Svetlana 6550 B-3 / Use of EL34s
Tom Smee
integrated amp for a few months. They seem much more transparent than the
Sovteks that I had previously been using and seem more extended in the
highs w/o losing tonal beauty. The GEs that came with the amp seem quite
grainy in comparison. Anyone else had a similar experience? Also, is
there any difference between the 6550 B-3 tubes (purchased from Cable Co)
and the 6550B Svetlanas that I see advertised elsewhere (Audio Adviser, I
think)?
2. Although I am happy with the 6550 B-3s, I have sometimes toyed with
the idea of trying EL34s in my amp. Any thoughts on the probable outcome?
How about KT88 or KT90 tubes?
Steven L. Bender
'Tom Smee <ts...@passport.ca>' wrote:
>
>2. Although I am happy with the 6550 B-3s, I have sometimes toyed with
>the idea of trying EL34s in my amp. Any thoughts on the probable outcome?
>How about KT88 or KT90 tubes?
that is if its a REAL KT-88 ).
EL-34's are whole nother animal. Transformers might be wrong impedance,
causing serious mismatch, sorry.
--
Steven L. Bender
LarrySB
check their home page, they may have a complete data sheet up now.
My next set of EL34's will most likely be Svetlana.
--
Dr. Nuketopia
Technology Director of the World-Wide Monetary Conspiracy
All opinions strictly reflect the party line
Doak Wattigney
Larry,
If you get the Svetlana EL34's anytime soon, I'd appreciate your comments
on them. I may retube my VTL's soon and have been considering the Svets.
Who has the best deal on these?
Doak
Kevin Hayes
>
> Although I am happy with the 6550 B-3s, I have sometimes toyed with
>the idea of trying EL34s in my amp. Any thoughts on the probable outcome?
>How about KT88 or KT90 tubes?
I have yet to hear a comparison in which either a pre-1970's Gold Lion
KT88 or a new Dragon KT88 does not handily trounce any 6550/6550A. for
whatever reason, a good KT88 produces a more natural and airy sound.
This does, of course, reflect the party line, but happily is also my
honest opinion!
Ron Selberg
> >2. Although I am happy with the 6550 B-3s, I have sometimes toyed with
> >the idea of trying EL34s in my amp. Any thoughts on the probable outcome?
> >How about KT88 or KT90 tubes?
> EL-34's are whole nother animal. Transformers might be wrong impedance,
> causing serious mismatch, sorry.
>
Actually EL34's are a close enough match. The pinout is slightly different.
You would have to be sure that pins 1 & 8 are tied together on the socket.
And the bias would need to be reset in order to make sure that you don't
exceed the max plate dissapation. It's 25w for an EL34, 40W for the 6550.
I believe that there were some Marshall guitar amps that came with 6550's
and a popular swap is to go to EL34's.
The impedances are different, but not enough to "worry" about.
I swap between the KT88's and EL34's in my amps all the time.
Ron
Steven L. Bender
OK, I stand corrected, but watch out for that orange glow......
--
Steven L. Bender
Roger Hecht
>1. I have been using four 6550 B-3 Svetlana tubes in my Jadis Defy DA 30
>integrated amp for a few months. They seem much more transparent than the
>Sovteks that I had previously been using and seem more extended in the
>highs w/o losing tonal beauty. The GEs that came with the amp seem quite
>grainy in comparison. Anyone else had a similar experience?
I had a similar experience, exactly. However, to my knowledge,
Svetlana is not making this tube any more. They moved on to a 6550 C,
which has a flash on top. This, they claim to be better, more stable,
etc. I have found this true, and really like the C. It has a darker
richer sound, making the B-3 that I liked so much sound almost thin in
comparision. In reality, they're probably just different sounds, and I
like them both in different ways. And it does hold its bias much
better.