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Differences in SQ between EL34, KT-88 & 6550 Tubes

I'm continuing my tube education and am considering buying a tube amp. Is there a distinctive difference in SQ between the EL34, KT-88 & 6550 tubes? Is there a pecking order as your climb the tube ladder for SQ. I am aware that different brands/versions of either tube can sound better than the other. But I was wonderful if one tube type is generally better or has a distinctly different sound than they other.
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albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
I echo what Newbee wrote, the generalizations he made match my experience with these tubes. I would only add that the 6550 seems to produce the best very low bass, at least among the amps I've auditioned.
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boa2
1,551 posts
 
My experience has echoes Newbee's and Albertporter's. You might consider an amplifier that allows you to use any of these tube types. Then you can switch between them, depending upon your mood. Quicksilver Audio offers this versatility with some of their amps, and no doubt others do as well.
chazzbo
1,007 posts
 
I would differ to Albert since he's sp[ent much more time intrenches but I had thought that the KT88 provided more in the bass region and had more dynamic slam.6550 has econonomy going for it and EL34 was the best for midrange perfecty for coherent two way monitors where the midrange is the thing to be accentuated with it's warmth and timbre.But again amp makes big difference.New mac amps use the KT88 to full advantage and are designed to do so though again the roll is most expensive of the 3.
Chazzbo
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