Shuguang 6L6GCR and 6550 - Your Experience Please

LinuksGuru · 12:38 PM

Hi, tube folks!

Based on your experience, how would you rate Shuguang 6L6GCR and 6550, in terms of sonic performance, reliability, and life time? Are they really comparable to EH, SED, WingedC or Russian NOS like 6P3S-E?

If possible, please mention your audio setup settings.

Many thanks in advance

and of course

Marry Christmas and happy New Year !

DigitalJunkie · 24th December 2009, 02:14 PM

The 6L6GCR's sounds pretty alright to me,but I haven't listened to many 6L6's yet. I do know that they are fairly tough,and can take higher voltages well,IME.I've run them at 600+V in UL mode.

dowdylama · 24th December 2009, 03:42 PM

I've only used them in a guitar amp, but the Shuguang 6L6GC perform well and are as tough as nails!

Jim

sorenj07 · 25th December 2009, 04:26 AM

I've run the 6L6's at 450V 50mA on the plates and screens in UL for about 10 hours and they were totally fine.

Sendy · 25th December 2009, 03:29 PM

I bought 2 MQ 6L6GCR, but in one quartet was one tube gassy. :-(
I've run them at 470V 30mA on the plates in Mesa Boogie Fifty-Fifty, about 200 hours yet, and no problem. Ask later....

Johan Potgieter · 25th December 2009, 06:12 PM

LinuksGuru,

Just be careful; I hope you realise that these tubes are quite different, and not intended for simply 'rolling!'

Firstly the 6550 draws almost double the heater current of a 6L6 (1,6A vs. 0,9A), and a power transformer will certainly not like going from 6L6 to 6550, especially in p.p. Secondly the bias needs to be quite higher for 6L6, and thirdly the transconductance of a 6550 is double that of a 6L6. In my opinion they should not only sound slightly different (I have not much experience of the 6550), but the 6L6GC max. ratings will be quite exceeded when plugging straight into a 6550 socket. V.v, the 6550 would not perform optimally - all this depending on the circuit.

LinuksGuru · 26th December 2009, 10:27 PM

Thanks for warning, Johan. My custom R-core power transformer has 6.3V winding rated at 15A. As for output transformer, it will be also built-to-order 60W or so with 5K primary impedance. The original schematic uses 6L6GC at 485V, I would like to try to push it with 6550 (or KT88 may be) at 580V B+ voltage.

Johan Potgieter · 26th December 2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinuksGuru

My custom R-core power transformer has 6.3V winding rated at 15A.

Wow! That's all fine then.

Brit01 · 26th December 2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

My custom R-core power transformer has 6.3V winding rated at 15

15A? Wow.

What gauge wire does that use?

I've got a 4A and its thick as a brick.

Johan Potgieter · 27th December 2009, 02:12 AM

Off topic - regarding high current transformer windings: Best to wind that with several thinner gauges wire - either bifilar or separate parallelled windings. Better 'space factor' that way than winding with a 'hauser'.

24th December 2009, 12:36 PM	#1
LinuksGuru diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	Shuguang 6L6GCR and 6550 - Your Experience Please Hi, tube folks! Based on your experience, how would you rate Shuguang 6L6GCR and 6550, in terms of sonic performance, reliability, and life time? Are they really comparable to EH, SED, WingedC or Russian NOS like 6P3S-E? If possible, please mention your audio setup settings. Many thanks in advance and of course Marry Christmas and happy New Year ! Last edited by LinuksGuru; 24th December 2009 at 12:38 PM.

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24th December 2009, 02:14 PM	#2
DigitalJunkie diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portland,Oregon Blog Entries: 4	The 6L6GCR's sounds pretty alright to me,but I haven't listened to many 6L6's yet. I do know that they are fairly tough,and can take higher voltages well,IME.I've run them at 600+V in UL mode.

24th December 2009, 03:42 PM	#3
dowdylama diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: western North Carolina	I've only used them in a guitar amp, but the Shuguang 6L6GC perform well and are as tough as nails! Jim

25th December 2009, 04:26 AM	#4
sorenj07 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	I've run the 6L6's at 450V 50mA on the plates and screens in UL for about 10 hours and they were totally fine.

25th December 2009, 03:29 PM	#5
Sendy diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2009	I bought 2 MQ 6L6GCR, but in one quartet was one tube gassy. :-( I've run them at 470V 30mA on the plates in Mesa Boogie Fifty-Fifty, about 200 hours yet, and no problem. Ask later....

25th December 2009, 06:12 PM	#6
Johan Potgieter diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pretoria, South Africa	LinuksGuru, Just be careful; I hope you realise that these tubes are quite different, and not intended for simply 'rolling!' Firstly the 6550 draws almost double the heater current of a 6L6 (1,6A vs. 0,9A), and a power transformer will certainly not like going from 6L6 to 6550, especially in p.p. Secondly the bias needs to be quite higher for 6L6, and thirdly the transconductance of a 6550 is double that of a 6L6. In my opinion they should not only sound slightly different (I have not much experience of the 6550), but the 6L6GC max. ratings will be quite exceeded when plugging straight into a 6550 socket. V.v, the 6550 would not perform optimally - all this depending on the circuit.

26th December 2009, 10:27 PM	#7
LinuksGuru diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	Thanks for warning, Johan. My custom R-core power transformer has 6.3V winding rated at 15A. As for output transformer, it will be also built-to-order 60W or so with 5K primary impedance. The original schematic uses 6L6GC at 485V, I would like to try to push it with 6550 (or KT88 may be) at 580V B+ voltage.

27th December 2009, 02:12 AM	#10
Johan Potgieter diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pretoria, South Africa	Off topic - regarding high current transformer windings: Best to wind that with several thinner gauges wire - either bifilar or separate parallelled windings. Better 'space factor' that way than winding with a 'hauser'.

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