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Anyone have experience with the Tung Sol 7581a vs. EL34, KT66, KT88, 6L6

I broke down and added another power tube (Tung Sol 7581a) to my collection.  That can get expensive as my Primaluna Dialogue HP Premium integrated has 8 power tubes.   

Why has this tube escaped me thus far?  Why is it not more popular?   Many folks don't sell this reissue tube.  

I think this is a great deal.  I was torn between the lush, thick midrange of the EL34 and the more evenly spread out sound of the KT88.  But the KT88, for all its more correct behavior didn't romance me like an EL34.  

The 7581a from Tung Sol can be had cheap and I really like them.  [I'll spare you all the audiophile terms].  They check the boxes that I was looking for. 

Does anyone have experience, information or knowledge about this splendid tube?  

PS  The next experiment is KT150s but I can't see doing it if I'm gonna lose any of that great EL34 midrange. 
128x128jbhiller

Showing 6 responses by rshak

rshak
416 posts
 
jbhiller - Where did you buy your  Tung Sol tubes?  I've got a PrimaLuna integrated (older model with 4 output tubes) and might just try the Tung Sols.  I've tried the stock EL-34's and some Russian KT120's - but currently I'm running Gold Lion KT88's which, so far, are my favorites.

rshak
416 posts
 
Thanks, jbhiller.  I found the listings based on your earlier post that the (eBay) seller was in Ohio.  He does seem to stock a lot of interesting, reasonably priced tubes and has excellent feedback.

I may take the plunge and buy the 7581A's, and I may also pick up some 12au7's and 12ax7's for spares.

Thanks again
rshak
416 posts
 
Thanks for the prelim review, noromance.  Please post a follow-up after you've lived with the tubes for a while.
rshak
416 posts
 

Well, I guess one could say I'm sold on the Tung-Sol 7581A.  Bought a matched quad from Tube Depot, which arrived today in good order.  All in, the cost was $210.71.  Together with the low mileage set bought in 2017 and re-installed  a few weeks ago, plus the back-up pair from Viva, with any luck I should be set for the next few years.

rshak
416 posts
 

I bought a quad of the Tung-Sol 7581A's in 2017 when this thread started.  I used them for about a month in my PrimaLuna integrated and thought they were good, but went back to  Gold Lion KT-88s, which I had been running since since PL amp was new.

I've gone through three sets of the KT-88s in the interim, but recently had two tubes fail in as many months.  Tried to order some replacements, but found that new Gold Lions were either out of stock or, if available, had become ridiculously expensive.  So . . . I reinstalled the the 7581As and have been using them for a little over two weeks - - They sound really good - - so much so that I ordered a couple of more from Viva Tubes to serve as back-ups.  Too bad the pair costs more than the original quad  I purchased over 4 years ago, but I don't want to be without replacements if one or more of the original set craps out.

rshak
416 posts
 

no romance - when I first tried the 7581As I thought they were good - but perhaps a bit "dry" and not as warm as the KT88s.  Mind you, I last used the 7581As some years ago.  They now sound quite fine - generally well rounded and "warm" .

I mentioned earlier that two of the KT88s I had been using failed in quick succession.  They were getting longer in tooth, and I suppose their sound quality may have gradually changed, i.e., degraded, a bit towards the end of their useful life, thus making any good, fresh replacement tubes sound better.

Who can say?  I do know I'm quite happy with the 7581As now, and I may buy another pair (or even a quad) to have for the next rainy day.

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