Re-tubing a McIntosh power amp

There is no crap shoot with GL KT88s or anything tested and burnt in..

I know of two vendors that recommend JJs, because THEY don't have failures.. ANY valve that is tested and then burnt in, very seldom does fail.

But recommend them because they don't FAIL. I'll pass, they are a so so valve at best as far a SQ. Just about anything sounds as good and many many other valves sound a LOT better.. I'd take a Valve Art over JJs..

I have piles of the little critters here.. ALL questionable as far as SQ but they test just fine. Tap the glass with a pencil, LOL everything changes.. Underwater they go.. or echo chamber effects..

I use a lot of mill spec surplus from Russia. 1/3 are bad BUT after testing and burn in, better than ANY JJ I've ever used. 1.25 each in bulk..

Golden Lyon OP you'll be very happy.. so we are clear, I'm not huge GL fan, I  just happen to know Macs and what they like pretty well after 50 years of fixing and using them....

I'm listening to a MC225 and a C20 right now..  Looking at them, you would swear they were brand new out of the box Macs.. 60 + years old now.. ALL factory VALVES, I've never changed a single one in that pair..
Caps and resistors YES.. That's it..

Heaven will have that pair of Macs in it.. :-)

Regards

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Good Post ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

” I'm listening to a MC225 and a C20 right now.. Looking at them, you would swear they were brand new out of the box Macs.. 60 + years old now.. ALL factory VALVES, I've never changed a single one in that pair..“

Now *Thats* what I call value for money!

I found this 'state of the tube industry 2016'

https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?44432-State-of-the-Vacuum-Tube-Industry-2016

is there an updated version somewhere?

Heavy - your post seemed heavy on buying in bulk and sifting thru the crapshoot of grading tubes. You should get to know Andy and his ears and test gear. I am sure he would enjoy a conversation with you.

Mac in the golden age designed for tube longevity, my 1960 MC240 ran hard for most of it’s life has all original small signal tubes, ditto the 1965 MX110z save one ! tube replacement about 6 years ago.

power output tubes a different story but still relatively long lived in a Mac…. Remember the performance clinics run by factory techs at the dealers ????
Fun

re-reading your initial post, it seems like you, after reading, are concerned about ’probable failure’, and don’t want to ’wait and see’.

I get that, I always want a spare set handy, and I understand staying with KT88’s, seems wise.

So, what ’non-exotic’ RELIABLE KT88’s? It’s a simple question really.

I went JJ KT88 Blue Glass. Blue glass is just a different colored glass, just for looks, (mine are very visible), identical to their regular KT88. I’ve never had issues with JJ. My Electro harmonix 6550eh’s now my spares, maybe I’ll need them, after say 5,000 hrs playing time, for me 15 hrs/week that’s 6-1/2 years. Professional use in a guitar amp is a whole different thing.

But, like anyone, anywhere, you can find ..., i.e. from ghosthouse, a member here posted in 2007 had nothing but trouble with JJ

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/expected-hours-for-jj-tesla-kt88

I did buy some Gold Lion Cryo Tubes once. Loose with birthday money, the difference is only .... WTH. I wouldn’t do that again. They are in an amp or the mono amps downstairs, I forget.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/gold-lion-kt88-cryo-treated-matched-24909629