NOS KT 88s or GE 6550s

I don't know what all the fascination is about with the GE 6550's. I always remember them to be just okay and had issues with them in Dynaco Mklll's so i never used them. Later versions of the tube had major issues with high plate voltages or high bias currents hence the Dynaco issues. For that matter so did the Genelex KT-88 as they would routinely arc and blow the fuse. I much preferred the Philips Sylvania 6550 that Audio Research used for many years. An excellent tube and much more robust than the GE IMO. The Sylvania was a smaller tube than the GE.

Daveyf
The Singapore dealer (Well Audio Lab) tells me there is no difference between the GE and Jan 6550s.
Njoy
Pradeep

Hifigeek1,

So much of it comes down to the circuit we're using the tube in and our personal preferences. Some is just blind luck in terms of getting a good or bad batch. I have both the ST-shaped and the straight-sided Philips Sylvania 6550's and they are very nice tubes, I agree. I prefer the ST-shaped but again, that's just my opinion.

Hifigeek1, perhaps if you could listen to a good amp using the GE6550's you would see what the fascination is all about.

I have heard them in an Audio Research D-76A as well as a D-79. They sound great but the newer versions of that tube are just not very reliable.