Replacements for Svetlana 6550Cs in CJ Premier 11A

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I'm looking for recommended tubes to replace the Svetlana 6550Cs in my newly acquired but well used Premier 11A. Given the prices of NOS and my budget, I'm limiting my search to current production tubes.

I've done quite a bit of online research and have narrowed the options down to the following, but am open to suggestions from those who have heard any of the current production 6550/KT88/KT120 options in a Premier 11A or other CJ amp.

1. Genalex Gold Lion KT88. This tube gets a lot of love generally, and it is Jim McShane's recommendation out of all current production KT88s or 6550s. As of now, it's what I am inclined to order. But will it change the character of the Premier 11A? I really do like how it sounds now.

2. Sovtek 6550. This is the tube Audio Research now recommends as a 6550 replacement for its older 6550 tube and seems quite popular of late. This was Jim McShane's recommended less expensive option. I do wonder if it will sound more like the Svetlana as it is a 6550?

3. Tung Sol 6550. This had been my first choice, and at least at some point I believe it was CJ's recommended replacement for the 11A. But I have read some mixed reviews online and Jim McShane is phasing it out because he says it has problems with excessively high bias current and he doesn't particularly like the sound.

4. Tung Sol KT120. I like this tube and have actually heard it, but not in a CJ (I have a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II integrated and like it in that amp, but it's at our winter home so I can't just swap them in the Premier 11A). I do know it's a tube that some have used in the Premier 11A and enjoyed.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. I'm hoping to order a quad soon and will report back.
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Topic - Replacements for Svetlana 6550Cs in CJ Premier 11A - JoshT 21:43:41 09/06/21 (10)

RE: KT120s in a CJ - Ewalaa 18:07:34 09/07/21 (1)

Thanks - JoshT 19:49:49 09/07/21 (0)

This would seem to be a good solution and within budget. - viridian 13:50:39 09/07/21 (6)

Thank you for the link (NT) - Joe Appierto 07:11:56 09/09/21 (2)

But then you raised the price of the Sovtek KT88s by $10. No good deed goes unpunished. nt - viridian 07:35:06 09/09/21 (1)

RE: But then you raised the price of the Sovtek KT88s by $10. No good deed goes unpunished. nt - Joe Appierto 07:44:32 09/09/21 (0)

In fact, i just bought a quad from Joe now! Thanks again for flagging this. - JoshT 19:51:32 09/07/21 (1)

My pleasure, glad I could help. - viridian 21:22:24 09/07/21 (0)

Yes, it would. Thanks. - JoshT 14:55:18 09/07/21 (0)

RE: Replacements for Svetlana 6550Cs in CJ Premier 11A - garymuffley 23:11:12 09/06/21 (0)

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