Sound of SED Winged C KT88 vs. SED Winged C 6550's


Curious as to what if any sonic differences I could expect in comparing the SED KT88's vs. their SED 6550 counterparts. I've researched the forums quite a bit over the last month or so and even asked the question to Kevin Deals gatekeeper @ Upscale Audio... his response was that there was little to no sonic differences between the two.

My amp is a McIntosh MC275 MKV, currently using the stock McIntosh KT88's, which I've been told by Audiogon's Nsgarch, are SED KT88's.
pdreher
Newbee - just for clarification, I never got thru to Kevin Deal, as one of his helpers would not let me talk to him... so it was one of Kevin's employees that said there was no sonic differences between the two tubes.

Thanks for the useful info... the sparkle of the SED KT88 is what I'd like to move away from.

Newbee, can you comment on the sonic differences between a SED 6550 and Reissued Tung-Sol 6550? ... which one has less smear when dealing with complex passages and poorly recorded compress music.

Thanks!
Bit out of topic.

I never tried SED valves, but in my PL Plologue Two, KT88 gives more body, like Newbee wrote, and I think this is what you may expect, generally speaking.
Personally, I compared NOS 6550 Tung Sols grey plates with holes, NOS 6550 Tung Sols Black smooth plates, NOS 6550 Sylvania and NOS GEC KT88, which I am using now. NOS 6550 Tung Sols Black smooth plated are great, but not as much as KT88, however may depend in which amp, or simply putted set up, you are using them.
The bad thing, as always with NOS, they are very expensive, but from what I heard/read, TungSols, even they are below their minimum, still sound wonderfull, talking about Black smooth plated from 50's, but they dont have that magic of GEC, I would say KT88 are more involving/musical as well, at least to my ears.
Getting information out of Upscale Audio isn't as easy as it used to be.

There are some major differences between a KT88 and a 6550 and I have always heard a big difference.

I recommend you try Roger Modjeski at Ram Labs for tubes. It's a much better experience.

I switched from EH6550 to GL Reissued KT88 several years ago and the GL is SUPERIOR in every way. Surprisely GL is warmer but also much higher resolution.

My amps require 4MQ so NOS is out of the question. Looking for a tube with the sound of GL Reissued KT88 but higher resolution. Willing to give up a touch of body and bloom ... I DON'T want a SS sound. I'm satisfy with GL but like to experiment ... a bonus with tubes.

I try not dealing with Upscale any longer. ~A years ago I emailed Upscale, Goodwin High End and Audiowave on a EquiTech 2Q. Only Alan @Audiowave replied and ended up purchasing 2 new units from him. Thank GOD for the internet ... have found many great dealers.