Home Amp/Preamp Asylum

Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

RE: Congratulations! I still love my Cronus Magnum...

Abe,

I've tried Svetlana (not Winged "C") EL34s; Black Treasure 6CA7s; NOS RCA black plate, NOS Sylvania, and new Tung Sol 6L6GCs; Gold Lion KT66s; Gold Lion KT77s; Svetlana Winged "C" 6550s; NOS GE 6550s; Gold Lion KT88s; Penta KT88SCs; EH KT90s; and Tung Sol KT 120s.

I agree with your assessment of EL34s in the Cronus Magnum, in addition to the thoughts I posted earlier.

The 6550s and KT88s sound significantly more powerful and dynamic than the EL34s with the "88s" sounding about as powerful as the KT90s. Even the KT66s sound more dynamic than the "34s" though they may not be enough for your Thiels.

Edit: The EL34s and KT66s put out 55wpc, the KT88s, IIRC, put out 90wpc, the same as the KT90s.

The 6550s I tried are not really available anymore and no one has suggested any current production is up to those standards.

I preferred the Penta over the Gold Lion KT88s for their additional refinement. The Pentas aren't available from my preferred sources anymore however, and the Gold Lions are very good. Buying them croy'd would probably be a good idea: they were a bit tight sounding compared to the Pentas.

The KT88s (and 6550s and 6L6/KT66 family) are definitely more linear than the KT120s.

I haven't really liked any of the new Tung Sol power tubes in my amps. I've tried their 6550s (in Quicksilver Mono 100s), and their KT120s and 6L6GC STRs (in the Cronus). They all have had an overly emphasized lower end that was also very thick sounding. To be fair, I didn't hear that in Mark O'Brien's KT120 equipped Apollo mono-blocks (with Hera pre-amp, and Wilson Alexandrias (?)). So maybe it's amp dependent?

The Gold Lion KT66s are the most balanced power tube I've heard, are very resolving and dynamic, and have an immediacy and refinement that remind me of SETs.

The KT66s didn't sound powerful enough to drive my 87db (8 ohm nominal, 3.9 ohm minimum) speakers in my old house. Strangely, in my new home in a larger room (with much higher ceilings), they do. More power would still be nice for absolute effortlessness but I don't hear the sound as at all constricted.

IME, a big improvement in sound can also be had with NOS small signal tubes.

Best,
Rob




This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Schiit Audio  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?
Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
  Remember my Moniker & Password  (What's this?)    Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:
Message:   (Posts are subject to Content Rules)
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:  Automagically notify you when someone responds.