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Re: Finally! A KT88 I can live with... Thanks!!

Particularly lately, I've come to strongly share the opinion that you don't have to go vintage to get great sounding 6550s and KT88s. With the results I've gotten from a wide variety of current production 6550s and KT88s I'm no longer anxiously thinking I've got to hoard an endless supply of vintage tubes to survive any contingency ;) Sylvanias, Tung Sols, GEs can sound just great, but I can get results I like as much as, or even better than, these vintage tubes with a number of current production tubes. (Of course, now I've got to hoard these... ;) )

Particularly, I'm LOVING the setup I've got now using either Shuguang ST-bottle 6550As or Shuguang square-shouldered bottle style KT88s. The broad character I enjoy most with these tubes, I'd say, is an intoxicating, lovely bloom and texture, that isn't at the same time soft, which imparts a palpability/realism/animation to whatever I'm listening to. Much to my surprise the LF weight and control is even better than a tube like the GE 6550A. Didn't expect that. For the first time I feel my Maggie/CJ combination, gear that isn't associated with outstanding bass performance, is delivering some satisfying LF heft! ;)

Unfortunately, the same doesn't apply to the small tubes in the CJ amps I use - 5751s for the input/voltage amplifier and 6CG7/6FQ7s for the drivers. There isn't a modern equivalent to a 3-mica, black or gray plate Sylvania, or 3-mica, black plate GE 5751. I could certainly try a 12AX7 in this position, and some folks have. Maybe a Sovtek LPS or GT 12AX7M would sound good? I haven't tried it. The EH 6CG7 sounds fine, I think, but the big advantage I find with vintage 6CG7s is their enormous variety which allows for a very wide range of sonic choices. Fortunately, vintage 6CG7s are plentiful and inexpensive.

- SJ

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