Generally no. Plate voltage is vastly different.
KT66s in place of KT88 tubes
I expect there will be a change in bias, and a reduction in power. But on the basis that lower power tubes generally produce more faithful sound, can one put KT66 tubes in an amp usually requiring two KT88s per channel? I'm thinking about a pair of Quad II/forty push-pull monoblocks.
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Some manual bias amps have enough range on the bias pot that they can use KT88 and KT66. A good example is an amp like the Quicksilver Mid Mono it can use EL34, KT - 66 , 77, 88, 6l6 and a few other EL 34 / 6L6 variants. Always check with manufacturer! Early versions can only use KT88. New versions can use KT120 & KT 150 , running changes over the years allow for this. The newer version has more robust transformers, and other slight running changes Perfect example of how you can damage your amp if you don't use the tube it shipped with or was compatible with at time of build. |
@jond (and any others in the know) - What sonic improvements do you think I would realize replacing KT-88s with KT-66s? I understand that this will be amp specific but even a generalization would be helpful. I am currently using KT-88s (two per channel) in a pair of DeHavilland 50A mono blocks which will accept KT-88, 6550, 6L6GC, KT-66, and KT-90 output tubes. |
before the advent of modern day russian engineered kt120’s kt150’s and the like, kt88/6550 tubes were the more powerful, most linear strongest pentode/tetrode power tubes, with max plate dissipation about 30-40% higher than earlier el34/kt66 types as such the kt88 variants offered the greatest linearity when called on to deliver near max power in real world speaker-driving, a level of which is much higher than older weaker el34’s 6l6’s kt66’s as per the above... so what happens in ’typical’ transformer coupled tube amplifiers, using each type of power tubes in pairs, quads, and so on, is that kt88s would provide noticeably better dynamics, more controlled tuneful bass, more extended treble, cleaner transients -- whereas the weaker earlier tubes variants in the same circuit or application (each biased correctly, it is assumed) will sound more mid-range centric, have a more smooth-over, ’romantic’ treble and somewhat slurred transients, have warmer tubbier slower, not-quite-as-deep bass -- this leads some tube amp aficianados to say that the older weaker tubes made for a sweeter sound, where later stronger tubes made for a leaner more solid stateish sound -- all is relative of course... as generalities go, for what they are worth, this is what one would expect... |
@jjss49 Thanks. I was rather hoping using KT66 tubes in place of KT88 would make my amps sound a little more like the SET amps I used to have. And maybe, from your description (if I look at it in a positive light rather than the reverse) they would. But it would mean changing a number of components inside as they aren't set up to cope with such a swap unaltered. I shouldn't go making such changes anyway, right now. I'm waiting, and waiting, for MoFi to get some more Quad panels in stock so I can have my 2905 speakers rebuilt, and any dissatisfaction with the sound while I have stand-in speakers in use is not really a reason to make changes that won't be needed when I get my ESLs back in service. |
@jjss49 Thanks for your very informative post, it confirmed what I had suspected the changes would be. Of course, actually rolling in a quad would give the definitive answer... |
if you look at the quad website, quad ii/40’s run kt88’s and rating is 40 wpc (as mono blocks) ... whereas quad ii classic run kt66’s and are 15 wpc as a stereo amp, so here you see apples to apples the kt88 application has about 25% more power than kt66 (5 wpc more) old school quad ii’s always ran kt66’s iirc (there are many refurbed old ones for sale, as can be seen via a simple google search), so it is evident in the new ii/40’s they uprated the internals to run more powerful kt88s to gain more output power i think you could easily ping quad in the uk, or a usa quad dealer or quad importer, and ask if they advise users with ii/40’s it is ok to run kt66’s as a downgrade rule of thumb i use is never ever run a power tube in a tube amp that was not designed for it... only bad things can happen (though some amps, like primaluna’s do have variable or auto-biasing that do allow a choice of output tubes... but this is usually not the case) all this said, if they tell you that it won’t hurt anything to run kt66’s in the ii/40’s (other than having less power), then i suspect you will get a more ’tubey’ sound with the kt66 tube ... for the reasons i described in my earlier comments |
Oh, yes, I'm au fait with all that, and the 'more tubey' sound was what I had in mind. I know there will be a lot of internal changes to make, now, after talking to the guy I use to keep my Quads in repair (for example, he has already replaced the caps and resistors in them with better quality ones after some failed). I know a 15W amp sounds OK through these speakers as I used to use them with a pair of AES SE-811 amps. But rather than buy old Quad IIs and upgrade them, I was rather looking for a shortcut. To do the former would probably cost as much as buying a new pair of SET amps if I look around carefully. All the same, I'd better wait till I have my proper speakers back and decide then if there is any improvement to be made. Thank you for your helpful thoughts. |
@weebeesdad what jjss49 said is essentially correct though I'd say the blurring and loss of transient speed is overstated. To me EL34s, KT66s and 77s just sound more like tubes, higher powered KT variants might as well be solid state. |
