Opinions re: THE BEST 6550
Jamie
Now that I am in the wonderful world of 6550 amps, I was wondering.... Is
it REALLY worth it to go and hunt down those JAN Tung-Sol 6550s at $400 a
quad, or is there something else out there that sounds good? Currently, I
am using Svetlana 6550c and have no complaints, but as of yet, I may not
know what I am missing....
I would love to hear your opinions ont the various 6550s out there.
Thanks in advance...
--
Jamie Campbell
jcc at wwa dot com
Tubes are absolutely the WORST sound reproducers in the world, except for
everything else.
Wilfred
Hi Jamie,
One of my amps I designed for KT88's, but since I can't get decent KT's I've
used 6550's instead. It uses cathode bias in class A, UL config. I mention
these details because the conditions are quite severe for most valves; a
constant heat dissipation of around 28-30 Watts per valve.
You might say that a 6550 should have no problem with that kind of power,
but unfortunately most new ones do.
The inside of the ST-shaped (coke bottle) Chinese 6550A looks suspiciously
like that of the infamous Chinese KT88. Enough has been said about the (lack
of) quality of those. Anyway, apart from the faint red glow on the plates,
they make my amp sound quite 'flat' (no soundstage).
My RCA's make the amp really come alive and put on a great soundstage.
They're my reference.
Lately I've been mainly using Valve Art 6550A's.They come very close to the
sound of the RCA's and are just as stable. Some of them show a faint red
spot on the plate on a hot night though.
I haven't had Svetlana 6550C's in my amp yet, but I have heard their Sovtek
predecessors (6550WA) in a Trilogy 948. That amp runs them in pentode-mode
class AB. Although the valves have to put away a lot less heat, I've seen
several glowing slightly red on the plates. I am told that it's a common
problem with Russian 6550's.
About the sound; it's got the strongest bass of all (even more than GE's),
but the rest seems very boring to me. I'm planning to borrow some for
comparison.
To compare Svetlana vs.. Valve Art; my dealer once send both brands to
somebody so he could try both and keep the ones he liked best (to replace
KT90's). The Svets came back and he kept the Valve Arts.
It's great to see the various manufacturers developing new valves and
upgrading others. Strong competition can be a good thing. Right now I'm
trying Valve Art KT100's. I'm still running them in, but the first
impression is very good. It's no upgraded KT88, but an entirely new design.
It looks a little like an EL156.
I'm planning a session with my friends to compare all the type we can get
our hands on soon. I'll keep you all posted.
Wilfred
Jamie heeft geschreven in bericht <01bd251f$712c8980$fc3e...@wwa.com>...
Bruce Platt
Wilfred
Thanks for your excellent post, I have printed it out and will keep it
for
reference. It seems I am in the same boat as Jamie. New to tubes ( well
not
really, my first stereo 20 years ago was a Dynaco Stereo 70 and Pas3,
which I
gave away, DOOOH!). I recently purchased a Sonic Frontiers SFS 50. The
guy who
sold it to me said he had upgraded the tubes from 6550s to KT99s. Not
knowing a
300B from a 12AX7a I said "thats nice".
The amp sounds wonderful, powering a pair of Thiel CS3.5s, but I am
often to
wonder if a different set of tubes would be even better. I have toyed
with
buying a set of 6550s to listen to and compare, then atleast I wont be
in a
scramble when I lose a tube just before I host the Audio club meeting.
I guess my question to you is, are the KT99s good tubes, ( I never see
them
listed any where for sale) or should I look for some good 6550s?
thanks
Bruce
TubeGuy
Jamie <Ja...@spamthisyoubozo.com> wrote in article
> Now that I am in the wonderful world of 6550 amps, I was wondering....
Is
> it REALLY worth it to go and hunt down those JAN Tung-Sol 6550s at $400 a
> quad, or is there something else out there that sounds good? Currently,
I
> am using Svetlana 6550c and have no complaints, but as of yet, I may not
> know what I am missing....
>
KT-88.
There's 6550 and KT-88 history, listening test results, and electrical test
results.
I tried a couple of pairs of Svetlana 6550Cs in my McIntosh MC-60s and they
conducted too heavily (the MC-60 bias isn't adjustable). The Svets seem to
work fine in Amps that don't require a high static bias current (biased in
or close to Class A).
I also tried Tesla KT-88s and Groove Tubes KT-88S (both made in the same
factory). Their plates didn't glow like the Svetlanas but the current was
still too high for comfort (85+ mA per tube).
So, I listen to the amps with best 6550s ever made, the Coke bottle
TungSols which can also be found with the RCA, Westinghouse, early GE,
Sylvania and other names on them.
The MPD GE6550A aren't bad either, in fact Uncle Ned kindly exchanged a
pair of Sovtek 6550s that glowed for the GEs a few years back.
BTW, the Genelex KT-88s sound great in these amps too (and they would
likely outlast the TungSols).
Best regards.
TubeGuy
Fordgt390x
KT90's sound the best, and Sovtek has never made a 6550 tube, the 6550C
Svetlana is very stable now,,,have fun!!!
IMHO
Fordgt390x
The Yugo KT90 is excellent too!! Very nice sound
Buffstereo
>The Yugo KT90 is excellent too!! Very nice sound
Yes, it certainly is! Robert Thompson
"Vacuum tubes are the valves of the heart!"
Vernon H. Brown
Fordgt390x wrote:
>
>Sovtek has never made a 6550 tube, the 6550C
>
The Sovtec 6550 WAs I bought from Ned several years ago must be
relabelled GEC Gold Lion KT88s!
Thanks Ned.
Regards,
Sandy Brown
Sheldon D. Stokes
In article <19980122134...@ladder02.news.aol.com>,
buffs...@aol.com (Buffstereo) wrote:
> >The Yugo KT90 is excellent too!! Very nice sound
>
> Yes, it certainly is!
I heard that the new KT90's being made are slightly different than the
original KT90's. Any truth in that?
Sheldon
--
Remove SPAM_BE_GONE. from my address to reply to me.
Wilfred
Sovtek doesn't make valves at all!
It's a brand name of New Sensor co.
They get theirs from various Russian factories (mainly Reflector).
After the fall of the Iron Curtain, New Sensor brought the Russian valves
that became available to the west. One of those types was the 6550WA, made
by the Svetlana factory in St. Petersburg.
Apparently, their exclusive contract for 6550's ended and the Svetlana plant
made a deal with the (US-based) distributor we all know (and that named
themselves after the factory). Furthermore; not all the Svetlana valves are
made at the Svetlana factory!
THE ABOVE is just my personal reconstruction of the recent history of
Russian valves. I may very well be wrong. Please comment any errors.
Wilfred
PS
KT90 are sometimes sold as KT99's. Probably to suggest that it's a higher
power KT88. I have heard that it puts out less power than 6550's or EL34's
when used in the same amp. But since it's plate voltage and dissipation
rating is higher, amps designed for it can be higher power than KT88-amps.
Please comment. (also on the different versions of it)
Fordgt390x heeft geschreven in bericht
<19980122003...@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
Daniel J. Marshall
Jamie,
I think that one went completely over your head Jamie. In the words of
Foghorn Leghorn "That was a joke Son".
Dan Marshall
Jamie wrote:
>
> >
> > The Sovtec 6550 WAs I bought from Ned several years ago must be
> > relabelled GEC Gold Lion KT88s!
> >
> > Thanks Ned.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Sandy Brown
> >
>
> You obivously know as little about the origin of tubes as you do about
> Ned's character. Tell me, did you even bother to ask Ned about the tubes
> in question before you publicly posted this? I think that this kind of
> post is quite rash and irresponsible. Please realize that Ned makes his
> living with tubes and you posting this grossly inaccurate and increadibly
> petty one-liner could have a direct impact on the poor man's livelyhood!
> I have done lots of business with Ned, and I live in Chicago and deal with
> him in person. I can tell you once and for all that he is certainly
> honest, would never sell re-labeled tubes as something other than what they
> ARE, and furthermore has some of the best damn prices around. Not to
> mention the fact that he has given me oodles of free advice, helped me out
> when I'm in a pinch, and once or twice he even trusted me to take home
> tubes and other stuff and try them out with no collateral other than my
> word! Ned is certainly one of the most repuatble people I have ever dealt
> with not just in the audio industry, but in general! I would have no
> problems sending my grandmother to him if she needed tubes.
>
> Wilfred has now debunked the conclusion you so readily jumped to, and I
> think that you owe Ned a sincere and public apology!!
Jamie
PReese270
This is my list in order of preference
Tungsol 6550
KT-88 Groove Tubes (blue - can the color make any difference?)
old GE 6550A
new GE 6550A
Svetlana 6550B
Svetlana 6550C
I am beginning to think the 6550 is a sort of sledgehammer, designed for use in
PA systems, which needs a bit of aging (softening? burning out?) before it
starts to sound good. I suspect the Svetlanas will sound better with age.
Ned Carlson
stokes@SPAM_BE_GONE.exis.net (Sheldon D. Stokes) wrote:
>In article <19980122134...@ladder02.news.aol.com>,
>buffs...@aol.com (Buffstereo) wrote:
>
>> >The Yugo KT90 is excellent too!! Very nice sound
>>
>> Yes, it certainly is!
>
>I heard that the new KT90's being made are slightly different than the
>original KT90's. Any truth in that?
Yup. The plate current is much closer to a regular 6550.
Also, they're much less prone to getting loose parts inside,
ie, the quality control is much better.
Ned Carlson, Triode Electronics, Chicago, IL http://www.triodeel.com
Open 12:30-8 PM CT, 12:30-5 PM CT Sat Closed Wed
ph:773-871-7459 fax 773-871-7938 "where da tubes are"
Email catalogs: email our CataBot: cat...@triodeel.com
Ned Carlson
"Jamie" <j...@spamthisyoubozo.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> The Sovtec 6550 WAs I bought from Ned several years ago must be
>> relabelled GEC Gold Lion KT88s!
>>
>> Thanks Ned.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Sandy Brown
>>
>
> You obivously know as little about the origin of tubes as you do about
>Ned's character. Tell me, did you even bother to ask Ned about the tubes
>in question before you publicly posted this?
Whoa, Jamie, he was kidding!
Of course he was referring to the
previous comment that Sovtek never
made 6550WA...well, there were
Sovtek branded 6550WA
at one time....
At any rate, Mr. Brown has been a good
customer of our for quite a while,
I don't think he would be if we were fake
labelling Russian 6550 as Gold Lions!
Jamie
Fisrstly, I want to start off by apologizing to Sandy Brown for going off
on him so heartily on the subject of saying that Ned was selling relabeled
tubes. It turns out that the post that claimed that the tubes were
relabeled was only a joke! So, I bow my head in reverence to the
joker..... You got me.....
But, now I ask for the use of just a little verbal caution. The post
really gave no indication that it WAS a joke... It appeared to me to be
the typical kind of baseless slander that, unfortunately has become the
norm here at times. Maybe if there wasn't precedent for that kind of
slander, I would've seen that it was a joke..... I have been reading this
group for about 6 months, and I was quite unaware until Ned told me that
Sandy Brown has quite a good business relationship with him.
So, basically what appeared to me to be a serious accusation, was a joke.
But, anyone who is new to this group would be convinced as I was that the
complaint was real. So, be careful with your words! They are very
powerful in this forum! If I had read a post like that when I first came
to this group, maybe I would have been wary of doing business with Ned, and
maybe I would have never gone over there and emptied out my bank account!
It's amazing how words can impact something like that without so much as
the intent for them to do so!
So, for the sake of caution, when people post something that isn't
OBVIUOSLY a joke, or is overtly sarcastic put a :0) or something like that
so we all know that you are kidding...... Last thing in the world you
wanna do is damage someone's business or reputation without even meaning
to!! Or start a flame war with a self-appoointed public defender for that
matter..... :0)
Sander deWaal
On Sat, 24 Jan 1998 03:34:41 +0800, Kamaruddin
<eye...@pacific.net.sg> wrote:
>One of my SV6550C last an unprecedented 24 hours on MC75
Would you please forward this to mr. MacFanatic? :-)
_
Sander deWaal
postm...@pegasus.demon.nl
______________________________________________________
Many real strides in technology and new inventions
came from backyard scientists and garage engineers,
hobbyists and tinkerers, et al. (Gabe Velez)
______________________________________________________
BOB DUCKWORTH
TubeGuy wrote:
> I tried a couple of pairs of Svetlana 6550Cs in my McIntosh MC-60s and they
> conducted too heavily (the MC-60 bias isn't adjustable).
The bias is adjustable.
It's just not something one can do instantly with a screw driver.
$400/each for tubes to bypass 15min with the soldering iron?????
That's a nice suit you're wearing. Italian?
-bob
Max or Paul
PReese270 wrote:
From looking at old Tun-Sol ads and literature from 1954/55, it is
obvious that the 6550 was designed as a serious Hi-Fi tube, not as a pa
tube. It could produce very high power, or moderate power at lower
distortion than previous American tubes. This is why it is so widely
used in Hi-Fi amps.
Max
dlm
uh....Jack.....and who do you think makes them GT's?
Kamaruddin wrote:
> PReese270 wrote:
>
> > This is my list in order of preference
> >
> > Tungsol 6550
> > KT-88 Groove Tubes (blue - can the color make any difference?)
> > old GE 6550A
> > new GE 6550A
> > Svetlana 6550B
> > Svetlana 6550C
> >
> > I am beginning to think the 6550 is a sort of sledgehammer, designed for use in
> > PA systems, which needs a bit of aging (softening? burning out?) before it
> > starts to sound good. I suspect the Svetlanas will sound better with age.
>
> This is my list in order of preference (Only to tubes I've owned and listened to)
>
> GEC KT88 Gold Lion (same batched number)
> TungSol 6550 ST
> RCA 6550 ST (made by TungSol)
> GE 6550A (Black Plastic Base)
> GE 6550A (Original Box)
> GE JAN 6550A
> Svetlana 6550B (still working after one year)
> Tesla KT88 (Blue Glass)
> Svetlana 6550C (one tube lasted 24 hrs)
>
> These tubes usually need about 100 hrs to burn in, Except for GEC which sound
> beautiful right off, Tesla sounded ragged in midrange.
>
> One Eye Jack
Vernon H. Brown
Ned Carlson wrote:
>
> "Jamie" <j...@spamthisyoubozo.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >>
> >> The Sovtec 6550 WAs I bought from Ned several years ago must be
> >> relabelled GEC Gold Lion KT88s!
> >>
> >> Thanks Ned.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Sandy Brown
> >>
> Whoa, Jamie, he was kidding!
> Of course he was referring to the
> previous comment that Sovtek never
> made 6550WA...well, there were
> Sovtek branded 6550WA
> at one time....
>
> At any rate, Mr. Brown has been a good
> customer of our for quite a while,
> I don't think he would be if we were fake
> labelling Russian 6550 as Gold Lions!
OK, I want to make a public apology:
Ned has not been taking GEC Gold Lion KT88s and relabeling them as
Sovtec 6550s. It appears as if they are Svetlanas relabeled by the
importer.
I am sorry for any confusion this caused.
I will never use Ned's name in any further attempts at levity.
Best Regards,
Sandy Brown
Kamaruddin
TubeGuy wrote:
> Jamie <Ja...@spamthisyoubozo.com> wrote in article
> >
> > Now that I am in the wonderful world of 6550 amps, I was wondering....
> Is
> > it REALLY worth it to go and hunt down those JAN Tung-Sol 6550s at $400 a
> > quad, or is there something else out there that sounds good? Currently,
> I
> > am using Svetlana 6550c and have no complaints, but as of yet, I may not
> > know what I am missing....
One of my SV6550C last an unprecedented 24 hours on MC75
> BTW, the Genelex KT-88s sound great in these amps too (and they would
> likely outlast the TungSols).
> Best regards.
> TubeGuy
They sure does. One of the best tubes ever made.
One Eye Jack
Kamaruddin
Vernon H. Brown wrote:
> Fordgt390x wrote:
> >
> >Sovtek has never made a 6550 tube, the 6550C
> >
>
> The Sovtec 6550 WAs I bought from Ned several years ago must be
> relabelled GEC Gold Lion KT88s!
>
> Thanks Ned.
>
> Regards,
> Sandy Brown
What Blasphemy. So if a Lada car last that long it should be
rename Roll Royce.Have you ever listened to GEC Gold Lion KT88's?
I'm listening to Paul Simon's
Graceland with them right now.
One Eye Jack
Kamaruddin
Jamie wrote:
> >
> > The Sovtec 6550 WAs I bought from Ned several years ago must be
> > relabelled GEC Gold Lion KT88s!
> >
> > Thanks Ned.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Sandy Brown
> >
>
> You obivously know as little about the origin of tubes as you do about
> Ned's character. Tell me, did you even bother to ask Ned about the tubes
> in question before you publicly posted this? I think that this kind of
> post is quite rash and irresponsible. Please realize that Ned makes his
> living with tubes and you posting this grossly inaccurate and increadibly
> petty one-liner could have a direct impact on the poor man's livelyhood!
> he is certainly honest, would never sell re-labeled tubes as something
> other than what they ARE, and furthermore has some of the best damn prices around.
>
> Wilfred has now debunked the conclusion you so readily jumped to, and I
> think that you owe Ned a sincere and public apology!!
>
> Jamie Campbell
I'll second to that. I've no say about Uncle Ned's integrity yet as I've not deal
with
him yet but I think that he does deserve a public apology.
One Eye Jack
BTW. Uncle Ned is one funny guy.
Kamaruddin
TubeGuy
BOB DUCKWORTH <b...@atl.org> wrote in article
When I said "the bias isn't adjustable" I was referring to the fact that
there is no variable pot on the Amp for making bias adjustments (for those
readers who may not be familiar with the MC-60s). Dyna, Marantz, Harmon
Kardon, and many others provided a variable pot to adjust the bias on most
of their Amps. Having been in the Electronics field nearly 30 years and
having built a few tube Amps from scratch, I have made resistor
"adjustments" to the internal circuitry to change the bias on other Amps
when required. In fact, I recently changed the bias adjustment range of my
Eico HF-60s (which already have variable bias and balance) to accomodate
my Svetlana and Tesla EL-34s as well as the older Mullards.
I didn't feel like making the resistor changes to the McIntosh bias
circuitry just to listen to the Svetlanas then have to undo the changes to
listen to my TungSols or Genelexes (I prefer to keep the MC-60s stock, for
the time being at least).
Best regards.
TubeGuy
PReese270
If you can afford GEC KT88 Gold Lions with the same batch number, I want you to
adopt me. I am an attorney so I can handle the proceedings for free.
Gee Dad, what other types of ultra expensive toys does our family have to play
with?
Kamaruddin
PReese270 wrote:
Sunny Boy, If Sunny Boy is real nice to Daddy-O, Daddy-O will let Sunny Boyplay
with Daddy-O's Telefunken EL34, Mullard EL34, Amperex 'Bugle Boy' EL34,
Daddy-O still have a few quads of Gold Lion KT88 lying around. Daddy-O is still
trying to find the elusive M.O.V. KT66. If Sunny Boy is really ,realy nice,
Daddy-O
will let Sunny Boy play with Daddy-O's Mc60's, Mc75's, Heathkit W5M, Cary
CAD 300BSE amps. But the problem is Daddy-O is not married Yet.
One Eye Daddy-O
Kamaruddin
dlm wrote:
> uh....Jack.....and who do you think makes them GT's?
>
> Kamaruddin wrote:
>
> > PReese270 wrote:
> >
> > > This is my list in order of preference
> > >
> > > Tungsol 6550
> > > KT-88 Groove Tubes (blue - can the color make any difference?)
> > > old GE 6550A
> > > new GE 6550A
> > > Svetlana 6550B
> > > Svetlana 6550C
>
> > This is my list in order of preference (Only to tubes I've owned and listened to)
> >
> > GEC KT88 Gold Lion (same batched number)
> > TungSol 6550 ST
> > RCA 6550 ST (made by TungSol)
> > GE 6550A (Black Plastic Base)
> > GE 6550A (Original Box)
> > GE JAN 6550A
> > Svetlana 6550B (still working after one year)
> > Tesla KT88 (Blue Glass)
> > Svetlana 6550C (one tube lasted 24 hrs)
>
> >
> > One Eye Jack
Teslovak formerly Tesla. If your name is "Prince" even when you change it tosome
unpronounceable symbols. People will still knows you as "Prince"
One Eye Jack
TheSpikeMeister
That is just about the funniest damn thing I've read around here in a while.
In article <19980124032...@ladder02.news.aol.com>,
pree...@aol.com (PReese270) wrote:
> If you can afford GEC KT88 Gold Lions with the same batch number, I want
you to
> adopt me. I am an attorney so I can handle the proceedings for free.
>
> Gee Dad, what other types of ultra expensive toys does our family have
to play
> with?
--
Don't shoot me. . .I'm just the piano player.
Then again if you want to start something, I'll finish it --Semper Fi
Go ahead...Make it a vacuum tube day.
Saving the vacuum in them tube to sell it someday.
Spike say's "Don't for get to remove "NOSPAM' from the address"
TheSpikeMeister
Ned, Ned, Ned,
He said it the other way around.
Implyiing he liked the Sovtec 6550 WA so much, he though you relabelled GEC
Gold Lion KT88s.
See:
That is you took the KT88s and washed off the labeling, then put the Sovtec
6550 WA lable on them.
It is simply stated, yet do we not read?
In article <34c85726...@news.flash.net>, postm...@triodeel.com wrote:
> "Jamie" <j...@spamthisyoubozo.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >>
> >> The Sovtec 6550 WAs I bought from Ned several years ago must be
> >> relabelled GEC Gold Lion KT88s!
> >>
> >> Thanks Ned.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Sandy Brown
> >>
> >
> > You obivously know as little about the origin of tubes as you do about
> >Ned's character. Tell me, did you even bother to ask Ned about the tubes
> >in question before you publicly posted this?
>
>
> Whoa, Jamie, he was kidding!
> Of course he was referring to the
> previous comment that Sovtek never
> made 6550WA...well, there were
> Sovtek branded 6550WA
> at one time....
>
> At any rate, Mr. Brown has been a good
> customer of our for quite a while,
> I don't think he would be if we were fake
> labelling Russian 6550 as Gold Lions!
>
>
> Ned Carlson, Triode Electronics, Chicago, IL http://www.triodeel.com
> Open 12:30-8 PM CT, 12:30-5 PM CT Sat Closed Wed
> ph:773-871-7459 fax 773-871-7938 "where da tubes are"
> Email catalogs: email our CataBot: cat...@triodeel.com
--
GerryE123
>>eye...@pacific.net.sg> writes:
>>This is my list in order of preference (Only to tubes I've owned and listened
>>to)
>>GEC KT88 Gold Lion (same batched number)
>>TungSol 6550 ST
>>RCA 6550 ST
>>(made by TungSol)
>>GE 6550A (Black Plastic Base)
>>GE 6550A (Original Box)
>>GE
>>JAN 6550A
>>Svetlana 6550B (still working after one year)
>>Tesla KT88 (Blue
>>Glass)
Svetlana 6550C (one tube lasted 24 hrs)
I definitely agree with the top selection. Of course I just purchased a dozen
excellent condition slightly used Genalex red label Gold Lions :-)
On a more serious note, I would like to qualify that top selection. It's been
my experience that the older (1960's, early 70's) Genalex/G.E.C. KT88's are
better then the later (late 70's, early 80's) version. My older samples don't
have a date code, but they do have the red Genalex sticker. I also had some
that had a blue Genalex sticker, but I am guessing that these were a more
recent vintage (late 60's, early 70's). The G.E.C. labeled versions that I
had, did have a date code (1978).
Gerry
PReese270
I suggest that everyone mellow out a little. Isn't this supposed to be fun?
Kevin Deal / Upscale Audio
In article <19980124032...@ladder02.news.aol.com>,
pree...@aol.com (PReese270) wrote:
>If you can afford GEC KT88 Gold Lions with the same batch number, I want you
to
>adopt me. I am an attorney so I can handle the proceedings for free.
>
>Gee Dad, what other types of ultra expensive toys does our family have to
play
>with?
Or for 33 1/3% of the tubes
Regards, {Please note our new address!!}
Kevin Deal Largest U.S. inventory of rare vintage audio tubes
Upscale Audio Authorized dealer for Sonic Frontiers, Anthem
2504 Spring Terrace Audible Illusions, Presence, Margules/Magenta, B&K
Upland, CA 91784 PSB, Meadowlark, Energy, Sound Dynamics, Odyssey
Voice(909) 931-9686 Speakercraft, Nordost, Synergistic, Kimber Kable
Fax (909) 985-6968 Most upper quality Mid-Fi/Home Theater brands too
Wilfred
>Teslovak formerly Tesla. If your name is "Prince" even when you change it
tosome
>unpronounceable symbols. People will still knows you as "Prince"
>
>One Eye Jack
>
>
Tesla closed down their valve department some time ago. (focussing on light
bulbs alone).
Later on, valve production was restarted, but not by the same factory! I
guess that a lot of their equipment went to the 'new' Teslovak, but it's not
the same company that had been producing very decent EL34's and E83CC for
decades. The new factory is located in the Slovak Republic and not in Prague
anymore (Chech Republic).
Furthermore, the appearance of the EL34 has suffered dearly (I just don't
get to like that oddly-shaped round-ish top and the black base. Oh, how I
love the old flat-top and the classic brown base of the NOS Tesla's). But as
they say, it's the inner beauty that matters (and I have no opinion about
that, haven't tried Teslovak's).
Wilfred
Sheldon D. Stokes
In article <01bd2865$a402d960$644094ce@tubeguy>, "TubeGuy"
<Tub...@elnet.com> wrote:
> When I said "the bias isn't adjustable" I was referring to the fact that
> there is no variable pot on the Amp for making bias adjustments (for those
> readers who may not be familiar with the MC-60s). Dyna, Marantz, Harmon
> Kardon, and many others provided a variable pot to adjust the bias on most
> of their Amps.
Is it just me, or is does this seem like a really bad design practice, and
something I'd expect in a cheap bogen amp.
So not only is there no AC balance, but no bias adjustment either. Somehow
that doens't suprise me that mac would do that.
Sheldon
--
Remove SPAM_BE_GONE. from my address to reply to me.
Jamie
For the record, before this gets any worse:
1) Sandy Brown was kidding.
2) I did not know he was kidding.
3) Ned knew he was kidding.
4) I did not know that Ned knew he was kidding.
5) I am not a stick in the mud
6) I think Sandy's post IS funny, especially when you consider the fallout.
7) I really don't think Ned gives a shit as long as nobody thinks he's
ripping people off, which he isn't.
8) I DO NOT think that Sandy owes Ned an apology
9) I owe them BOTH an apology and a round of beers!
10) Please don't let this stifle any further attempts at levity.
11) Just make sure we know what's a joke and what ain't. Look at poor
Kamaruddin, he still hasn't figured out what happened here. He still sides
with my original post! Poor guy!
So, lemme state this one last time for the uninitiated:
I screwed up here so please don't bash Ned or Sandy, as this whole debacle
was my fault!
Jamie Campbell
Tubes are a pain in the glass!
Gruvmyster
Jamie wrote:
> I screwed up here so please don't bash Ned or Sandy, as this whole debacle
> was my fault!
OK, but how can you side with someone who mislabels GEC KT88s and sell them as
Sovteks?
Doug
--
"The wise leave the road and find the Way;
fools cling to the Way and lose the road." -- Lao-tzu
Larry Roe
I stupidly wrote:
<snip>
> Seriously, though, when there
> is some minor flame-war, it always seems to end up here as the result of
> a cross-post.
<snip>
OK, after taking a VERY brief peek at the thread contining references to
drive-by shootings and the Joenet, I withdraw my comments concerning
cross-posts and r.a.o.
Larry
dlm
sheeeeesh!
Kirk R. Patton
Sheldon D. Stokes wrote:
>
> Is it just me, or is does this seem like a really bad design practice, and
> something I'd expect in a cheap bogen amp.
>
> So not only is there no AC balance, but no bias adjustment either. Somehow
> that doens't suprise me that mac would do that.
>
on the matter . . . .
First, I believe that much of the McIntosh approach to equipment is that
the less one has to mess with it, the better. Kind of like the
difference in approach between an MGB roadster and a Mazda Miata.
Personally, I like the S.U. carburetors, and don't mind playing with
them, but the vast majority of the car-buying public would prefer the
maintanence on the latter.
Second, local feedback in the unity-coupled output stage tends to reduce
notch distortion, so the exact operating point of the output tubes isn't
quite as critical as it is in, say, the Dyna circuit. Macs usually run
pretty cool, and only with wildly out-of-spec tubes or not enough plate
voltage (like, soft voltage-doubler capacitors) do I ever see much
evidence of notch distortion on my analyzer.
The amount that you can change the bias in the Mac circuit is limited,
too, because you affect the operating point of the cathode-follower in
the process. I have tried, and you can't change things much before the
distortion spectra starts to become somewhat shifted -- but not in a
notchy kind of way. I'm not sure exactly what was affecting what, but
it definately wasn't for the better.
I have also tried A.C. and D.C. balance adjustments on a Mac amp, and it
was possible to improve the distortion specs. But I felt like I was
just splitting hairs; just trying get the needle a little lower without
making any significant improvement. The diff-amp stage that follows the
long-tailed pair does a pretty good job of self-balancing the circuit.
I think that the main point is that with already state-of-the-art specs
without the need for adjustments, why would Mac designers have
bothered? Original-type tubes were also available and consistant for
many years after this stuff was originally designed, it's only 35-50
years later that it becomes much of an issue.
Sander deWaal
On Mon, 26 Jan 1998 19:28:00 -0600, Larry Roe <l...@engr.uark.edu>
wrote:
Your comments still hold some water when Arny K. or Tim Brown
are concerned...... :-)
Jamie
Gruvmyster <dhau...@mail.idt.net> wrote in article
<34CD2EAC...@mail.idt.net>...
> Jamie wrote:
>
> > I screwed up here so please don't bash Ned or Sandy, as this whole
debacle
> > was my fault!
>
> OK, but how can you side with someone who mislabels GEC KT88s and sell
them as
> Sovteks?
HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK???
Jamie Campbell
jcc at wwa dot com
Tubes are absolutely the WORST sound reproducers in the world, except for
everything else.
Andrew Farkas
On 26 Jan 1998 22:57:31 GMT, "Jamie" <j...@spamthisyoubozo.com> wrote:
For the record. Would you bloody well DROP IT ALREADY?!?!
>
> For the record, before this gets any worse:
>
>1) Sandy Brown was kidding.
>2) I did not know he was kidding.
>3) Ned knew he was kidding.
>4) I did not know that Ned knew he was kidding.
>5) I am not a stick in the mud
>6) I think Sandy's post IS funny, especially when you consider the fallout.
>7) I really don't think Ned gives a shit as long as nobody thinks he's
>ripping people off, which he isn't.
>8) I DO NOT think that Sandy owes Ned an apology
>9) I owe them BOTH an apology and a round of beers!
>10) Please don't let this stifle any further attempts at levity.
>11) Just make sure we know what's a joke and what ain't. Look at poor
>Kamaruddin, he still hasn't figured out what happened here. He still sides
>with my original post! Poor guy!
>
>So, lemme state this one last time for the uninitiated:
>
>I screwed up here so please don't bash Ned or Sandy, as this whole debacle
>was my fault!
>
>
>
dlm
Jamie wrote:
>
> Gruvmyster <dhau...@mail.idt.net> wrote in article
> <34CD2EAC...@mail.idt.net>...
> > Jamie wrote:
> >
> debacle
> > > was my fault!
> >
> them as
> > Sovteks?
>
> HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE
> DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK??? HE DIDN'T, OK???
>
> Jamie Campbell
>
> jcc at wwa dot com
>
> Tubes are absolutely the WORST sound reproducers in the world, except for
> everything else.
Ok..that's only 44...you got 66 to go and then get started
on the Hail Marys!
Andy Cowley
Gruvmyster wrote:
>
> Jamie wrote:
>
> > I screwed up here so please don't bash Ned or Sandy, as this whole debacle
> > was my fault!
>
> OK, but how can you side with someone who mislabels GEC KT88s and sell them as
> Sovteks?
That's how.
G.E.C. KT88 are gonna sound soooo good no matter what you write
on the outside. How about getting 'Made in China' engraved on 'em.
p.s. Does anyone know how I can mount my Tele ECC803s so I can see
the little <> while they are working, I'm sure they would be sonically
superior if only I could see it.
Andy Cowley
Vernon H. Brown
Jamie wrote:
>
> For the record, before this gets any worse:
>
> 1) Sandy Brown was kidding.
> 2) I did not know he was kidding.
> 3) Ned knew he was kidding.
> 4) I did not know that Ned knew he was kidding.
> 5) I am not a stick in the mud
> 6) I think Sandy's post IS funny, especially when you consider the fallout.
> 7) I really don't think Ned gives a shit as long as nobody thinks he's
> ripping people off, which he isn't.
> 8) I DO NOT think that Sandy owes Ned an apology
> 9) I owe them BOTH an apology and a round of beers!
> 10) Please don't let this stifle any further attempts at levity.
> 11) Just make sure we know what's a joke and what ain't. Look at poor
> Kamaruddin, he still hasn't figured out what happened here. He still sides
> with my original post! Poor guy!
>
> So, lemme state this one last time for the uninitiated:
>
> was my fault!
>
>
> Tubes are a pain in the glass!
Jeez Jamie,
Next time I'm in Chicago I owe you a round of Chicago's best brew.
Don't worry about it!
Best regards,
Sandy
Kamaruddin
Jamie wrote:
> 11) Just make sure we know what's a joke and what ain't. Look at poor
> Kamaruddin, he still hasn't figured out what happened here. He still sides
> with my original post! Poor guy!
Dear Jamie, For your information, I knew from the moments I read the original
posting that it was a joke. I only sided with you so that you don't look so
bad.
It seem that you usually like to jump to conclusion before you know the real
situation. I know nobody in a right frame of mind will ever rebrand a GEC KT88
as Sovtek, so I knew it was a joke. Lightenen up Jamie, this is supposed to be
a fun
NG. You should read the postings by PReese a.k.a. Peter Reese, now that's a
funny guy.
One Eye Jack
Kamaruddin
BTW. I knew Uncle Ned is an honest guy. How else could you all call him to
come
back to the NG even though he sick with a cold. I have a pretty high sense of
humor, you know, a pretty face too.
Jamie
> Dear Jamie, For your information, I knew from the moments I read the
original
> posting that it was a joke. I only sided with you so that you don't look
so
> bad.
(Jamie rolls his eyes and then looks to the heavens, trying to hide a
smirk)
Oh, well thanks! I don't know what I would have done to save face if you
hadn't come to the rescue. My hero hath come with crowbar in hand to help
me pryeth mine own foot from mine own mouth! You're a true sport,
Kamaruddin. The fact that you would help me out like that. Then to
explain why. Classy.
> It seem that you usually like to jump to conclusion before you know the
real
> situation.
Don't take this like a personal attack, but get real! You base this on the
whole month or so you've been here? I did a Deja News search on your name
and it shows that the earliest post you ever made here was on the 20th of
December last year! So, lemme get this straight: You've been here a
month, you've read one rash post that I made, and you conclude by saying
that I jump to conclusions? Pardon me, but I can't help but find that to
be very ironic. I think that perhaps this constitutes the humor aspect you
call for later in your post.
I know nobody in a right frame of mind will ever rebrand a GEC KT88
>
> as Sovtek, so I knew it was a joke.
Well, if I had any experience with KT88's maybe I would've known what the
price difference should have been. But, since I know very little about
those tubes....... I should have kept my mouth shut......enough said on
this stinkball topic already.....
Lightenen up Jamie, this is supposed to be
> a fun
> NG.
On this point, I agree wholeheartedly. We all need to lighten up a little.
Except for Ned, he's already pretty lightened up...... If someone could
lighten up his workload, I'm sure he'd be interested......
You should read the postings by PReese a.k.a. Peter Reese, now that's a
> funny guy.
>
> One Eye Jack
> Kamaruddin
>
> BTW. I knew Uncle Ned is an honest guy. How else could you all call him
to
> come
> back to the NG even though he sick with a cold. I have a pretty high
sense of
> humor, you know, a pretty face too.
No comment.
Oh, and just to keep this on topic:
I am using a quad of Svetlana 6550c that I picked up about three or four
weeks ago. It seems that these tubes do sound alot better with some
break-in. I had some trouble with a couple of the tubes glowing plates.
Looks like I got the "red plate special" :0) Anyway, buying these from a
reputable dealer is reccommended, as I had to return two of them. Other
than that, they seem to have a very balanced tone overall and sound quite
nice to my ears. They are a bit darker than what I'm used to, but I'm
still getting the feel for the amp that I recently finished so I don't know
wheather that difference in sound is due to the amp or the tubes. Probably
both! Other than that, they seem to hold their bias settings pretty well
and other than the fact that they can look somewhat like the leaning tower
of Pisa, they seem to be built pretty well, too. I did, however notice
some irregularities on the outer surface of the plates on one of the tubes.
Kinda like that powdery grey stuff wasn't put on as evenly as it could've
been. Probably not a problem as long as it's only on the outer surface of
the plates. But, then how could you ever tell without busting open the
tube??
--
Ned Carlson
Andy Cowley <an...@cowley.com> wrote:
>> OK, but how can you side with someone who mislabels GEC KT88s and sell them as
>> Sovteks?
>Hey Ned, I'll take 4 matched quads. Keep up the good work. ;-)
>
>That's how.
>
>G.E.C. KT88 are gonna sound soooo good no matter what you write
>on the outside. How about getting 'Made in China' engraved on 'em.
You never know what'll turn up. I've heard of EL37's that were
relabelled "6L6-GC", and in my hot little mitts I have a "National
Made In England" 12AX7 that is a relabelled Mullard CV4004.
>
>p.s. Does anyone know how I can mount my Tele ECC803s so I can see
>the little <> while they are working, I'm sure they would be sonically
>superior if only I could see it.
Drill a big hole in the socket and put a mirror underneath it.
Ned Carlson
Kamaruddin <eye...@pacific.net.sg> wrote:
>It seem that you usually like to jump to conclusion before you know the real
>situation. I know nobody in a right frame of mind will ever rebrand a GEC KT88
>
>as Sovtek, so I knew it was a joke.
Well, ya never know about National or that Aspen Pittman guy.
>BTW. I knew Uncle Ned is an honest guy. How else could you all call him to
>come
>back to the NG even though he sick with a cold. I have a pretty high sense of
>humor, you know, a pretty face too.
Good for you, I'm ugly as sin, my wife married me because
having me around the house scared off all the rodents..
Ned Carlson
stokes@SPAM_BE_GONE.exis.net (Sheldon D. Stokes) wrote:
>Is it just me, or is does this seem like a really bad design practice, and
>something I'd expect in a cheap bogen amp.
Hey, take it easy on the Bogens..other than the Pacemaker line,
it was well made stuff, certainly a cut above things like MASCO
and most of the Knight PA gear.
They did some hifi gear, some of which wasn't too bad at all.
>
>So not only is there no AC balance, but no bias adjustment either. Somehow
>that doens't suprise me that mac would do that.
I doubt at the time that Mac even imagined that people would be using
their amps 40 years later, much less plugging Russian tubes in them!
At the time, the fact that a bias & balance adjustment wasn't
*required* (altho it certainly wouldn't have hurt anything to have
'em) would have been a sales point, vs. "conventional" amplifiers.
Tube12ax7a
>postm...@triodeel.com (Ned Carlson)
>Good for you, I'm ugly as sin, my wife married me because
>having me around the house scared off all the rodents..
funny you should mention rodents up there Ned.
one of my bands has a studio about 2 blocks from your shop, and every time the
exterminator puts out those little blue pellets, they disappear like candy at a
grade school. perhaps you should stop by for a visit........
Kamaruddin
Jamie wrote:
> Don't take this like a personal attack, but get real! You base this on the
> whole month or so you've been here? I did a Deja News search on your name
> and it shows that the earliest post you ever made here was on the 20th of
> December last year! So, lemme get this straight: You've been here a
> month, you've read one rash post that I made, and you conclude by saying
> that I jump to conclusions? Pardon me, but I can't help but find that to
> be very ironic. I think that perhaps this constitutes the humor aspect you
> call for later in your post.
For your information , I've been in this NG since August last year. I only got
mypersonal address in December last year. Previously I was using my
brother-in-law's
computer which was under his name, Syed Ghazaly Alqudsi. Please check that
in Dejanews to confirm. If I hurt your feeling, I humbly apologised. Let
forget
the whole thing and don't do a Jamie vs Kamaruddin like Andre vs Bob. In the
future I shall reserve my commend.
One Eye Jack
Kamaruddin
Ned Carlson wrote:
> Good for you, I'm ugly as sin, my wife married me because
> having me around the house scared off all the rodents..
>
Naw, I imagine you have a face that appeared in Norman Rockwell's
painting.
One eye Jack
Ned Carlson
tube1...@aol.com (Tube12ax7a) wrote:
>>postm...@triodeel.com (Ned Carlson)
>
>>Good for you, I'm ugly as sin, my wife married me because
>>having me around the house scared off all the rodents..
>
>funny you should mention rodents up there Ned.
>one of my bands has a studio about 2 blocks from your shop, and every time the
>exterminator puts out those little blue pellets, they disappear like candy at a
>grade school. perhaps you should stop by for a visit........
We're so close to the river that getting rid of rodents is
always going to be a problem, not to mention the unlimited food
they get from the grocery stores & restaurants.
In the old place I couldn't get rid of them, finally gave up
& gave them names.Tried to think of them as maintainence
free pets. Then they all disappeared, I thought someone had
bought a cat, then I noticed that a colony of possums
had moved in next door..apparently they like mice for
appetizers. So next time you see a possum (they look like
giant dirty-white rats), toss 'em a snack. They are your
marsupial friends.
PFJW
Sheeesh. I am a facilities director at a "significant" eastern business school
with its fair share of rodents of all sizes. We hired a cat. He has been in our
employ for somewhat over a year now, and has adapted to the 5,000 or-so daily
student trips wonderfully. He "manages" four buildings including about 500,000
square feet. There are still mice, but significantly fewer. And "Raider" has
put on considerable weight.
The University as a whole does not use poison for two reasons, one
practical.... animals die in the walls, ductwork, floor drains whereever and
stink.... and one ecological..... even though this is an urban campus, there
are several owls, at least one red-tail hawk family, and other predators
around. Traps only get the "dumb" ones. What is left is an "socially acceptable
internal predator".
Bottom line (we are a business school, after all): Get a cat.
Spammers successfully cancelled to date: 136
All spam reported.
(It's automatic)
Ned Carlson
pf...@aol.com (PFJW) wrote:
>Sheeesh. I am a facilities director at a "significant" eastern business school
>with its fair share of rodents of all sizes. We hired a cat. He has been in our
>employ for somewhat over a year now, and has adapted to the 5,000 or-so daily
>student trips wonderfully. He "manages" four buildings including about 500,000
>square feet. There are still mice, but significantly fewer. And "Raider" has
>put on considerable weight.
Cats certainly do the job, they love to hunt, if you give 'em a
chance.
My uncle's farm must have two dozen of them...
I've seen one actually take on a pheasant three times its
size..almost won, too!
I've heard they do a number on cockroaches, too...
>The University as a whole does not use poison for two reasons, one
>practical.... animals die in the walls, ductwork, floor drains whereever and
>stink....
The worst is D-Con, which is warfarin, an anticoagulant
(also used on humans), the mice bleed to death internally.
I've accidentally stepped on a D-Conned mouse, the thing
popped like a cherry..gross.
>and one ecological..... even though this is an urban campus, there
>are several owls, at least one red-tail hawk family, and other predators
>around. Traps only get the "dumb" ones. What is left is an "socially acceptable
>internal predator".
>
>Bottom line (we are a business school, after all): Get a cat.
>Spammers successfully cancelled to date: 136
So you're a spam cat, huh?
I reported one MMF to an Aussie ISP, they claimned that they'd
had the offender drawn, quartered, then fed to dingoes.
How apropo.