don sach's custom kt88 tube amp

@ waltersalas

You are in for a treat and the combination of the DS2 and the Kootenay 120 is quite amazing! It's going to sound pretty good on install but will make dramatic changes over 75 hours of use.

Congrats and let us know your impressions when things settle in.

Wig

@wig 

I will certainly do that. I had Don send the preamp with WE 6SN7s, and the amp with WE KT88s. I have been following these threads on Don's gear for some time and much appreciate your feedback, as well as that of other owners.   

Hopefully, I'll be ready to chime in with thoughts of my own in two or three weeks.

After reading the Shuguang WE Plus description, I just had to try them and what do you know; a treasure find.

Let me know if you have any questions on tubes selection or placement, you can tailor the sound to your liking.

Wig

@wig 

My Kootenay 120 arrived today. It has WE KT88 Plus with CV181s up front. I've had the preamp for a few weeks now. It has WE 6SN7s. It's nice to finally have both the preamp and the amp in my system.

Early impressions are very favorable, to say the least. An incredible blend of power, finesse, and musicality, with perhaps the most holographic presentation I've ever heard. The music is just enveloping. It's like you're swimming in it. The effect is mesmerizing.

I'll spend some time letting it settle in before doing much futzing around, but eventually I probably will try some different 6SN7 tubes just to see what that does. I've had a lot of fun rolling that tube in other amps and preamps over the years.

Looking forward to a lot of late nights coming up!

@waltersalas Congrats.  Hope it just continues to get better.

Also, can you (or @wig ) report on the WE 6SN7s?  Curious how they stack up to the CV181s.  As I mentioned via PM, I like those but did end up using some old RCA Grey Glass VT231s into the buffer tube slots to coax out a bit more smoothness and layering. Left the CV181s in the driver tubes on the left of the preamp...