Bias Settings for Air Tight ATM-2 with TS 6550s


I have an Air Tight ATM-2 power amp which I bought used about six weeks ago on A'goN and want to roll some old stock Tung Sol 6550s (greyplates/no hole) into it.

About a month ago, I tried a quad of used 50s black plate 6550s when I first got the amp, but I didn't know then about slowly settling the tubes in--gradually increasing the bias over 4-5 hours. I lost a tube and a resistor in the amp, which I got replaced. I ran it with new re-issue TS 6550s for a month, to good effect, then tried some SED KT88s this past week, which were much warmer and mellower, though not as clear or focused or extended in the trebles. Now, I want to try some 60s TS 6550s which I bought used (about 100 hours) but they test very strong.

For about two hours now, I've been running the old stock greyplate TS 6550s at 1/5th the recommended bias (which is the low end of a "bubble" on the bias meter on the face of the Air Tight). At 1/5th the bias, four line increments below the bubble, the amp sounds terrific--big, mighty, mellow, fast, and with a warm string tone to orchestral music and good treble extension for choral music.

My question is this: why increase the bias to the lower end of the bubble (the recommended setting as I was told by The Analog Room) if the amp sounds good at the low setting about 1/5th of the way to the bubble? Am I risking any damage to the amp's transformers if I keep it at this low setting?

The only reason I consider this, by the way, is to shy away from the high bias settings which might stress these old tubes. The Air Tight is a high current amp and I've already had one old stock 6550 tube run away on me and blow. I don't want a recurrence.

Does anybody have any experience with this sort of thing? Please advise.
bblilikoi

Showing 1 response by re428cj

Based on input from a friend I have measured and adjusted bias on my ATM-2. I was also far left, measuring 50 mA on the tubes (I use original GEC KT-88)

I was advised KT-88 should use around 70 mA. Well first I adjusted to 60 mA. In my amp, that is far right in the buble (absolute "full tank"). The dymanic improved in all range, and bass had much more punch. It was like getting new tubes!

Later I went up to 70 wich is halfway between the top of buble and end of meeter by the way. Maby again a small imporvement. But not as big as going from 50 - 60!

Not sure what this will do for life of tubes, but for dynamics and bass this was a great improvement!

Do anybody know the mA setting recomended?

Br
Rolf E