Sovtek 6550 - Can they really be THIS bad???

Maxxc, the "new" Jadis for me is actually a used amplifier, so it's already burned in. My experience is that Jadis amps take a good long time to burn in, but such is not the case this time. $11,800 is more than I could swing, as much as I'd love to buy from Pierre Gabriel - VERY good guy.

Albert, your Sovtek 6550 story makes me wonder why anyone would use this tube, beyond price. Well, maybe that's the reason? Anyway, again, after my past experiences being around ARC, CJ, and VTL amps, and living with this tube and the EH6550, as I have said many a time, I'm simply not a fan of the 6550. The JJ KT88 has sounded better to me in every application. Yes, it's more expensive, but the price is a pittance in comparison to the sonic benefit.

Justlisten, this is my third Jadis. I began with the JOR, which was sublime with JJ Blue Glass E34L. Best midrange I have yet to hear from any amplifier. Next is the DA30 that I still own. Also fantastic, but much different from the JOR. It's strength is a luscious midbass - lower midrange and an overall sweet tone. I could use a bit more power in some situations, which led me to the DA60. Neither was dark sounding. I was most happy with each of them.

So far, this DA60, built like a beast as you have said (1975 Arnold power transformer - the DA30 looks like girly man in comparison), seems lacking in excitement sonically. I now have Mullard Blackburns in the 12AX7 and 12AU7 positions, and while things are looking up, I could still use bit more of the jump factor.

Joe (Trelja),
My CAT JL-2 uses 16 6550s and sounds great. I don't know which 6550s are in it b/c its away right now. When it comes back, you're welcome to come over and have a listen.
Bob

Bob, it's great hearing from you! I'd really love to hear your CAT once it returns home. Knowing you, I'm sure it sounds lovely in your system.

I spent a good amount of time listening last night, and interestingly enough, the faults Albert attributed to this tube are EXACTLY what I heard. The dynamics are weak, and the sound just seems to lack the get up and go I demand. The high frequency distortion was also there in spades. Most curious was that female vocals took on a peculiar "lip smacking" effect where there should have been breathiness. Imaging was not terrible, but not up to the standard set by the JOR.

I did try the quad of JJ KT88 in one channel, and that seemed to help out a fair amount, but I was still getting the Sovtek 6550 effect masking the overall sound, so I am not 100% certain if a retube will cure things.

I went back and forth with the DA30 a couple of times, and it had a snappier, more lively, and easier to listen presentation. It's really a superlative amplifier, apart from ultimate power and not being the last word in imaging. My DA30 is one of the first integrateds Jadis ever built. I have been told by two people that later iterations modified the circuitry to enhance thermal stability of the amps, which has NEVER been in an issue with mine, at the expense of sonics. May very well be true in my experience. What it lacks in cosmetics, it sure makes up in sound.

The one combination I should have tried in retrospect was the Sovtek 6550 in the DA30. That would perhaps answer a lot of questions.

Still, this is the amp for the second system, and I'm probably putting way too much effort into the whole thing...

Joe, I might forget about this. Send me an email message in a week or two. If the amp isn't back I should at least have an ETA. Bob

Bob, will you be coming over next Saturday??? Hopefully, the answer is yes.

I did try the Sovtek 6550s in the DA30 last night, and I must say that while the amp runs out of steam before its big brother, though still within the limits of being acceptable to all but the really power thirsty, it's simply a better component sonically. Even with these tubes, while not as glorious as the JJ KT88, the sound was commendable. Despite its homely looks, whatever purity was designed into it originally, later iterations seem to have lost to some degree. Not that the DA60 is not a very good amp, it is, just that the older amp is INCREDIBLY special. The sweetness, naturalness, and even excitement is wonderful. I guess, sometimes, the old stuff really is that good.