KT-77 vs. KT-66
As I've had my QS Mono 60s, I've tried a variety of tubes. I have sold off my KT 150s, and use KT-88s from time to time, but what I really love are KT77's.
I'm thinking of getting some KT66s, thinking that lower powered tubes are better (to my ears) matches for my system. I just don't know what the KT-66's sound like.
Question: If you have compared KT77 and KT66 tubes, what would you say the sonic, audible characters of each are? Is there a difference you can hear? What does the KT66 sound like -- to you?
Thanks for the replies. I realize how much variance can come from amp, manufacturer, etc. and so trying it is the only way. One thing which patterns these responses that helps me is that the KT66 is definitely going to differ a lot from KT-88's. That's the kind of nudge which helps me move ahead to try it. @trivema My amp will *not* play a 6L6 so I don't know what it sounds like. |
@noromance I think Bizarro World has a character named Kinkless Friedman to balance out our own. |
I’ve been playing both these tubes this week. I have primalunas, both tubes are from gold lion, new production. In my system the differences are very easy to hear. The 66s have more top end emphasis, and perhaps a bit more transparent, though that could just be the added detail on top. The 77s are warmer, more midrange emphasis. The bass is about the same on both. I could see some people saying the 77s were more natural sounding and the 66s more “HiFi”. Overall I prefer the 66s. I was told by someone at Upscale that the primalunas mate better with the 66s based on the amps’ transformers, but I don’t know any more about that. Having owned the stock El34s, other El34s, and the 77s, I can say that the 66s were definitely a change in sound overall and I was glad I bought them. What do the KT88s sound like? I need to try those! |
KT66 will definitely sound different than KT88. KT88 is Europe’s answer to 6550. My Inspire will run both. I love the St Petersburg Svetlana 6550 in my Inspire, also have GL KT88 which is slightly different than the 6550, hard to put my finger (or ear) on difference. Also have Shuggy Nature series black bottle which is a very nice sounding tube, closer to GL, further from 6550. I really like all three. What’s really fun is swapping the driver tube between 6SL7 (higher gain, more top end) and 6SN7 (lower gain, less top end detail, smoother and touch darker). The Inspire runs both. Great combo is the 6550 or Nature bb w a 1945 JAN RCA grey bottle 6SL7, get warm dark bass and mids, with the 6SL7 providing more detail and sparkle on top. obsessed and addicted |
