Try rolling the 6SN7 pre-driver/phase inverter tubes first. They have are large impact in the overall sound.
I also second the Gold Lion KT-88 power tubes.
To all you Cary SLI 80 owners, I'm looking for tube suggestions
Hello all, I have a one year old Cary SLI 80 HS and I have not changed a thing on it. Same tube set it came from the factory with. KT88's are Psvane, input tubes are JJ's. It is a sublime match with my Volti Razz speakers.
My question is this, what have you all tried with rolling tubes? Anyone try output variants? EL34's, KT 77 or 66's. Or have you changed out input tubes and noted and enjoyable difference?
Any and all suggestions would be welcome.
Thank you,
Doug
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anything is better then the JJ's. JJ's are a reliable new production tube that are not bad just not great. gold lion kt77's are a replacment in most amps for EL34's but they are not a EL34 sonding tube more modern and detailed sounding but less warmth (more similar to kt88's). they also take forever to break in. NOS tube wil be your best bet but are also much more expemcive. lots to chose from and way too many to list here. google is your friend look for tube shootouts.
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I was hoping you would catch that. Looks like Glennewdick has the inside line. I haven't used the KT77s yet but have used the KT-88s. I guess my favorite EL-34 is the Tesla. Quicksilver has some but don't know if they will sell them to non-Quicksilver customers. |
I'm currently running some vintage Bugle Boy 6922's, vintage Sylvania JAN 6SN7's and a set of E.H. 6CA7s, (biased at 40mA). This is my favorite combo so far for my Vienna Acoustic speakers. With the above combo and a set of Sovtec 6922's it can be a bit too edgy on the top end at higher volumes. The Bugle Boys take a bit of that edge off. Before the 6CA7's, I ran a new set of JJ KT77's (biased at 40mA) which are similar, but not quite as much decay in cymbal strikes. I have also run a set of Ruby 6550's but they were just too soft up top. I guess if I had a bright speaker, they might be better, but not for me. Hopefully that helps. |
@russ69 , I don't want to hijack the OP, but since I run a dozen EL34s in my Cary V12, I always paya attention to the EL34 threads. (Currently I am running my 3rd set, which are the reissued Tungsols that I bought from Jim McShane back sometime around 2020, and I like them, but when replacement time comes I am looking for something else). Anyway, I did some quick googles, and now Tesla is a branch of JJ? |
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