Life of KT 150 Tubes

grossman616,

I think the original poster explained that after one channel failed, he moved the tubes to the other monobloc amp and suffered the same failure. This means a bad tube in the first amp.  Whether or not that amps themselves are damaged is not clear, because he did not report trying the good set of tubes in either amp.  In any case, this is a good example for the practice of NOT swapping tubes when an amp goes down--you could be exporting damage to the other amp or channel if the tube failure is also causing damage.  The original poster also mentioned a faint burnt smell which pretty much rules out the failure being limited to the tubes themselves.  That smell means that, at the very least, a resistor blew (common mode of failure, my friend says cathode resistors also act as fuses, and does not consider that failure to be much more of a bother than changing fuses).

@Larryi - Lesson Learnt well, unlike Tube preamp which is self biasing , I agree that swapping popped tubes could have damaged my Other Amp. 

It could be a blown fuse or a resistor, but damn this unit requires an experienced tech to even open it. unlike other tube amps I have seen, this unit is almost concealed. The Auris company in Serbia gave me " fantastic solution" take it to their service center in California, while I live in Canada. Upon calling the service center he said it would be cheaper for him to fly to Canada, as both units crated weigh almost  100Kgs. Canadian distributor spoke to me and asked me to take it to Edmonton 300 Kms away to their dealer. I am going this morning and will keep you all  posted. I once again appreciate all you guys for your input and advise.

How do I post pictures?

@vishu

Really heart breaking story. That is a huge investment… in what should be a trouble free set of amps. Sorry to hear it.

Road trip?

I worked for a Japanese company for a long time. Our office was in Vancouver Washington. Sometimes some of the Japanese would fly into New York and think they were going to take a few days off and drive from New York and see America on the way to Vancouver.. This lasted as far as Pittsburgh usually… one group made it as far as Chicago.

I lived in Edinburg Scotland for a year. When first there I asked a colleague where he lived and he said on the other side of the country in Glasgow. I was aghast, I asked, “do you have an apartment here?” No, I drive… it is 45 minutes.

I lived in Tokyo for a year. Most of my colleagues commuted 2.5 hours to work and 2.5 hours back. I ended up managing two teams there… both in Tokyo… it was a 2 1/2 hour commute each way every day… by train… frequently smashed at 2AM after a business diner.

It is all relative.

I am a novice and know nothing about this (hasn’t stopped me before), but I have an idea.  As several members commenting here seem to know a lot about testing electronics, including tubes, perhaps one or more of them could offer to check out OP’s unit and see what they find?  I don’t know OP’s skills, but if it were me I would be in the dark and welcome ANY knowledgeable help.  Maybe arrange a time for OP to drive down with units and get a chance to hear the helper’s system while the units get checked?  Maybe some local sights to see.  Preferably not involving a real long drive?  (I’m a Buckeye but admit that there are some very smart, knowledgeable Michiganders (or Washingtonians, New Yorkers) that might help in a situation like this).  Just an idea.  Good luck to OP. 

I hope all goes well on your road trip to the dealer.  The good thing about tube gear is that pretty much everything is repairable, and because the circuit is relatively simple, the cost should not be very high.  The exception would be something that damages the output transformers (very unlikely) or the power transformer (more likely, but still not that likely--the fuse should prevent that outcome).  I don't know if the dealer can do a while you are there kind of repair; let's hope that is the case and you don't have to have the amps shipped or you don't need a return road trip.