2. amps-preamps
  3. 1443832640

ever used KT88 for bass and el34 for mids/treble

I run two Prima Luna prolouge 4 amps as momo blocks in my set up. I built my own cross overs for each driver, so I can bi or even tri amp my speakers. I use channel one for bass and channel two for mids and trebble on each prolouge four. My question is what do you think would happen if I used KT88's for the bass and el34's for the mids and trebble. Maybe best of both worlds? Any ideas? The primaLuna amps have auto basis, so I can use any combo of tubes I want.
128x128yani55404
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I would interpret the question as referring to continuing to use the two amps in a vertical biamp configuration, but using EL34's in the channel of each amp which drives the mids/highs, and KT88's in the channel of each amp which drives the lows.

If so, a concern I would have is that the gains of the two channels would differ to a significant degree, resulting in a tonal imbalance. Unless, that is, the crossover network can somehow be adjusted to compensate. Or if you're lucky enough that using the 4 ohm tap on one channel and the 8 ohm tap on the other channel would happen to compensate sufficiently closely.

Regards,
-- Al
yani55404's avatar
yani55404 OP
8 posts
 
Well I did buy 4 KT88 and installed two of them on the left chanel of each amp. I use one amp for the left speaker and one for the right. Then I use the left channel of each amp for the bass/highs and the right channel of each amp has the EL34's and they drive the Mids. The result is good. I think the speakers have a little better bass kick to them. I built the crossovers myself. The woofers are 18" with an SPL of 97db with 1watt. The mid horn is a Selinium 405 Ti driver with a big JBL lense and the high's are Crites horn tweeters. The mids and tweeters are rated @ 109db@1watt. So to balance out the drivers I have added volume controlls to the mid and Tweeter crossovers. My cross over points are 800hz/8000hz. I don't think using the kt88 made a huge difference in the bass, maybe it's more like a tweek. When I was building the cross overs, I swaped out Janzen caps for Audyn caps,  that was a night and day difference. The Audyn caps were much more open and life like sounding, a real improvement in the music.I think the type of tube your use is a matter of taste, a small pinch of taste. Speakers and source points will make the largest difference in a system.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hi  yani55404

Can your amps handle the Tung Sol KT150 tube? The reason I ask is a friend of mine who is more a of tube aficionado than myself believes the Tung Sol KT150 tube in the right amp gives you wonderful bass and the mid range sweetness of the EL34. I like the Tung Sol KT150 tubes in my amp over KT88 or KT120 tubes.

Good luck.
More to discover