EL34's vs. KT66's

[SlowGroove]

Toob amp gurus . . .

. . . can anyone please tell me what the sonic diff's are between these two tubes !?

For argument's sake, i have an amp that can take both sets, how will the amp differ, tone/character wise, with each set ?

Thanks to all.
James

 

[Stratman]

Re: EL34's vs. KT66's

KT-66 have a more rounded tone and no peaking in frequencies. BIG GLASS BOTTLES

EL-34 are harsher that higher mid-range that varies with the bias setting (e.g. frequency changes slightly)

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Say you put them into an amp at the same bias setting, the KT-66 always have a richer tone, while the EL-34 have a harder driving sound.


BTW - My expereince is based on original GEC and Mullard tubes in an original Blues Breaker amp, so others might have difference exeprience using different amps and bias settings.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: EL34's vs. KT66's

The KT66 is a version of the 6L6, so many of tonal properties of the 6L6 are present. Compared to an EL34; the top is glassier, the mids are more refined, and the bottom is fatter. The KT66 has huge bottom end, not necessarilly tighter, more so than a standard 6L6.

However, the KT66 also has some the midrange properties of a EL34 under distortion. The KT66 has more headroom (stays cleanier longer) than a regular 6L6, and it goes without saying that it has significantly more headroom than the typical EL34. One of the nice things about the KT66 is it sounds great clean or dirty.

Technically speaking the KT66 is a beam tetrode, actually a "kinkless tetrode", while the EL34 is technically a pentode. Although the KT66 is of the same family of the 6L6/5881/7581 its does draw more heater current, and it has greater output.