Tube rolling with Quicksilver Mono 60s -- from KT77 to KT88? KT 120? etc.

To adlib on the advice given,
The Person offering advice, is a very experienced owner of Tubes with access to Tubes from a Two Generation Collection.
This person has always been supportive to make Matched Tubes available for loan, and offered much valuable guidance.
The Person has been instrumental in helping others create a understanding of how Tube Rolling can influence their systems.

The advice made available to myself relating to my Monoblocks was to undertake the investigation to learn what was the best Input Valve configuration to get the best from the resident Output Valves.
This is what I did and it has proved so far to be a very economical approach, if the Pre Amp Purchase and Build is deducted from the £700

I felt more compelled to further investigate the Pre side of the System as a result of the impressive improvement to the Sound Quality being experienced 

I see. I listed the tubes my amp can handle, that's why I'm asking. 

6L6 are all over the place for sale. Brand new and matched, about 115 for a matched set of 8. DON'T buy them.

IF they are Solvex, (the older solvex) it is night and day in sonics, and how long they will last, they are outstanding.

The old GE and RCA, metal cover 7581 valve.. serious valve there, super high plate voltage. REAL high, and will stand up..

The 115 sets of 8..LOL Just a bad place to even start.. :-(

WHY? Out of over 150 valves I bought in 3 lots, none of them were at 50% of the TRUE industrial 7581. Closer to 15-30% NEW.. OK, NEW..

Just under a year ago I listened to an MC240 every day for just under 3 years. I used industrial, RCA 6L6 mil/spec metal tube.. They still have 50% wear left on them.. I took the amp down for it's first EVER major service.

This is so fun, chompin' on my turkey sandwich. :-)

Regards

Donvito is correct. I got carried away on tubes and forgot the QSilvers. While you can generally go up from 6L6 to KT88 in an amp designed for the smaller tube, you can't always go down from a big tube to a smaller tube in an amp designed to work with a bigger tube. This is because the plate voltage among other specs won't tolerate lower powered tubes. The TS 7851A maxes at 500v anode while a KT77 can stand 800v. I suspect the QS may have 600v on hand and that rules out the smaller 6L6 class tubes.

noromance4,705 posts11-28-2020 9:27amDonvito is correct. I got carried away on tubes and forgot the QSilvers. While you can generally go up from 6L6 to KT88.

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Sure would be nice if he could though, that is a good valve bottom to top.
I’ve always liked the 6L6, bottom to top in a push pull amp. Just the best for a full range valve, sure better than an EL34 or brit KT77s in the BASS region.

I’m a Mac guy, they are magic in the ol Macs MC240s, and my Cary V12r or Six Pacs. Good valve..

The Mac wont stand for a cheap valve it will sound BAD, Those Carys, blow me away, cheap valves sound VERY good in those two .. I mean REAL good..

BUT for mids.. EL34 is just the best.. They are not the best bass valve, but they are not sloppy, in the bass region just lack authority.

I like 6V6 too except they roll of a bit to quick on the top.. great late night listening valve. (Cary’s love um’)

Here is the deal on KT 90s I used them in VTL, 300 DLs, and Cary’s. They sound SS almost, to friggin clinical for me, and they hate hard domes.. Boil your ears.. powerful mids, not smooth and silky like the 77s. I think they lack DEEP bass but they have super control. The 88 is deeper more dynamic, like the 6L6, Kinda Belch it out.. (TUBES)

My oh my.. hands feel good.

Regards