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Questions on KT150 tubes

Does anybody here have experience using that tube? Can you tell me how it sounds? I have a Primaluna DiaLogue Premium HP and it can use them but they aren't cheap. I'm running the stock EL34s and LOVE it but seems like this tube is all the rage. The Primaluna is unbelievable for its tube magic as-is. Also I wonder if the KT150 would last.

Also the best places to buy them. Not the cheapest. The best quality.
therealist
weebeesdad's avatar
weebeesdad
139 posts
 
Could any of you KT150 aficionados comment on the break in period for these tubes?  I bought a quad to replace the KT88's (Gold Lion reissues) in my DeHavilland 50A mono blocks (after the OK from Kara Chafee) and have maybe 60 hours on them.  They sound tonally more bleached out and not any more dynamic than the KT88s.  Have I not given them adequate break in time, or does this particular amp possibly just perform better with the KT88s, with which it was voiced??
joeinid's avatar
joeinid
658 posts
 
If you are not crazy about what you are hearing after 100 hours, maybe they are not for you.

Is the bias adjustable? Can you lower it or raise it a little to change what you hear? Lower bias will warm up or sweeten the sound, to a certain point.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,604 posts
 
what is/are the price(s) on the KT 150 ?
joeinid's avatar
joeinid
658 posts
 
$95-105 each depending on matching and quantity.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 

Agree with Joe.  But double that if you buy from ARC. 

It has been my experience that when I buy power tubes from a respected tube vendor I usually use, he can't get the matched power tubes to bias closely in my ARC Ref 150.  I've tried KT-120s and KT-150s.  Same story. 

At least with respect to my ARC amp, it seems as though ARC matches power tubes by focusing on using different variables.  Regardless of what ARC does, power tubes sourced from ARC bias within a few mVs of each other.  No so from the respected vendor.

BIF


 

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