2. amps-preamps
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New KT150 tubes?

Has anyone any experience with these pretty new tubes. There are already one or 2 amps I know of, that use them. The review of one of these amps in a UK magazine suggested they were a little warmer and more natural sounding than the nearly new KT120's

The article also suggested they were a straight swap for KT120 based amps, with no adjustment necessary. They are more than twice the cost of KT120's, but still not too costly compared with NOS tubes. I know changing from KT88's or 90's to 120's. did require some amp modification. I have an ARC reference 75 and might want to try the new tubes at some point, ARC don't seem to have a customer E-mail service, to ask the question
david12
david12 OP
1,454 posts
 
The review of the Icon Audio, KT150 tubed amp was very favourable, but Icon Audio makes very good, well designed and priced amps, designed in the UK and built in China. I am not sure that not being designed for a specific tube, precludes the benefits of retubing. For example the ARC REf 110 retubed with KT120's sounds much closer to the ref 150.

I agree though that cost may be a clincher for some, particularly if you need a larger number of tubes, than the 4 I would need for the Ref 75. I never actually advocated making the change, just pondered on what the ARC reference amps would sound like with the 150 tube.
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Thank you once again Hfg1 for keeping we ARC'rs in the loop

Were the utilization of the KT-150 to prove technically compatible , I do hope , regardless of pricing , that ARC R&D leave such a decision up to the end user rather than deciding not to sanction the option on cost alone.

Presumably ARC are considering the price that they would wish to charge for ARC Factory approved valve sets.

Jasper.
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
Bifwynne..KT-120's....2,000 hours.
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
Oooops my bad on the last post...disregard. Tsushimal they are technically compatible as far as I know at this point. ARC would not be life testing the tube if it wasn't. It remains to be seen what ARC says about the specs however.
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Sounds promising Hfg1 , the last time I ran this past the main UK distributor being a number of weeks past the situation ,as far as was aware at that time , was that the Ref 75 would be Circuit/Traffo compatible , the Ref 150 he thought more doubtful !

The situation might have been misinterpreted however ,and the situation may well have developed since that time.

We wait upon the Judgment of Zeus !
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