Cayin HA-6A Class A KT88/EL34 Tube Headphone Amplifier

[jp11801]

BTW the GEC kt66 is ridiculous good, I've got them paired with Phillips mini watt 12au7s and raytheon Japan grey plates.

PS anyone interested in slightly used EH el34s or JJ kt66 or kt88 pairs, I'd do the set of 3 for € 150

 

[AnyDave]

BTW the GEC kt66 is ridiculous good, I've got them paired with Phillips mini watt 12au7s and raytheon Japan grey plates.

PS anyone interested in slightly used EH el34s or JJ kt66 or kt88 pairs, I'd do the set of 3 for € 150

Yeah, I really like the GEC KT66s. Wonderful tubes.

 

[fidgeraldo]

BTW the GEC kt66 is ridiculous good

I see that prices vary widely on eBay. What is the difference between the one and the other KT66 GEC?
-GEC KT66 6L6 Clear Glass Brown Base OO Getter Tested NOS Matched Quad ($1480) quad
-GEC KT66 Grey Smoke Glass G USED Tube AMPLITREX Test GM% 101 Jun24 ($150) single
-NOS 1951 Black Base Osram KT-66 Matched Pair Vacuum Tubes Marconi GEC England ($1200) pair
-KT66 Clear Glass Blk. Base Blk. Plate NOS GEC UK Valve Tubes (VT10) ($500) single
-Marconi KT66 Vintage Brown Base Strong in GEC Box ($140) single
-GEC Marconi KT66 CV1075 Grey Glass C USED Valve Tube AMPLITREX Test GM% 96 ($60) single

I gave a few examples. Why is that single one so much cheaper than those matched pairs or quads?
From $60 to $600.
Is there a significant difference in the sound? I can see that they are not all the same design.


Cheers!

 

[AnyDave]

I see that prices vary widely on eBay. What is the difference between the one and the other KT66 GEC?
-GEC KT66 6L6 Clear Glass Brown Base OO Getter Tested NOS Matched Quad ($1480) quad
-GEC KT66 Grey Smoke Glass G USED Tube AMPLITREX Test GM% 101 Jun24 ($150) single
-NOS 1951 Black Base Osram KT-66 Matched Pair Vacuum Tubes Marconi GEC England ($1200) pair
-KT66 Clear Glass Blk. Base Blk. Plate NOS GEC UK Valve Tubes (VT10) ($500) single
-Marconi KT66 Vintage Brown Base Strong in GEC Box ($140) single
-GEC Marconi KT66 CV1075 Grey Glass C USED Valve Tube AMPLITREX Test GM% 96 ($60) single

I gave a few examples. Why is that single one so much cheaper than those matched pairs or quads?
From $60 to $600.
Is there a significant difference in the sound? I can see that they are not all the same design.


Cheers!

A lot of the prices are VERY optimistic. If you want NOS tubes, you'll pay a lot more. If you can live with strong testing used tubes, you can find them for $200-300, and occasionally less. If you are particular about matching date codes and strong matching on the pairs, then that may also drive the price up as not all sellers have enough KT66s to do that.

 

[fidgeraldo]

A lot of the prices are VERY optimistic.

I am aware of that, but it seems, at least from the look of it, that they are not all the same.
You say that regardless of the look, like clear glass vs. grey glass, or different bases, etc., they all sound the same?

Cheers!

 

[AnyDave]

I am aware of that, but it seems, at least from the look of it, that they are not all the same.
You say that regardless of the look, like clear glass vs. grey glass, or different bases, etc., they all sound the same?

Cheers!

No, I wouldn't say that as I haven't heard all of the variants out there. In addition to the clear glass, smoked glass and different bases, there are also different getter styles. Overall there are a lot of variants.

I do have a couple pairs of smoked glass and a pair of clear glass and they are pretty close sonically. I think I slightly prefer the smoked glass, but the sound is close enough that I might be subconsciously biased because I think they look better.

If it's your first pair, I wouldn't worry too much about it as they all sound great. At least that's my take on it.

 

[fidgeraldo]

If it's your first pair, I wouldn't worry too much about it as they all sound great. At least that's my take on it.

Ok, thanks.
No, I want to buy some vintage EL34 for HA-6A, but it's good to know that people like KT66. I will also keep them in mind for the future.

Cheers!

 

[AnyDave]

Ok, thanks.
No, I want to buy some vintage EL34 for HA-6A, but it's good to know that people like KT66. I will also keep them in mind for the future.

Cheers!

I far prefer the KT66 to my vintage Mullard XF4s, but it could be a different story if I had metal base or maybe even XF2s. That said, I do like my vintage Mullard EL37s quite a bit (which I also prefer to the EL34s I have).

 

[fidgeraldo]

(which I also prefer to the EL34s I have).

No problem. I like the sound of EL34.

Cheers!

 

[jp11801]

I am aware of that, but it seems, at least from the look of it, that they are not all the same.
You say that regardless of the look, like clear glass vs. grey glass, or different bases, etc., they all sound the same?

Cheers!

I’d also urge folks to educate themselves on a genuine UK kt66 vs the china knockoff made to look similar. A quick google or AI search should yield great tips

 

[AnyDave]

No problem. I like the sound of EL34.

Cheers!

Me too, in my vintage Marshall guitar amps.

 

[fidgeraldo]

I’d also urge folks to educate themselves on a genuine UK kt66 vs the china knockoff made to look similar.

Referring to me?

Cheers!

 

[aleopold]

BTW the GEC kt66 is ridiculous good, I've got them paired with Phillips mini watt 12au7s and raytheon Japan grey plates.

PS anyone interested in slightly used EH el34s or JJ kt66 or kt88 pairs, I'd do the set of 3 for € 150

I have a pair of gec kt66 arriving today! Can’t wait to put them through the paces. The combo of the rca rectifier, Brimar cv4003, and RCA black plate is currently my best sounding combination. Interestingly the rca sounds better than my coveted Raytheon tubes. Who would have thought

 

[jp11801]

Referring to me?

Cheers!

not at all, just a general comment as when I looked for reviews I saw a fair amount of folks checking to make sure ones they were buying were legit

 

[fidgeraldo]

not at all

Ok. I thought, here we go again...but it wasn't.
Enjoy HA-6A!

Cheers!