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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
joeinid's avatar
joeinid
658 posts
 
From what I understand, ARC and Conrad Johnson charge more for their tubes because they test them more thoroughly. I also heard that they, especially for CJ, test in the actual amps that these tubes will be installed.

I believe they go through more trouble to weed out tubes that would normally die an early death.

Also, I believe ARC in particular, tests for parameters that keeps the tolerance tighter for their circuits because of the Primary and slave bias aspects of their circuits which require matched pairs.

In my CJ gear, tubes are individually biased, which can help alleviate some of the stricter matching required by ARC.
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
$269 a year ago for a "matched" (at the factory? A tube dating site?) quad of 150s from a very highly rated Ebay seller. Long live the hot pickle!…just crazy good sounding tubes. 
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 

Wolf,

Before doing the SE upgrade to my Ref 150, I bought 2 matched quads of KT-150s from a respected tube vendor. 

Some pairs biased pretty closely; others were off by as much 6 or 7 mVs, which as I mentioned somewhere, is pretty close to the boundary of ARC's recommended range (between 57 to 73 mVs). 

IOW, if a set tube is biased at 65 mVs, the slave measured at 71 or 72 mVs. The max spec is 73 mVs.

Anyway, I only put about 200 hours on the KT-150s.  Am I offering them for sale?  Not sure.  ARC charges $200 per KT-150.   

wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
I guess I'm lucky…no, wait…I know I'm lucky.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,129 posts
 
I too have the Jolida Fusion 3502  
Bass on el 34 is tight and punchy,image depth and natural rich midrange without 
Question best with el 34  tube very important for top shelf input tubes
I use 50s black plate Raytheon 12ax7,and GE 5star phase splitter 12ax7 50s tubes
Much better then current made crap. Also Cryo ed tubes EL34 from tube man 

Same Chinelse company that make black treasures which are even better with exceptional Bass. I like a tube that does everything well including natural tone 
And image density the kt 150 can never do.one Big thing to remember Your Loudspeakers and ease of signal I have 94 dB Spatial audio  Hologram-3 
Using top Mundorf caps, reference compression driver with dual 15 inch drivers
Very Easystem load .lowest Xover800hz seamless. That is the key 
And EL34 bandwidth to 28hz with this speaker a exceptional match.
Your speakers efficiency ,and Xovers efficiency will dictate this. 
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