Anyone else diggin' SED KT88's???

[jasondmckay]

I put a pair in my Sunn Spectrum II. The amp sounds great but I have other issue with it right now so I can't put it through a real work out. I can only get a few minutes out of it before blowing a fuse. I had a cap replaced and the big filter cap replaced but it's something else. My new tech is taking it back soon I hope.

If you are blowing fuses, odds are, you got bad power tubes. Maybe the EH tubes aren't so good after all.

 

[stompboxfreak72]

I had them in my Baron k88. Really , really liked them.

I used sed el34 s in my QR and I was never sold on them. Then again the QR was the absolute wrong amp for me so maybe I should revisit. I like the Rubys so much that I doubt I could justify the price of the SEDs though.

 

[leib10]

How do the SED 6550s compare to the SED KT88s?

 

[apophis]

I love SED KT88's in my Deliverance 60, but i did not like them as much as the stock Sovteks in my Ultra-Lead

 

[leib10]

How do the SED 6550s compare to the SED KT88s?

6550 and KT88's are really 2 different tube types, both have similar electrical characteristics but the KT88 can handle much higher plate and screen voltage 800v plate/600v screen. And 6550's spec out at 680v plate/400v screen. Many consider them to be the same since they can be drooped in the same circuit with just a re-bias in most cases.

Both are typically 35 watt dissipation ratings, some KT88's are higher.

Tone wise KT88's are very linear and wide open sounding, they are neutral or relaxed in the mids and have a very tight powerful bass response and have nice highs.

6550's tend to sound like 6L6 crossed with a EL34, they are also big and powerful but with more mids and low mids and good highs. They sound good clipped where KT88's tend to get a little harsh when clipped.

In my experience, guys/gals who like drop tuning prefer KT88's and the Marshall guys prefer 6550's, but that is just a reference.

Thanks for the response. I'm currently running SED 6550s in my Twin Jet, which sounded terrible with the stock KT88s, which found a new home in my Rev 2. Go figure.

Someday I might pick up a quad of JJ KT88s for the Twin Jet. I just can't justify spending $250+ for a quad of SEDs.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

I just bought a quartet of JJ KT88's today. I really wanted SED but couldn't justify spending $300 on the SED KT 88's vs. JJ's for $195. I also bought a pair of JJ KT88's and a pair of KT66's to put in my dual rectifier, should be interesting.

$300 a quad? Where were you pricing them. They should be around $200 a quad. JJ's are great also. I have had them for over a year without any issues.

SED is awesome in general. Ive used their el34 and 6l6

I have not fallen in love with the SED 6L6 yet but I love their El34's, 6550's and KT88's.

The SED 6550 is the one i haven't taken too. Big time love the 6L6 and 34's, and like the 88's. Seems like the SED KT-88 can be a little picky about amps.

There's one chinese KT-88 that's really nice, has a fancy chrome base and is the tube Elmwood uses. It can give a 88 amp some nice Marshall crunch, but the playing feel is a little stiff.

 

[harddriver]

Here's my description of 6550 versus KT-88's YMMV. The 6550 is like a bigger 6L6 not much in the way of El34 tone with this tube. The 6550 does not like to be biased hot they will get flubby sounding so the 70% rule I feel does not apply here ans sounds woody and harsh if you get them to clip. Try colder bias like 50% or less here and the 6550 tightens up great and gets broader dynamically.

The KT-88 responds a little softer than the 6550 while still retaining some openess but not mid emphasized like the EL-34. I feel the KT-88 is like a bigger rounder fatter EL-34 that has more headroom and broader dynamic range as compared to the the 6550-6L6 type response.

The JJ-KT88 was always real loose on the bottom end with the ones I have tried. SED's are good both the 6550 and KT88, The Sovtek Kt-88 sounds good but get them burned in a tested for reliablility(which helps weed out the bad ones), Shuguang 6550 are GE6550 three getter clones but have not so good reliability so get them from Ruby or a seller who burns them in good, I've had few of these go into run away bias or just stopped working alltogether with little to no hours on them. Valve Art is Shuguang/Sino.

The KT stands for Kinkless Tetrodes which is similar to beam forming elements likethe 6L6. I've read the KT-88 was to be the UK version of the 6550 I think mainly for bass amp and PA amp heads at the time where linear clear power was needed.

I've heard the Penta labs KT-88's and Tung SOls are good as well. All that being said I've had the most luck with the Old Svetlana(SED) winged C for reliability and longevity. All the tube listed above are true to the Beam forming element design like the 6L6.

But if you want a big bottle EL34/6550 Groove Tube's 6550R's( if I remember right) are actually power pentodes like the EL34. I can't vouch for reliablity or tone since I despise Groove Tubes and avoid them like the plague, but that tube has always interested me, if they still have a website that was how they described them there.

 

[RSRD]

I think Bogner puts the SED 88s in the 20th Shivas now? I'll check whjen I get home.

 

[Ben Hur]

i had a pair of SED 6L6s in a peavey combo i used to own. sounded amazing, til i blew the amp up

 

[Rob R]

Looking forward to hearing the SED EL 34s in the MarkIII

 

[Baritonesludge]

Old thread revival! specifically for Laura / Splawn Nitro KT88 owners!

Did your Nitro ship with Sovtek KT88's? did you find a masive improvement when swapping out to say JJ's or Sed's and had anyone ever tried these Shuguang KT88's I keep hearing so much about in their Nitros?.....

How about 6550's in a Nitro!

 

[charveldan]

Pretty sure SED stopped making 88's all together.

I just checked Tube Depots websited and they have no =C= EL-34's listed anymore.

They do have cryotreated =C= 6550's old stock.

Looks like Winged =C= is officially defunct.

DAMN U PUTIN ...

 

[Baritonesludge]

The =C= Kt88's are still available in the UK, not sure if that is just old stock but I can still get em.....Have you ever tried the Sovteks or Shuguangs?

 

[charveldan]

nope.

I may go with the Ruby bstr or the Sino EL-34's

 

[Baritonesludge]

You rockin any KT88's or 6550's in any of your amps bro?

 

[charveldan]

I had a JMP 2203 with SED =C= 6550's, they were Brutal but needed a stadium.

That one was too much amp.

I may try the EH-6CA7

 

[Baritonesludge]

Sweet! that sounds like what I need! can't decide on 6550's or KT88's tho for the Splawn nitro!

 

[se7en]

I wonder how the SED's compare to the Penta Labs 88's....

 

[charveldan]

Just off the phone with Tube Depot.

SED =C= tewbs are history, Kaput.

Any C tubes floating around are back stock.

Predict price for remaining inventory to skyrocket.

 

[Baritonesludge]

Just off the phone with Tube Depot.

SED =C= tewbs are history, Kaput.

Any C tubes floating around are back stock.

Predict price for remaining inventory to skyrocket.

Dude that really sux right? Winged C's have always been my go to tube, whether it be the EL34's or 6L6's!!! why would they stop makin the most awesome power tubes available as current production....bummer man!