Tung Sol 6550 vs. GEC/Genelex/Gold Monarch KT88


Anyone have experience rolling these tubes, and would you comment on their sonic characteristics? I'd be using them in a VAC Phi 110 push/pull amplifier with Sylvania 6SN7 WGTA driver tubes.
tvad
Does anyone have an opinion on the EH 6550 tubes? I bought a couple of matched quads for what seems like a great price shipped form the Audio Pimp. Then I got the VTV issue, and they didn't even test them. I'm still waiting for my amp to come back from repair to try them, but wondered if anyone has prior experience with them. They're the fat bottle versions.
Thanks,
David
I "lucked" across a brand-new quad of the original GEC MO Gold Monarchs a year ago. I play them every day and they continue to astound. I'm hoping by the time they're worn completely out, the Chinese, who are getting close, will have achieved a similarly sweet-sounding and long-lived KT88.
@deepee99 GEC Marconi Osram KT88s are magic with lovely holographic midband.

@tvad Make sure you try a different 6SN7 too. You might be amazed the difference rolling them will have on how the power tubes sound.
@noromance@tvad@lizardzkingI guess we belong to a rather exclusive club. I'm angling for another quad of the GEC Marconis with a guy right now but I fear the days of the $750 NOS quad are over, unless you're willing to take your chances on counterfeits.
I echo tvad's sentiments on drivers. I use a total of 7 of them (3 in the driver section of the amp; four in the line pre-amp -- all 6SN7s. A lame driver array will make even the best output tubes sound like yesterday's oats. The beauty of 6SN7s is they're plentiful and cheap to come by. I probably have enough chrome-dome Sylvanias to decorate the Christmas tree. Here is where the Chinese really shine, and I think are competitive with the best of the American and European NOS offerings. Currently I am using Shuggie CV-181-ts to great effect but PSVanes churn out some good 6SN7-types as well. I dislike rolling output tubes, but tube-rolling drivers is (relatively) inexpensive good sport. The Russians have, IMHO, yet to turn out a good 6SN7. This is prolly worthy of another thread, but who likes what in your volt-amp holes?