Svetlana vs. Winged C

[TubeHead Johnny]

I recently found a really good deal on a quad of Svetlana 6550c tubes. Has anyone here have any experience with these? How do they compare to the Winged C version? Reliability issues?

Thanks,

John.

[Shoog]

The winged C are the original Russian Svetlana Brand.

Shoog

[TubeHead Johnny]

Are there any differences in quality? (Or tone?)

[cyteen]

Can can only speak with regard to the EL34 where both the build and tone quality was better with the winged =C=.

[kevinkr]

Really depends on when they were made, prior to the bankruptcy of SED Svetlana and =C= were one and the same, post bankruptcy the Svetlana tubes sold in the USA and Canada are made by New Sensor's ExpoPul plant on their own tooling. SED went bankrupt in the early years of this decade, no longer remember exactly when.

If you want genuine Svetlana Spb made tubes you need to buy ones with the =C= label on them, if you just want a good price on 6550C then I suppose it doesn't matter.

[Shoog]

Winged C valves can be readily got from easter European valve dealers at very reasonable money. Postage is probably as cheap as getting them from within the USA. Most have got Ebay shops. They don't talk about brands specifically so you would have to inquire before buying.

They tend to designate them by their Russian numbers.

Tone wise, my experience of the winged C valves are that they are sweet and full sounding. Some of my favourite valves overall.

Shoog

[wboyd]

I have a quad of both....although comparison is rather difficult for me becuase when I bought my amp the Svetlana tubes were marked as weak...although they did sound great, I eventually replaced them with winged C's. I am getting to the replace juncture again and am thinking about going with a KT88 this time (just to see how they are).

I can tell you this....I love the sound of the Winged C tubes.

[TubeHead Johnny]

If anyone is interested, here's the link (scoll down towards the bottom):

http://www.boiaudioworks.com/6550?os...d77b1c27a1b885