KT150 to KT120..or KT120 to KT150


Has anyone here gone from using KT120's in their amp to KT150's and preferred the KT150 tube...conversely has anyone gone from KT150's in their amp to KT120's and preferred the KT120's? 
daveyf
What amuses me a little with the amp designer in question, is that not only does he preach that the KT150 is worse than the KT120, with no proviso that it could be in his circuit, but not others; but also the fact that he did not believe in tube rolling or NOS tubes until recently and was known for telling everyone he was in contact with about this. ( wherein his new marketing manager must have told him that this could be another profit source, and apparently magically changed his mind!). We really do have a lot of 'interesting' fellows in this hobby on the manufacturing side, IMHO.
I used both in my previous amp, a push pull 85wpc, and my current amp, a single ended SEP Class A...in both cases I also preferred the 120s as they seem relatively clean and clear sounding, where the 150s just sound forced somehow. Now I use neither as Gold Lion KT77s and 88s and Tung Sol 7581s all sound better in the SEP amp than 120s or 150s...currently running an old unused pair of Sovtek KT88s...they're great!
@wolf_garcia
On that note, KT150s were not particularly special in my former SEP Class A DH Inspire Hot Rod amp either. Seems most like the smaller tubes with the smaller transformers in that amp. I concluded that KT150 tubes were a waste of $ and no value-add in those smaller footprint amps.

However, KT150s in my current Quicksilver Mono 120 tube amps is at an entirely different level of sound, stage, and enjoyment for sure. Transformers are 2.5x the size, higher plate voltage used, and yet I can manually bias them down to about 40ma per tube, and it sounds closer to something between EL34 and KT88s in triode mode in my prior Cary or Inspire amps. Owners stating something similar about the higher $ CJ amps specifically designed for KT150s.

Seems the specific amp design, the circuit, and use of sizable transformers sure make a difference for running KT150 tubes in their most optimum state. Now seeing more amps designed just for KT150s.  


As an owner of an amp designed for the KT150, the ARC Ref 150 SE, my only comment would be why even wade into the weeds as to which is better is any particular amp when New Sensor has terrible QC in general and most terribly with the KT150? For over two years now, New Sensor has failed to make any improvements in their QC while continuing to put out KT150's to the peril of the consumer. 
If you buy a quartet or octet of "matched" KT150's from virtually any source, you are doing so at your own risk. And in case I am not clear to you, I am saying that most vendors who claim to match tubes do not do so very reliably. They either lack the necessary equipment, the necessary know-how, or both. 
If your amp has fail safe features such that an arcing tube will not necessitate any repairs and your supplier is willing to give you 60 days, I could see venturing into the 150 waters. Otherwise, I would stay away unless you have money to burn AND don't mind the inconvenience of taking your amp in for repairs/sending it back to the manufacturer for repairs. 
The varying opinions of the KT150 tube seems to be primarily dependent on whether the amp was designed to utilize the KT150 in the first place. Since the KT150 needs a more stout transformer and has to run on a higher voltage, i would question if those who are not pleased with this tube are simply seeing the results of swapping in the KT150 into an inappropriate platform! 

@fsonicsmith   You are using the KT150's supplied from ARC? They do seem to have good QC, better than most. In the past, ARC has told us that rolling in tubes from other vendors is dicey, regardless of the tube type.