[rollo]

   Do you have a favorite output tube for your amp ? EL34, 211, 300B, 6550, EL84, etc. Why ? Availibility ? sonics? design options ? all of the above.


charles

[JohnR]

Ah. Well, good question. Personally I've gravitated towards EL34s. If I had a zillion dollars perhaps the answer would be different but I got into tubes via classic amps and the EL34 just always seemed to deliver a satisfying experience.

[Nels Ferre]

Rollo,

Which tube I prefer depends on the amp/circuit it is used in. While tubes make a big difference, I contend that the output  transformers make as big a difference, if not bigger, than the tubes. I do tend to prefer KT88s over EL34's. To my ears and taste, they just sound more accurate from bottom to top.

I have had the opportunity to try the Shuguang Treasure Series KT88s in a couple of different amps, and they were brilliant. I am using them right now in my hot rodded JoLida power amp. I may try Treasures in my preamp. Unfortunately, they aren't inexpensive.

Edit: Forgot to mention- I do like the 211 as well. The issue with the 211 is they run hot (600+ degrees Fahrenheit.) so best in larger rooms.

[richidoo]

I've owned 6550, EL34 and 300B amps. They all have their moments and are affected so much by the  quality of the output tranny. I would rank them for tone quality as 300B, EL34, 6550. I also like the big bass of KT88 sometimes, but 6550 is less macho, more balanced. EL34 can play extremely subtly and delicate when the music calls for it. It float the image in mid air in front of you. It overloads very beautifully. 

But just as important to me is the ability of the amp to control the speaker and make it conform to the law in the grooves. For that, 6550, EL34, 300B, which is the order of power dissipation. EL34 is a good combination of usable power and a beautiful, but linear tone, so I guess it is my favorite overall.

The quality of the tube construction affects its tone, so you can't assume that all EL34 sound nicer than all 6550s in a given circuit. Once I tried their 300B tubes, I vowed never to buy a tube that can't use Shuguang Treasure tubes. Sadly, I sold my beloved Manley Snappers before I learned about Treasure 6CA7s (el34 type.)

Other tubes I have heard and loved the sound are 6AS7 in Atmasphere amps (clean and linear,) EL156 amps in the Morningstar M156 (warm and sexy.)

[rollo]

  Good start guys. Using RCA 211s as we speak. But but that 300B sound keeps luring me in. Its just the low bass performance that is keeping me at bay. The EL34 is the classic back in the day sound. Tone baby tone.


charles

[Audioclyde]

I owned a Cary SLI-80, full triode version, and rolled thru KT-88, KT-66, KT-77, 6550, el34, 6l6.  Loved the NOS TS blackplate 6550, but expensive.  The RCA blackplate 6l6 was great for that smoky jazz club sound. Really settled on the Black Treasure 6ca7's in that amp as I felt they gave a little of everything.

Then I tried a 300B amp with Treasure tubes.  Got me hooked on SET!  Of course I wanted more quality bass.  Now I'm running a Mastersound 845 amp, with the Shuggy 845B tubes (these give me more of the magic mids of a 300B than the Psvanes 845 that I was using first). I love the 845, the SET magic mids and silky highs, but much more authoritative and controlled bass. I think I've found my output tube  .

Randy

[mgalusha]

I have developed a fondness for triode output tubes, there is just something that makes me happy in the sound. Of course the circuit and OPT are the greatest factor in the result but for whatever reason I find the amps I prefer, at least currently, all have triodes in the output stage, both push pull and SET. The M-60's have 6AS7 dual triodes and the Cyber 211's of course have 211 triodes. A friend has a pair of the Jolida Music Envoy with 211's in push pull and they sound very good once some decent caps were installed.

mike

[Berto]

I'm in love with my 40 watt push pull F2a tube amps. They have that combo of doing breathtaking female vocals to completely rocking out and everything in between. Replaced three others amps that were 2 to 5x the price. Finding that synergy is a beautiful thing.

F2a tube is rare/pricey , but big and powerful sounding

[FullRangeMan]

Interesting Question....For what I read I prefer big triodes only.
Input: 7025, 6SN7/12SN7, (NOT 6H30 as it is expensive and had a ''transistor'' sound signature).

Drive: 6SN7/12SN7, 300B

Output:
6C33 = Good sound, low impedance, plenty of output transformers, many sockets options to chosse
211 = a refinated sound, Shuguang not reliable(whisker noise), but easy to find Jumbo socket)
805 = Shuguang Top Cap: a refined tube, with good power 125W plate, easy to find jumbo socket;
GM70 graphite plate= a sophisticated sound, big soundstage, bold/robust sound, ''modern'' 4 pin hard to find socket, Yamamoto socket at 8000 Yens, low price tube in Russia).

[Quiet Earth]

I love my 300B amps and I can't really tell you why.

Maybe it's because they cook up a perfect balance of power vs. character in the land of single ended power triodes. Not too much, not too little, but just right? Maybe that's also why some people don't care for them. Too middle of the road, and not willing to take sides. If 300Bs are indeed some sort of power triode compromise, I think I'm OK with that.

It's also possible that my 300B amps are so technically flawed that they can only deliver the music in a hypnotically soulful way that is too pleasing to pick nits with.  If that's the case, I think I'm OK with that too.

In the 6 years that I've owned my 300B amps I haven't enjoyed music this much since I was a kid. Once the system is on, it's very difficult for me to turn it off. I also think my record collection has doubled since I bought them.

  ... that 300B sound keeps luring me in. Its just the low bass performance that is keeping me at bay.

The grass is always greener......

I recently got the opportunity to hear a very nice 211 SET amp and I felt equally "lured" into its awesome perspective of size and control while it maintained that SET magic. If I ever do make an amplifier change it might be for something like that. Wow!

[zybar]

I have developed a fondness for triode output tubes, there is just something that makes me happy in the sound. Of course the circuit and OPT are the greatest factor in the result but for whatever reason I find the amps I prefer, at least currently, all have triodes in the output stage, both push pull and SET. The M-60's have 6AS7 dual triodes and the Cyber 211's of course have 211 triodes. A friend has a pair of the Jolida Music Envoy with 211's in push pull and they sound very good once some decent caps were installed.

mike

+1 on the 6AS7 tubes in triode.

Besides them sounding super sweet in Atma-Sphere amps, I also used the 6AS7 tubes in a pair of Kora Cosmos Reference mono blocks that were stunning in the midrange and highs.

George