EL34, 6550, KT88, KT120: Which Tube Sound Best? SOUND DEMO with QUALIO IQ Open Baffle speakers
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- EL34 vs 6550 vs KT88 vs KT120 -- SOUND TEST with High End Open Baffle Speakers.
Loudspeakers used in the video are Qualio Audio IQ speakers - www.qualioaudi...?sca_ref=3235308.NKh93CeqLQ
Listen to how the vacuum tubes sound like.
All tested with push pull Tsakiridis Aeolos Amplifier, Lampizator Amber DAC
License ID: 0OxnXgeoLoM lickd.lnk.to/Z...
el34 vs kt88
6550 vs kt88
kt88 vs el34 sound
EL34 Vs 6550 - Power Tube Comparison
KT88 Vs 6550 - Power Tube Comparison
Open Baffle Loudspeakers
Push Pull Amplifier
Push Pull Tube AmplifierQualio IQtube amplifier sound test
Tsakiridisn Aeolos
kt88 vs 6l6 vs el34
*Loudspeakers used in the video are Qualio Audio IQ speakers - www.qualioaudio.com?sca_ref=3235308.NKh93CeqLQ*
Listen to how the vacuum tubes sound like.
All tested with push pull Tsakiridis Aeolos Amplifier, Lampizator Amber DACSubscribe for more videos like this one And have a wonderful day
Damn right!
KT120. The most live, the most transparent, the most airy and the most natural sounding. It sounds as if the system doesn't exist and you hear the musicians live in your room!!!!! Incredible test, thanks.
That would also be my choice with Qualio IQ. Thank you for your vote 🙂
totally agree !
agree
Yep the kt120
EL34 for me, smooth and well balanced across the range.
i agree
You have a better evalution than most .........
I switched to another tab to check something and realized I could hear no differences or changes in sound. I really don't think these tubes make any difference at all. Just some very slight EQ would account for any differences in clarity or warmth. I'm of the opinion these days that the amp circuit and proper biasing are what makes an amp sound good. As long as the tubes aren't cheap they should all be in spec and do their job.
I hav 20tube.
I loved the KT-120 valves. What struck me over and over is the much deeper soundstage and openness of the sound, along with deeper bass and extended highs of course. I've been running EL-34s for the last 2 years, and I feel it is time for a change of pace. These 120s are expensive and scarce at this point in time though. This is due to a war related price inflation on all valves. Thank you for this comparo.
Thank you for the comment. I like the kt120 the most for my preferences and would love to check kt150 as well but the price is a bit to steep just to check them out ;)
Kt120 the best
The EL34 plays more continuous the wave of notes. The others kind of punch at the sound with quicker rise to full leaving the natural flow out. Keep in mind that these tubes are typically biased differently and as such the amp may or not adjust to the different filament current needed and higher bias. More strain on the power supplies for tubes not EL34. Thanks much for the test.
Taking into account we are listening to YT sound, I would say that all them sound similar, but I think KT120 has an edge the rest don't have. Thanks for setting this audition in such perfect way!
Totally agree
Very nice contest,thanks. I prefer EL 34,its more natural and has a beautiful flow. But more important than kind of tube is the construction of the whole amp.
El 34 is the best one in showing vivid, emotional sound
Thanks for sharing ;)
I agree, I didn't think this Tube would perform as well as it did.
Sounds like more music coming from the El34 sweeter and cleaner than the others
Having a lifetime worked with tubes....I FULLY AGREE !
KT120 most cohesive, realistic sound stage and timber.
Thank you virtualhifi.😊
The KT-120s. Definitely.
Thanks for your comment and opinion 😉. That would be my choice as well for Qualio IQ speakers if I were to use this amp.
KT120. The bass is deeper and the overall openness of the highs is evident. The EL34 sounds like the playing is coming from a narrow tunnel.
Les KT 120 me paraissent beaucoup plus naturelles.
Je ne suis pas impartial, je viens juste de recevoir mes blocs mono (Tsakiridis Apollon Ultra) chacun monté en double push-pull de KT 120..
Absolument phénoménal de transparence, de qualité de timbre, de dynamique et de profondeur de scène sonore..
Thank you for your comment and sharing your opinion.
EL34 is more open and warm, 6550 next, KT88 and 120 sound a bit recess and thin, this may be very general impression of mine, I am sure many other variables can come into play, the microphone used, the selected tubes, and also the amp itself, if it is a synergy with the tube selected. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your opinion with us 🙂
KT88 is my choice. It is much sweeter than the rest but seems like less powerful
very nice detail and more neutral and natural and still that tuby stage
Your system sounds great on all the tubes. During the first half I do not hear a difference between them. I see the sun set and the label change, otherwise I would not know. Then the Four Seasons track comes on and I clearly hear it. By the next track my preference is the KT120. All the KT tubes have a transparent mid / upper, but the 120 also has bass.
BTW, thanks for the huge effort you have put into these comparison videos. Most enjoyable.
The EL 34 has the classic smooth warm sound. The KT 120 sounds closer to solid state.
Thanks for sharing. I totally agree ;)
There is no one better here. They all had their merits. I would be which is stressing the amp. Which will have the longest life in that amp design.
Technically speaking these are not 'open baffle' speakers - but its not a complaint and I love your test and I am tempted
Thank you for your feedback. It's semi open baffle but still the holography and soundstage are next level ;)
@@VirtualHiFi Thanks i reckon they are great - plan on giving them a try at some point - but I think I have to buy them first!!!!!
el 34 more harmonics, kt 120 wider deeper stage with very good tone! Personally I think that speaker is very audiophile not super natural sounding, impressive but not my cup of tea.
I have heard the wolf van Langa which is similar but with field coil, it was magical, with different electronics a little less blown away but still very natural sounding.
Great video to attempt this!
I am glad I have the KT120's in my Conrad Johnson Power Amps...
Also in this vid its shown imo (on my old phone 😉)
Thank you for your vote. With the Quality I'd also use KT120with this amp.
El34s always. NOS Mullard xf2s and Tesla brown bases. And 6CA7s. Don't ever count them out. Especially the new EH 6CA7s. They're amazing
Thank you for sharing your opinion. In fact el34 can sound amazing if the speaker are quite easy to drive ;)
Can you please upload an uncompressed version of the videos? Thanks
Luv the Christmas tree.
thank you for sharing your comment ☺️
This sounds like the right sequence of elevation but I miss real SE amps
Der aeolos plus ist ja für die kt88/6550 ausgelegt.
Killt man nicht zwangsläufig die Elektronik bei Verwendung der 120 Röhren????
please answer
6550 have a beautyfull midrange and smoothy hights
All nce, but for me its the : KT88 very nice detail and more neutral and natural and still that tuby stage
Thanks for sharing your opinion ;)
kt120 for me
El made for all round quality sound KT 88 grandfather BUT where it KT66 the grandmother (who gives us love) my favourite just soooo musical thanks for the opportunity to comment. 18:25
Ha never heard KT66.
I'll try to borrow such an amp and listen and record it ;)
To me KT88 and after KT120. It has the most natural, airy sound (with good separation & clean bass)! 6550 too dark with less separation.
Que Marca de válvulas fabrica la mejor válvula EL34 en cuanto a Calidad Sonora y Fiabilidad?? Gracias 🇪🇸
EL34's sound is more open. KT120 is fuller than others. 6550 sounds hollow.
Are all theses tubes from the same company and are they new or NOS? Because that can be a huge difference in performance. But just by the sound of this video I prefer El34 than Kt88 than 6550 with your set up. Kt120 is over kill with your amp and that particular speaker
Correct ! ...............(no tube used here is nos I think )....................KT120 is a current design .
I use nos tube , no re-issues , current Tungsol, Gold Lion, Mullard and >Telefunken are not nos tubesd and do not have the quality , the sound and the life expectancy of the real nos tubes.........
If you're lucky you can maybe find some Mullard xF series EL34 , Siemens/RFT, genuine TESLA ( not tesla/JJ !!! )..........I also use and like the american 6CA7 GE ( fat boy ) witch is a beam power but equivalent to the EL34 ( Penthode )
The best sounding 6550 are the REAL Tungsol, the GE, Sylvania .............................and the real KT88 made by GEC..........
For voices a good EL 34 is mostly unbeatable ....( Winged C , the real Svetlana EL34 from St Petersburg is also a very good tube but is now obsolete as the factory stopped making tubes)
Hello thank you for the comment. Yes they are from current production , just what I have and could borrow. So the KT88 and 120 are TungSol and el34 and 6550 are from JJ
EL 34 will always be around thanks to the electric guitar. Lots of tube choices to roll with.
Very huge difference. Mullard xf2s and Tesla brown base are my favorite el34s and all I use when it comes to el34s. Only el34s that last too imo.
But mee production, the EH 6CA7 are amazing. Should have tested those here. Only new production power tube I love
everything sounds great. playlist please
Tastes differ, this music has a lot of compression and therefore has no dynamics (loud, soft). There are some timbre differences between the tubes (a matter of taste), but this music does not lend itself to 'natural sounding' due to the battery of plugins in the recording studio. Pick up the music of Miles Davis from 1959 (kind of blue) and you will choose a different tube.
Kt88 BEST SOUNDING
I'll stick with my EVS1200 (based on dual ICE Edge AS 1200 modules) and my LSA Voyager GaN 350, both of which can be left on 24/7
That is a great point as well. I also like to run the amps all day and I. The winter that is a bonus heating, but in the summer class D definitely wins ;)
I have the LSA GaN350 and its a great amp, but still prefer my tube amps. They have a more natural sound overall to me, but the LSA is great in the summer and gets amazing detail without being harsh.
As much as I tried to prefer EL34, the bass on KT120 was just too good to ignore, I prefer KT120 for its sheer power
Great choice. Yes the bigger the KT the mothe the authority. So for best experience check out my fezz audio titania video where I also test kt150 ;)
Hi Sir, what a great demo and it's really wow me 😊
May I check what's the track u used for testing? Thanks!
Nice comparison.
6550 gives too much audible distortions. 88 gives less, but I don't like its high end. EL34 is more or less, especially at a mid range, but 120 is the top. It would be interesting to listen to a multi-amp setup with 120 at a low end, EL34 at a mid range, and .. something like 6SN7 at a high end.
This is a very unique design. On next video can you please post in room frequency response chart like they do in Stereophile? Thanks!
Hello
Thank you for your comment. Next videos are being edited, but I'll put the video devoted to the Quality IQ with in room measurement - great idea thanks ;)
@@VirtualHiFi Great looking forward to seeing it!
numbers re not my thing but my ears are...
Geez, the KT88 is so much better than the rest it's not even close...all the rest sound like different versions of a "recording"...with the 88 it's so real and 3-dimensional that it's spooky
Thank you for your comment ;)
EL34 and 6550 where the clear winners. Far more open sounding.
Mega video. Many thanks. What recording software do you use?
Thanks 👍
Check some of my new videos since I upgraded my gear to Schoeps microphones and 32bit recorder and have a better dedicated studio. I am editing everything in Da Vinci resolve since it allows me to render videos with 32 bit wave sound files ;)
KT120 for me :) EL and 6550 very distorted, especially 6550
Hi
Yes I have the same impression. In my opinion KT120 is the most powerful and rich sounding tube with Qualio IQ speakers.
EL34 for me
Thank you for sharing this with me
I’m interested in the artists and song tracks!
KT 88 for the win
Thank you for your vote
Hi. I am hearing unexpected results, using older iPhone with Apple ear buds. The KT88 sound terrible! The sound is unnatural. My favorite are the KT120. The sound is natural and seems to isolate the instruments from one another, and adds depth. The EL34 seem warm, but almost muffled slightly or overly colored. The 6550 is pretty nice sounding. So I’m ranking them best to worst: 1) KT120, 2)6550, 3) EL34, 4) KT88. I believe this must be due to the iPhones limitations. I was expecting the EL34 to be good. It wasn’t. And why is the KT88 so awful?! Tell me why?
In my opinion KT is a all-rounder that is not exceptional in any matter. 6550 is richer and more analogue, KT 150 has more punch and impact and KT88 well is the most popular one ;)
Do a review and include 300b & KT150
I'll try to do that ;)
Amplifiers that are advertised as swap-tube amps are and will always be a poor choice for the customer. The fact that there is some overlap in quiescent conditions that allows to use them all with minimal bias adjustment (or none at all) is a good marketing argument for the seller but it's a poor return for the customer who will have to spend extra money to find which of the tubes is actually fitting better (less compromised!!) in that design. Even worse if we are talking about expensive gear! I do not like any of the combinations, especially the EL34 can do WAY better than that and also produce some serious class AB power (up to 75W in pentode mode) without stressing the tubes at the same time. But it needs an optimal circuit, an optimal transformer and the use of local feedback ONLY. I have just made one....yes I am a DIYer and can design my transformers but anyone could get one, maybe with less power but overall great sound if swap-tube-amps (and in general swap-components amps) get binned forever.. Cheers
Thank you for the feedback.
I believe you are right. Amp with topology and transformers dedicated to one particular tube has a way better potential. However I heard multiple dedicated kt88 and El34 amps and would say that overall character is very similar to what I can hear in this video. Also if somebody has a swap tube amp they can decide on the tubes to get without spending plenty of 💰
@@VirtualHiFi You are right as well but it's more like an issue with commercial stuff and that's why I have started DIY.
Totally agree. DIY is a great hobby and allows to save plenty of cash in this hobby. there is no better feeling than listening to your own gear. recommend everybody to start with speakers since they are easier and safer to begin with.
have a great day
RIGHT .......!
EL34 is most boring to me: lack of low end, lack of air and flat soundstage. 6550 almost same. Both KT better dynamics, low end, have air and more emotional. 120 may be more clear and "shiny" on top than 88. Thanks for your videos, helps to investigate without bying all of this staff)) I make myself some not expensive SET amps using old USSR lamps, was thinking about EL34, not anymore))
thank you for sharing your opinion and your positive feedback. it gives plenty of energy knowing that it is helpful for you guys.
thank u
KT120 и 6550 наиболее объмный и басистый звук
Я НЕ УСЛЫШАЛ НИКАКОЙ разницы!
Thank you for sharing
EL34 больше для красивых и весёлых жанров, а KT88 для грустно печального рока. Разве нет?
Yes Dimitri you’re absolutely correct ✅.😂😂😂
EL34
Is that glass or plexiglass on the open-baffle..? ✌
Hello
It is plexiglass since glass would be too fragile and could resonate badly.
It is laser cut and diamond polished 👍
Kt120 bigger soundstage, more space for instruments and more natural voice
Thank you for sharing your feedback ;)
what brand tubes you use on the el34 bro?
This cant really be done properly via RUclips.. The compression and artifacts are too high. You start hearing (or wishing) things that arent there. Perhaps closer miked in a less vibrant room. I can however hear differences in speakers very clearly if recordings are done well. Thanks for the effort anyway
Thank you for the comment. That is what I did I ordered some more absorbers and used it on the back wal during recording and got mic stands and moved them way closer so that the recordings that will be published soon are sounding way better. ;)
KT88 this best for me
EL34 is the more musical. The best with the first recording.
KT120, clean sound. The best with classical. EL34 :(
6550, I can live with them.
KT88 are the worst.
If you listen to all kind of recordings: KT120 or 6550.
I wold agree. I partialy do not understand the phenomenon of KT88 Popularity. I like 6550 more and for power KT150 is definitely better ;)
KT 88 ... ! best voice
Thanks for sharing ;)
In this particular set up .............the 6550.............and the EL34
In fact comparisOns depends on many variables...........In reality one can only optimize an amplifier for a given tube type .........more , one can in fact optimize to one tube type or combination of tubes from a given BRAND FOR EACH TYPE USED...
Same goes for the choice between triode mode and UL or pe,thode mode...
All the options are marketing tools ............to fool audiophiles ...
and no current production tube can compete or come up to the standard of GOOD nos tubes...
Also tube amplifier technology is not made to drive MODERN current hungry and low impedance LS that need to be driven by high damping factors of heavily NFB amplifiers...
This is a common made upmarketing error made to sell tube amplifiers to interested and curious audiophiles .
But the marketing works and the sales follow............most modern tube amplifiers are not designed and build by the lost skilled engineers that had those skills.and the know how is lost .
Clones of exceptionel old tube electroics like the famous marantz 7 or 9........are an illusion and don't even sound close tothe original.
Exceptions exist but at a price ...........out of range of many music lovers.
In this demo I repeat ....the 6550 ( whatever the brand ) wins ....and the EL34 on voices....
..
I like few tracks like the Colck one ;)
voice better : 6550 < el34 < kt88 < kt120 If i liesten to music at there place then i choose different.
Thank you for the comment. I really appreciate your vote 😊
what tubes you use on el34 bro?
KT 88 BEST. 6550 WORST.
But the McIntosh tube/soiid
state hybrid amplifiers use the
6550 and they sound great; so
other factors contribute to the
sound.
Thanks for sharing
You have to compare different tubes on each song not one song at different tube s
KT120 is the best for me ..
Thanks for sharing 🙏
For me EL34 or 6550
Thanks I'd go for 6550 personally but yes both are magical ;)
EL34 FOR ME.
Thanks for sharing your opinion
Is the woofer also open baffle, or?
Hi
It's a bass reflex cabinet.
With 9.5" driver in open baffle there would be no bass. So the open baffle is used where the gain is the biggest - mid and high frequencies.
I couldn't tell the difference between any of the tubes. Then I realized you were streaming. A turntable with a high quality cartridge and phonostage would have revealed the nuances between the various tubes. Streaming is flat. Two dimensional. Lacks definition. The aural equivalent of a cartoon.
Me too. No difference heard. Interestingly with my own amplifier I even can hear if my EL34s change from one manufacturer to the other. Must by RUclips.
I think best sounds is if 6550.
Thank you for sharing. I also like 6550 and 150 the most ;)
I don't hear the differences in the last 3, the 34 has the highest mids, i think youtube, i have to hear in direct.
Thanks for sharing.
Did you use headphones for the listening ?
KT120 🎉🎉🎉🎉in
845 please :-)
1st - EL34, 2nd KT120...
Kt120 sounds wide ambiance and richer
Thank you for sharing 😊
kt120
EL34 more space than the rest 😉
Thanks for sharing your feedback
I closed my eyes... they all sound very close...
EL34 sounds compressed, tube sound 😅 6650 no bass. KT88 no mids 😅 KT120 has the best sound and transients.
Pretty much!
El34s sound amazing
I very much disagree with the test method and the conclusion. It is basic knowledge that the operating points have to be adjusted for each tube - then they all would sound neutral. All this proved is that the wrong amplifier was used for the comparison AND the wrong engineer made sure that the comparison was fair.
If the output tube changes the frequency response (which changes the sound), then the amplifier has not been correctly designed.
Hello Robin
Thank you for your comment. I only have this amp an the mm moment so that is all I can do and from my experience that is how I know such dedi cc wtedy amps to sound. In the future I'll try to arrange for dedicated amps for the test. However if you look at it from the point of I have amp that allows me to adjust bias and swap tubes which should I choose this test is very reasonable ;)
@@VirtualHiFi It is not just bias. Take your amp with one set of tubes and plug the speakers into the 4 ohm taps. Listen. Then plug them into the 8 ohm taps. Listen. You will hear a LARGER difference than any of your comparisons. The operating points are NOT just bias. They are also the loading of the tube. They are also the match of the OPT to the tube output impedance.
With a PushPull amp, we even have more issues with how well the tubes are dynamically matched.
There are further issues - but I want to keep the reply short.
I think that comparing is a good idea. We just need to ask the right questions to get the "right" answers.
@@VirtualHiFi Everybody's a CRITIC! I like 6550 as far as criticizing your implementation of your comparisons as I said Everybody's a critic. Good Job I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Test method is sound based on the provided constraints. A comparison of tube sound for this one amp/system. Thx for the work in putting this together.
KT120 less tube (more impact) or EL34 even if it lacks bass control. On Vivaldi KT88 is a killer. 6550 on voices sounds horny or emphasis on these frequencies.
Thank you for sharing your opinion. ;)
10:00 song title ?
It's this song ruclips.net/video/_yFIoZ7a8Yg/видео.html
kt 88 takes it
Thanks for sharing
6550
Thanks for sharing your opinion :)
KT 120
Thank you for sharing
Any HIFI comparison on youtube is total bullshit. Firstly, the audio quality of youtube is bad and it is not possible to hear the difference, secondly, most people listen to this on a mobile phone or $20 headphones, so all you "experts" who claim to hear a difference are actually talking nonsense. I have an amplifier that also uses the mentioned tubes, modified CAYIN A55T and it is very subjective which one is the best. For vocal jazz and midrange i prefered hot biased EL34 for something louder, rock, pop, metal or electronic music where you need good bass and low range KT or 6550 is better.
Thank you for your opinion. I'll let my self disagree. Certainly all neausces are hard to get, but one can get clear opinion on whether there is a difference and how do devices sound in comparison. Of course it's always best to have a listen in real life, but for most it's impossible.
Fix your room
Already fixed it. moved to dedicated treated studio visible in my newer videos ;)
i wonder what the responses would be if you would compare XF2 el34's to all the other tubes....🥲 the KT120 are defenitly Tung Sol as they are the only brand producing them, but which brand, edition are the others..? i think i see Prima Luna KT88's which are (pardon me french) crap tubes, comparing KT88 to KT120 you should at least put them up against the Gold Lions as they are in the same price range as the KT120, The JJ el34's are dirt cheap tubes, however the EL34L sounds much better then it costs. About the 6550, comparing Tung Sol KT120 with Tung Sol 6550 seems more fair, those look te be (but are not) the Sovtek 6550WE...?Oh i see now they are JJ's as well. the absolute cheapest 6550 out there.... No wonder almost all prefer the expensive KT120's, those tubes cost almost the same as the other 3 quads combined... Nice video BTW
Thank you for sharing your opinion. You are right. It should be. However probably when I'll have 100k subs companies will flood me with stuff to check but now still I have to ask and its not that easy to get great devices. So maybe on the future I'll be able to do it the better way 😄
Thank you for your feedback once again 😄
KT120