[Scutey]

GE 7581A are damn versatile...I rolled them in tonight to power position driven by Sylvania GB 6SN7WGT. Warm and enveloping sound listening to a string quartet, with just enough detail to satisfy the audiophile in me.

Thanks for sharing @LoryWiv, never thought of trying them as powers, must give them a go.

 

[LoryWiv]

Finally given in to temptation and bought a pair of used GEC KT88, sound very similar to the their cousin the KT66, lovely sound coming from this legendary tube though.

Congats! have you tried GEC KT88 powers driven by GEC KT66? I'm wondering if I should sell yet another body part and spring for a pair of GEC KT66 to pair with their big bro.

 

[shafat777]

Hearing you guys talk about fancy tubes really makes me happy. I m gonna let you guys do all the experimentation, but plz do stop by and let us know how they sound so that noobs like me can upgrade in the future.

 

[barontan2418]

Congats! have you tried GEC KT88 powers driven by GEC KT66? I'm wondering if I should sell yet another body part and spring for a pair of GEC KT66 to pair with their big bro.

I've tried this combo on both Elise and Euforia. Sounded great but too much humm. GEC KT66 still well worth getting if you get the chance
Sound very good driven by GE 7581a. Using GEC KT66 as powers in Elise driven by GU50'S definitely brings out the best of Beth Hart.

 

[Scutey]

Congats! have you tried GEC KT88 powers driven by GEC KT66? I'm wondering if I should sell yet another body part and spring for a pair of GEC KT66 to pair with their big bro.

Depends what body parts you've got left @LoryWiv!

. The GEC KT66 is a superb tube, 6v6/g tubes sound great with them, along with the other recommendations. Had a go with them as drivers to the GEC KT88 this eve, well it's a great sound, wide, deep soundstage, fairly warm, smooth and refined without sacrificing drive and detail, a great combo.

edit, forgot to add, to my surprise this combo was dead silent, no hum.

 

[barontan2418]

Depends what body parts you've got left @LoryWiv! . The GEC KT66 is a superb tube, 6v6/g tubes sound great with them, along with the other recommendations. Had a go with them as drivers to the GEC KT88 this eve, well it's a great sound, wide, deep soundstage, fairly warm, smooth and refined without sacrificing drive and detail, a great combo.

edit, forgot to add, to my surprise this combo was dead silent, no hum.

Maybe. I'll try again without putting the KT88'S alongside my GU50'S. Is that dead silence all the way through the volume levels?

 

[Scutey]

Maybe. I'll try again without putting the KT88'S alongside my GU50'S. Is that dead silence all the way through the volume levels?

I didn't try to full volume, but I did go as far as the 3 o'clock position and still silent.

 

[barontan2418]

I didn't try to full volume, but I did go as far as the 3 o'clock position and still silent.

Thanks Scutey
I've tried again on Euforia and still no joy. Might be the fact I'm using TT22's with top caps but I get hum all the way through low to high. Still I'm very happy driving with either EL11 or GE 6550's. Cheers.

 

[Scutey]

Thanks Scutey
I've tried again on Euforia and still no joy. Might be the fact I'm using TT22's with top caps but I get hum all the way through low to high. Still I'm very happy driving with either EL11 or GE 6550's. Cheers.

Yes it could well be the top caps, a pity, but still I don't think you're missing out with those great tubes you've got .

 

[barontan2418]

This is the combination I like the best so far. Covers all bases. Does everything the GEC KT66 does but more power and better staging.

 

[LoryWiv]

@barontan2418 are those GEC KT88 powers, and what drivers? Sue looks sweet and from your preference sounds great across genres as well!

 

[OctavianH]

Those look like GU-50 to me.

 

[barontan2418]

@barontan2418 are those GEC KT88 powers, and what drivers? Sue looks sweet and from your preference sounds great across genres as well!

Yes LoryWiv GEC KT88 power and GU50's as drivers. For me and my HD800 a really great combination
And might I add silent from 0 to full power when no track playing. The only point I would note when using these powerfull tubes is that for me volume needs to be at 14:00 ish

 

[barontan2418]

Following up from my last post re GU50'S, as much as I've found 50's and GEC KT88'S a great combination, limited volume has been an issue requiring me to work at close to full volume especially when playing classical music. This week I've been trying out different drivers to run my 2x GU50 and 2x GEC KT88'S back row. Having now experimented with 10 or more different driver tubes the one that is standing out is the EL12N (normally run in the power position). After running a nearly nos pair in the driver position for 5 hrs today its proved to be totally silent all the way to full volume and a really great match for the power hungry power tubes. These EL12N's are not too expensive so in my view well worth the purchase if going down the GU50 route.

 

[LoryWiv]

Thanks @barontan2418. Which EL12N, and where did you source the adapters from. Asking for a friend who may be ready for another rabbit hole to explore.