates, solid grey plates, 3 hole plates, GE welded plates, current production Tung Sol 6550 and KT-120’s, SED 6550 Wing C, and I just bought the new Gold Lion KT-88’s. Unfortunately I don’t have the EH tubes. That said, I also listen to jazz and classical. The older Tung Sols are probably my favorite but they are hard to find in true NOS condition. My recommendation would be to try GE 6550’s and if your amp can handle them, the KT-120.
With the GE tubes, the later version had stapled plates. I can’t say if there’s any difference between those and the welded plates.

[Jbraswell]

I really enjoyed the switch from KT120 to some vintage GE 6550 in my Rogue ST-100.

The mids are really sweet sounding and the sound is more musical to my ears.

The tubes are a little more loud with music off.
Nothing distracting though.

[rpf]

I love 6550s; haven't heard current production though, aside from the Tung Sol, which I didn't care for: too much bass emphasis (which I also found with their KT120s and 6L6GC STRs). The Winged Cs were great, more balanced than the NOS GE's IMO, although the GE's have a lush, almost EL34 like midrange.

The new production Gold Lion KT88s are very good but I prefer the Penta KT88 SCs (now The Tube Store Preferred KT88s): more refined.

The 6550s are derived from - and sound similar to - the 6L6. In the latter, albeit less powerful family, the Reflektor 6P3S-E are the best I've heard, better than the great NOS RCA and Sylvania 6L6GCs. (Full disclosure: I'll be putting some 6P3S-E quads up for sale soon as I dismantle my main system.)