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
xumbug
3 posts
 
Hi joecasey,

You say that with conviction. Are you confident that there will not be any issue's? Would love to know what the difference in sound quality will be!
joecasey
484 posts
 
07-07-14: Xumbug
Hi joecasey,

You say that with conviction. Are you confident that there will not be any issue's? Would love to know what the difference in sound quality will be!
I know someone is rolling KT150 in a Ref 210. I think he has ~100+ hrs without issues. Sound is generally more meat on the bone. My caution to you is this guy has many amps and DEEP pockets so doesn't care if it blows up.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Xumbug and Joe ... I don't think I'm contradicting the comments and caveats posted above by saying that even if the Ref 210 "seems" to work ok, how can one know for sure whether using the KT-150s will, or will not, prematurely age the amp over the long term. To me 100+ hours is not "the long term."

Maybe it won't hurt the amp, but I surmise that Xumbug dropped some major bucks to buy his Ref 210. Unless he has DEEP pockets and doesn't care, my advice is wait until ARC approves the KT-150s for his Ref 210.

I sure as sh*t, I am not dropping those pups into my Ref 150 until ARC gives the green light. So, I'm taking my own advice.
joecasey
484 posts
 
I sure as sh*t, I am not dropping those pups into my Ref 150 until ARC gives the green light. So, I'm taking my own advice.
It's your amp and you can do whatever you want. There are players and spectators ... what makes the world turn.
cmalak
681 posts
 
I am going to call Kalvin at ARC and ask him about the use of the KT150 in my Ref 110. I suspect that they haven't nor will they test it in the older generation Ref amps (unless there is sufficient demand/enquiry on the part of owners to do so)but will push them to see if I can get a definitive answer. I will also ask about current Ref amps and if I get an answer will report back.

Separately, if the answer definitively comes back as no for my specific question of dropping the KT150 into my Ref 110, does anyone here have a view as to whether the Winged 6550C SED tube is preferable to the KT120 tubes in the Ref 110? It seems like of all the 6550 variants, the Winged SED version is the top dog and often goes for big bucks but wasn't sure if anyone here has compared it, either to ARC standard issue 6550s or to the KT120?

Would appreciate any input on this front. Thanks.
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