Good 6550/KT88 tubes

If you're sufficiently committed, then get some original Tungsol 6550s. They're noticably superior to the EHs that came with my 88 Magnum. Am using them in conjunction with mullard cv4003/4s.

If you are REALLY commited, get some 'black plate' GEC KT88s from the 1960s.

Since TungSol 6550's are about $600-$900 quad, and GEC's $1200-$2000 quad, Svetlana's KT88's are about the best I have heard, for reliability, and sonics. The ones with the wing C logo, are the ones made by the factory in St. Peterburg. The others labelled Svetlana are made by Reflektor, which makes the tubes sold under the Sovtek banner.If you have the bucks, the vintage tubes, do sound better, and tend to last 3-5 times as long.

I would look at KT90s too has alternative.

See http://store.yahoo.com/thetubestore/kt8890100types.html and http://store.tubedepot.com/6550kt88.html for info and prices.

I'm in the same boat as you, with a new-to-me c-j Premier Eleven-A.