TUNG-SOL Remake, made in Russia.
Description
The TUNG-SOL brand historically stood for three things:
- Finest tubes under the Tung Sol brand, including military versions
- Some exceptional quality products, like 6550.
- Higher performance tubes, like 5881.
Today, the brand is owned by NEW SENSOR, a marketing company in New York, who buy all old tube brands they can get their fingers on. I do not understand their brand policy, but here is what I an see:
New made Tung-Sol tubes can be:
- New designed tubes such as KT120 and KT150. These seem to be good quality.
- Perfect replicas of the KT66, which is a genuine copy of the British MO Valve Company, including the unusual, and very nice construction. Also the Tung-Sol 6550 is in this category.
- Plain copies of things that are not what they say it is. Like a so called ECC803S, but inside is a plain 12AX7 with ECC803S stamped on the glass. But sorry, that is not how ECC803S is made. I think the marketing person behind this needs a brain wash.
TUNG SOL KT120
It seems we have a very nice tube here. In September of 1950 Tung-Sol introduced the 5881, an updated and industrial version of the 6L6GA with a 23.5 watt plate dissipation, opening the doors to the hi-fi movement of the 1950s. This rugged tube also found a home in the '59 Fender Bassman and servo amplifiers used in B-52 bombers. In 1955 Tung-Sol raised the bar of high fidelity with the introduction of the 35 watt 6550, which could deliver 100 watts with a pair in push-pull configuration. This tube was used in the Dynaco Mark III and Sun amplifiers.
New Sensor now announces the Tung-Sol KT120, which has a plate dissipation of 60 watts, making it the most powerful tube in the 6550/KT88/KT90 family. A pair of these tubes in push-pull configuration can deliver power levels of 150 or more watts. When used at the parameters found in existing 6550/KT88/KT90 circuits, the Tung-Sol KT120 is impervious to overload, delivering peak power with extreme reliability and long tube life. However, taking advantage of the higher current handling capacity of these tubes, a very unique and super powerful and stable amp can be designed using the Tung-Sol KT-120.
This beautiful amplifier running on KT120 can do 20 Watt Single ended at low distortion, provided you use it in Ultra Linear mode.
Here is a nice and tested circuit diagram, by an experienced German engineer. Extremely well tested, with distortion charts.
datasheets: Page1 - Page2 - Page3
TUNG SOL 6550 REMAKE
This is a really nice replica of the original Tung-Sol, as is was made by Tung-Sol long ago. The glass shape, and also the plate shape and internal construction with the three holes, the white socket print, this is an true copy of the historical Tung-Sol 6550.
TUNG SOL 6550 REMAKE by REFLEKTOR Company. | not original |
close but not the same |
Like Original |
Outside appearance | x |
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Inside appearance | x |
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Electrical Data | x |
TUNG SOL 5881 REMAKE
The 5881 carries ratings similar to the 6L6 except that the allowable screen dissipation is 3.0 watts instead of 2,5 watts while the maximum plate dissipation is 23 watts instead of 19 watts for the 6L6. Glass shape and socket color, is vintage. So yes, all in all this is a very well done, and beautiful looking replica. Much recommended as an upgrade for your 6L6 or KT66 amplifiers. .
Read this article about the original introduction (1950) of this tube
TUNG SOL ECC803S
We sell off our stock, and then not sell this tube any more. I do not accept this tube as a ECC803S. There are several specific differences between ECC83 and ECC803S, and with all due respect, I don't see any the ECC803S specialties here. Still of course this very nice ECC83, with EC803S stamped on the glass.
First thing you should do, check the historical TFK ECC803S Data sheet here. This is 11 Pages of small printing, saying EXEACTLY what this tube should do. So yes, collectors pay 20x more for a NOS Telefunken ECC803S NOS, than for a Russian tube, basically only with the same part number printed on it.
Then, look at the Russian Tung-Sol data sheet.
I can not compare everything, but looking at the TFK data sheet, they say at 0.8mA it is End-Of-Life. Then at Tung Sol, they have 0.75mA as value for "good" tube, by the data sheet.
Telefunken ECC803S |
TUNG SOL ECC803S |
|
Ia, Good tube | Ia=1.05 - 1.4mA | Ia= 0.75 ....2.1mA |
Ia, End of Life | Ia < 0.8mA | They don't say it |
Life time | 10.000 hours | They don't say it |
Gm, Good tube | Gm=1.3 - 1.95 | 1.4 or better |
Gm, End of life | Gm= <1.05 | They don't say it |
Gain | 100 | 83 |
Can be used in very long stand by mode | yes | They don't say it |
Error rate | max 0,15% after 1000 hours. | They don't say it |
Maximum System unbalance | 12% | 15% |
Heater Voltage tolerance | 5% | 10% |
Microphonics | Specified (datasheet) | They don't say it |
TUNG SOL ECC803S | Not original or missing |
Like Original |
Nice Box | Better than original |
|
Gold Pin | Nice |
|
Professional data sheet | Not as good |
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Series Number on tube and box | Missing |
|
Inside appearance | No at frame grid |
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Electrical Data | :(( compare data sheets! |