mopar dave Posted November 8, 2003 Share Posted November 8, 2003 does anyone here know if i could replace my el34's with kt66's in my chineese amp (audcom)without problems? i'v read that kt66's were designed for hifi while el34's were not. i'm real curious of the sonic differences and they look cool. dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted November 9, 2003 Share Posted November 9, 2003 Yes you can. You could also use KT 88s. EL 84s have been used a great deal in audio equipment. Yes they are also used in guitar and PA amps but there are many great tube amps that use them. I have listened to all of the above and to my ears the KT 88s are the most pleasing to me with my Cornwalls. Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mopar dave Posted November 9, 2003 Author Share Posted November 9, 2003 thanks for the responce josh. so your telling me that the kt66 and kt 88's have the same pinout? also, how would the amp be biased differently from an el34? or would it be? dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted November 9, 2003 Share Posted November 9, 2003 The KT-66 is a 6L6 and is NOT interchangable with thge EL34 or the KT-88. NONE of these tubes are interchangable without siginificant modifications . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mopar dave Posted November 9, 2003 Author Share Posted November 9, 2003 thanks al, i'v heard yes and no on this subject. what mods would have to be performed to make the switch and would it be worth it sonicaly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted November 9, 2003 Share Posted November 9, 2003 ---------------- On 11/9/2003 9:16:06 PM Allan Songer wrote: The KT-66 is a 6L6 and is NOT interchangable with thge EL34 or the KT-88. NONE of these tubes are interchangable without siginificant modifications . . . ---------------- I mispoke in my first post ( actually it was a wine induced keystroke yip) I meant EL 34 not EL 84. At least in my amp ( rocket 88R) the KT 88s can be replaced by either the EL 84 the 6550 the KT 66 the KT77 or the KT90. All have the same pin design and all are compatible with out rewiring. I have heard that the same is true with other amps as well. I am by no means an expert, but I have used KT 66s and KT 88s and EL 34s in the same amp. Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 9, 2003 Share Posted November 9, 2003 There is a way to design enough adjustment into a Bias circuit to use KT88 , 6550 , KT66 , 6L6 , EL34 and 5881 all in the same amp. There will be a impedance mismatch when running the amp with tubes the output transformer was not designed for. The amp Mopar Dave has is not going to run KT88's it may do alright with KT66/6L6 types there is only one way to find out ! No matter what the amp will not be optimal for all tube types but it will work and you may love it or hate it ! Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted November 9, 2003 Share Posted November 9, 2003 I would only run the Rocket with KT-88's or 6550's. As far as the other amp goes -- just stick with the EL34. It's a really sweet sounding tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxg Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 With my amp I think I can run the EL34, the 6550 or the KT88 but not the KT66, KT90 nor the EL84 so I think you need to refer to the manufacturer before making any purchases. As it happens I now run the EL34, coming from the KT88. Whilst there were in rather different amps I would suggest the KT88 is faster with better bass whilst the EL34 is MUCH more musical. Having both is probably the ideal. I have not had good experiences with the 6550 and would not recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mopar dave Posted November 10, 2003 Author Share Posted November 10, 2003 thanks to all for the informative advise. i guess i'll have to stay with the el34's. it would be nice if someone would produce a coke bottle el34 with the sonics of the EH 6ca7's. later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurdy_gurdyman Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 You know, in theory at least, the coke bottle tubes are not as accurate as the skinny bottle ones. It is harder to get a good vacume with a larger bottle. The weaker vacume will have more distortion, less taunt and less speed. This may be the reason that very small bottle tubes like the EL 84 have such a strong following by people who claim they sound faster and taunter then higher powered tubes like EL34 and big bottle tubes like KT66. Of course, this is only the "theory". Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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