Cary Rocket 88R bias setting with EL34 tubes?


Hi All,
I have & enjoy greatly a Cary 88R 'Rocket' tube amp combined with a Cary SLP98P preamp, Wireworld Gold Eclipse cables, & Harbeth 7es-2 speakers.
The amps output tubes are Svetlana (New Sensor) 6550, which are quiet muscular in their presentation. As I'm seeking a more relaxed sound, I've ordered some SED EL34 (St.Petersburg) tubes & was wondering what to bias them at?
The amps owners manual states the amp can use EL34, 6550, KT66, KT77, KT88, or KT90 output tubes, but mentions only one bias setting of 200mA.
Is this the same bias setting for all these power tube types, or does the bias setting vary for each different tube type?
Many thanks in advance for any replies.

Best Regards.
halo88

Showing 1 response by newbee

Cary amps usually do not have one bias pot for each tube. Some of thier amps gang two tubes per pot, and some will gang 4 or on some older ones 6, tubes. So you have to start out with a matched pair, quad or sextet, and set them using one pot (per channel). I do not have the Rocket 88, but as I recall it has four tubes per side. 6550's are usually biased at 50ma per tube, 4x50 = 200ma. My Cary mono amps have two 6550's on each with a ganged bias pot and have a manual recommendation of 100ma.

Each type of power tube does have a different biasing requirement. So you would not bias small power tubes anywhere near the same lelvels of the larger ones. Exact bias setting though can be varied to the tonal expectations or longevity expectations of a user. Lower the bias setting and the tube may sound a bit cooler and last a lot longer, increasing the bias a bit will usually increase the sense of warmth and reduce its life. Increase it too much and you will really shorten the life span and increase the probibility of shorts/tube failure. Reduce the bias too much and you will create distortions etc.

I've usually biased EL34's (in my Cary, but other amps as well) at about 30 to 35ma per tube and it has worked fine. So if your Rocket 88 has four 6550's biased totally at 200ma, and you are in a hurry you can probably do this without a problem (ie not damage anything), but bottom line - you'll get a lot better and more specific recommendation if you talk to Cary.

Hope that helps a bit.