VTL 5.5 II owner here. Any tube recs for non-splashy high frequencies?

If anyone is/has tube rolled with this preamp I appreciate any recs. It’s being used with a VTL S-200 and Harbeth 40.2’s.

Thanks,

DMC

giddyup6303-19-2026 6:55pm

johnss Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 678 posts 03-20-2026 at 01:17pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete The splashy high freq are likely caused by no bypass caps on the S-200 not the 5.5. I went through the same symptoms with a TL6.5 II and the S-200. Swapped amps and preamps to determine the cause. Added a couple of .1uf film bypasses to the S-200 filter caps and most of that splashiness was gone. As for 5.5 preamp tubes, you may want to consider the RCA 5814 black plates in place of the 12AU7s, and RCA or Raytheon 6201s in place of the stock 12AT7s.