What can I do with these? (tube and OPT question)

[needtubes]

I just located a pair of Groove Tubes 6550 (matched pair, Performance 8 and Matched ABA on the sticker) and a matched quad of 6L6 that I forgot I had stashed away. I really want a SET... with actual triodes on the output... but maybe I could trick myself into not caring and wire the 6L6 or 6550 in triode or run then UL.

I almost hate to attempt to wire anything point-to-point... I really like the luxury of having a PCB... but I probably won't have that luxury. I don't want push-pull, though, even though I have the matched quad (unless I could make a better sounding PP amp for cheaper than a SE amp with these).

Cost effectiveness is the key... I am not very familiar with the transformers area of tubes. I mostly get discouraged because they cost so darned much... I'd like something cheap, but still good sounding.

I have an old power transformer from a 1970's Kustom 100W RMS solid state amp. I think it measured 55-0-55, though it may have been more. Probably at least 2A. With a voltage doubler, could I maybe get by on that? I'll dig it out and hook it up to verify later.

I found a SE 6550 amp by searching Yahoo that put out 10W. Looked UL, I think.

Any suggestions? Thanks all

[Fuling]

A power transformer from a solid state amp won´t be of much use in a tube power amp. Save yourself a lot of trouble and buy decent transformers, both power and output.

I think an SE amp with triode wired 6550 might be a good project.

[skyraider]

The transformer can be used for a SS, nothing useful for tubes.

6L6 are much used in guitar amp, but I cant comment on the sound in hi-fi.
If youre still interested to make use of those tubes, you definitely need to buy the proper power and output trans. There are many sources for these, and if cheap is your main concern, there are many good transformer winders around. Drop me email if youre interested. (Im not the winder, just advertising for a friend)

[audiousername]

A doubler will probably get you up to around the 300V mark (110*2*1.414=311V). SS rectification is basically a must here. Not sure why everyone else is saying it's completely useless, but agreed, a transformer with the correct taps would be nicer if you could get your hands on one.

PP tetrodes can be made to sound really quite nice, but will likely be more of a design challenge than a boring old SET. If you really want a SET with true triodes at the outputs, why not try to sell these to someone that has no such aversion to tetrodes - it might pay for a few Sovtek 2A3s.

Don't be afraid of point-to-point wiring, it isn't really that hard. Just make sure you plan everything out beforehand, and it all should go smoothly.

Skyraider, 6L6s are fine in hi-fi amps, though many audophools will probably snub their noses at a "geetar amp toob". Circuit design (or lack thereof) has as much, if not more influence on the sound than the types or make of the valves. Of course someone will disagree...

[baggystevo82]

How about PSE with the quad? I know it's a compromise, but then so is triode strapping 6550's, it'll probably still sound good if you're careful. I'd still be tempted to go PP though, kept in class A.
Steve

[amperex]

311 volts (no load) to approximately 290 volts loaded. Not much use without filament voltage & B+ is low for 6L6 or 6550. A tube rectifier is usually preferred, but SS will perform.

[baggystevo82]

Output stage bias supply? Would probably need dropping down a lot, and it's probably far too overated a transformer though. Maybe just use that transformer in a different project? Active sub or something, dunno...
Steve

[Tekko]

6L6GC sounds good as hifi tubes, i´m using them in a amp.