[triod750]

Oh, yeah, I’m using the 5a/152m. Sorry, thought you were talking about output tubes. Yup, it’s a great input tube!

It's good that I don't have to make all mistakes myself. A little help from a friend is always welcome...

 

[UntilThen]

Done.

Obviously you haven't done enough. Western Electric still hasn't made any KT88.

 

[JTbbb]

Nice, or not? Year?

 

[Toonartist]

I haven’t listened to the KT66 but they get good reviews. They look like June 1964 if that’s VF provided they follow the same pattern as their KT88s

 

[AnyDave]

I haven’t listened to the KT66 but they get good reviews. They look like June 1964 if that’s VF provided they follow the same pattern as their KT88s

I would highly recommend trying them. I think they are great in the right circuit.

 

[Toonartist]

I would highly recommend trying them. I think they are great in the right circuit.

They’re on the list. I was going to buy a backup pair of the EL39s next but maybe these first!! I’d be using them in the Aegis.

 

[AnyDave]

They’re on the list. I was going to buy a backup pair of the EL39s next but maybe these first!! I’d be using them in the Aegis.

I like them a lot in the Aegis. Probably more than KT88s, but preferences obviously vary there, as do particular KT66s. I didn't care for the TAD KT66s much, but the vintage ones I borrowed from Zach are magical.

 

[Isaacc7]

Nice, or not? Year?

How bad could they be? If you need the power or just want to try a legendary tube I say go for it.

On the other hand, I do think there are great sounding tubes that cost a lot less than these. Especially if you are operating in the milliwatt end of the spectrum instead of the 10s of watts. These, 6550, kt88, el34, 6l6gc, etc. were specifically designed for high quality sound AND high power output. If you don’t need the power it isn’t clear to me what is gained by using these types of tubes.

 

[LobalWarming]

How bad could they be? If you need the power or just want to try a legendary tube I say go for it.

On the other hand, I do think there are great sounding tubes that cost a lot less than these. Especially if you are operating in the milliwatt end of the spectrum instead of the 10s of watts. These, 6550, kt88, el34, 6l6gc, etc. were specifically designed for high quality sound AND high power output. If you don’t need the power it isn’t clear to me what is gained by using these types of tubes.

Agree... we used these big power tubes to deafen large groups of people with our guitar amps. For headphone amps, seems to be more of an auditory penis enhancement option.

 

[Isaacc7]

I think I have finally gotten a good grasp on the VT60a. Everything you read about it says that it is equivalent to an 807. I think it's a different tube that biases up the same way. I have 7 different 807 tubes and they all have a family resemblance, the vt60a does not sound like it belongs. No matter what drivers I pair with them I get an open, airy sound with amazing bass and high amounts of detail. Curiously it gives a lot of music a kind of hollow sound for lack of a better word. It might have something to do with a relative lightness in the lower mids. Mind you, I can't actually point to anything that's missing but there is an undeniable lightness to the sound in both my pp amp running them in triode as well as a SE pentode amp.

They sound amazing with acoustic instruments and anything that has reverb in a hall or otherwise has a lot of space in the recording. It's a great tube to have in the mix, it can give you a very different presentation than others.

 

[jonathan c]

Agree... we used these big power tubes to deafen large groups of people with our guitar amps. For headphone amps, seems to be more of an auditory penis enhancement option.

Such as this ...

 

[UntilThen]

Nice, or not? Year?

Definitely. They are magical but so are the EL39 discussed here. So are the Tung Sol 6550 and EL34 metal base.

 

[JTbbb]

How bad could they be? If you need the power or just want to try a legendary tube I say go for it.

On the other hand, I do think there are great sounding tubes that cost a lot less than these. Especially if you are operating in the milliwatt end of the spectrum instead of the 10s of watts. These, 6550, kt88, el34, 6l6gc, etc. were specifically designed for high quality sound AND high power output. If you don’t need the power it isn’t clear to me what is gained by using these types of tubes.

Thank you for the reply, and totally agree. Got a nice pair of GEC KT88’s coming in soon , we all know how the rabbit hole operates . There is some logic in my brain, though rather improbable, that Susvara’s need some power.

 

[crakers7]

Thank you for the reply, and totally agree. Got a nice pair of GEC KT88’s coming in soon , we all know how the rabbit hole operates . There is some logic in my brain, though rather improbable, that Susvara’s need some power.

Ive beeen on the hunt for a pair for 6 months, they either look to used or waaayy to much $$$. Nice one

 

[ARCXENOS]

Thank you for the reply, and totally agree. Got a nice pair of GEC KT88’s coming in soon , we all know how the rabbit hole operates . There is some logic in my brain, though rather improbable, that Susvara’s need some power.

The GEC KT66 sounds quite different to the KT88 on my setup! Both are good sounding to me for sure, 88 for energy, 66 for chilling