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Looking for brighter tubes

Attention tube heads: I'm looking for brighter (more treble...not higher amounts of glow and chrome) tubes, if they exist. My amp (Jolida JD502P) has a well regarded bunch of Russian Tung Sol 6550s and 12AX7/12AT7s but I'm wondering if there's anything out there that imparts more sizzle in this amp. I do like the amp as it is...but hey..."rolling rolling rolling, keep them tubeys rolling...
wolf_garcia

Showing 2 responses by xti16

xti16
1,525 posts
 
Hi Wolf I don't have a Jolida but I do have an Octave V70Se which uses a single 12ax7 for an input and a pair of 12at7's for drivers. It came stock with a Sovtek 12ax7 and Rca 12at7wa's. For my taste the Sovtek was too bright. I also have the Russian TS 12ax7 re-issue which also is a tad bright. I needed to calm that down a bit and I like the Rca 5751's. I just received some Brimar Cv4024's and haven't tried them yet.

As far as sizzle my favorite combo so far is very expensive but unreal. Eat KT88 diamonds Gec A2900/CV6091's with the Rca 5751. With that combo the highs just sparkle. That being said I have had just horrible luck with the Eat's. Out of a quad and pair I only have 3 that are stable. I did buy them used so and they are the early versions with just the top getter and read that they were pretty unreliable. I just had to hear them and they are that good (when they work). But I did get 250 hrs of pure enjoyment. I have some vintage Gec KT88's and vintage KR Audio branded Tesla's ordered because they are supposed to be very Eat like sounding. Also as far as the Gec a2900/Cv6091 they are a high gain driver that really mates well with high transconductace tubes like Eat - vintage Gec KT88's - Ei Kt90's type 2 - Shuguang Treasure Z's and possibly the new Shuguang Psvane and TS KT120's.

Caution Tube rolling can be addictive and expensive. Yes Im a tubeaholic hehe. Tu Be or not Tu Be
xti16
1,525 posts
 
though. I have read that the KT90's tend to have a more solid state sound and less of that tube warmth. I am sure someone will let me know if I am wrong.
It could depend on the KT90. I have the Ei KT90 type 2 and with the stock input tube they sound 'steely' in the highs. With the 5751 input the Ei's are amazing. And the power WOW. So I will say with the right compliment of tubes they sound very powerful and tubey. I haven't tried the EH KT90's.

As far as the Eat's the tubes that have a serial # that starts with 'D' had the most trouble. The pair I have that start with 'E' and they are rock solid. Just received some Gec KT88's and they sound very close to the EAT's.

Another great tube but very different (IMO the most 'tubey' sound) is the original Tung Sol 6550 solid black or grey plates.
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