I recently read on an audiophile website that a 6L6 is not the same as a 50L6, xxL6, etc. Of course the filament voltages are different, but the claim was that the other characteristics are different and are incompatible.

My RCA tube manual is packed away in anticipation of moving, so I can't check this.

Comments?
Doug

:I recently read on an audiophile website that a 6L6 is not the same as a 50L6, xxL6, etc. Of course the filament voltages are different, but the claim was that the other characteristics are different and are incompatible.
:
:My RCA tube manual is packed away in anticipation of moving, so I can't check this.
:
:Comments?
:Doug

They are correct, the 6L6 and 50L6 are completly different. The 35L6 and the 50L6 are also different along with having different filament voltages.

Dave

Doug

Dave is right but it all depends on what you are trying to do. Both tubes are output but 6L6 is higher power.

50L6 is similar to 25L6 and 6W6 except for filament voltages.

Norm

::I recently read on an audiophile website that a 6L6 is not the same as a 50L6, xxL6, etc. Of course the filament voltages are different, but the claim was that the other characteristics are different and are incompatible.
::
::My RCA tube manual is packed away in anticipation of moving, so I can't check this.
::
::Comments?
::Doug
:
:They are correct, the 6L6 and 50L6 are completly different. The 35L6 and the 50L6 are also different along with having different filament voltages.
:
:Dave

Doug,
I have a GE tube manual before me which came from an audio person. He lived on the page showing pentode power amplifiers, the heater current, and output in watts. The 6L6 is rated at 9 to 11 watts. The 50L6 and other xxL6 are rated at 3 to 3.9 watts. Haven't compared other characteristics other than plate volts. The 6L6 is rated much higher. The 6L6GC seems to be a favorite among the 6L6's. The guy I got the manual from, and lots of other stuff, was always changing audio gear, mainly the amplifiers. Replaced enough parts you wouldn't know the original. I stick to the design. I have a Silvertone amplifier to clean up and upgrade. If I listened to a fellow in next town over, I would be replacing output transformers and whatever else to make it "sound" right.

Bill VA

:Doug
:
: Dave is right but it all depends on what you are trying to do. Both tubes are output but 6L6 is higher power.
:
: 50L6 is similar to 25L6 and 6W6 except for filament voltages.
:
:Norm
:
:::I recently read on an audiophile website that a 6L6 is not the same as a 50L6, xxL6, etc. Of course the filament voltages are different, but the claim was that the other characteristics are different and are incompatible.
:::
:::My RCA tube manual is packed away in anticipation of moving, so I can't check this.
:::
:::Comments?
:::Doug
::
::They are correct, the 6L6 and 50L6 are completly different. The 35L6 and the 50L6 are also different along with having different filament voltages.
::
::Dave

:I recently read on an audiophile website that a 6L6 is not the same as a 50L6, xxL6, etc. Of course the filament voltages are different, but the claim was that the other characteristics are different and are incompatible.
:
:My RCA tube manual is packed away in anticipation of moving, so I can't check this.
:
:Comments?
:Doug

The 35L6 and 50L6 family of tubes are similar to a 6V6 (or 12V6). If you are a bit adventurous, you can swap tubes. Given you can provide the correct heater voltage. The bias will need a slight adjustment but this isn't a challenge. I've done it a few times in guitar amps using 6V6s (as a "sound" experiment). The 50L6 has slightly less oompf but at low volume it sounds pretty good.

I have also replaced 12V6s in a Heatkit with 6V6s with heaters in series, but that is not very impressive as bot tubes are the same aside from heater voltage.

Just a note, those tubes are using heaters not filaments...;o)