Jolida 502 KT120 tube swapping

Morning Wolf

I'll pass on being a testing source. Doing the swapping I did and keeping notes of findings and combinations was getting annoying. That and like everything else findings are subjective and system dependent. I'll definitely keep compiling info from others though about different tubes used in the Jolida 502P as I get them. I'll definitely share although most of the tubes I got were based off of your recommendations. You get lots of better information than what I got when I called Jolida or the Tube Store. I'm even trying JAN 12AT7 type tubes but from GE now but am finding them to be the same as the Mullard CV4024 tubes. Will give it more time though.

I bought way too many 12AT7 and 12AX7 tubes when I saw deals on various sites. I did try to get the Sovtek KT-88 tubes based on your thoughts about them but my local pro audio shop couldn't get them for me. Speaking of Sovtek from talking to Jim McShane he was suggesting a real quiet Sovtek is the 12AX7LPS. I was tempted on that one too but decided to pass.

I'm going to cry if Tung Sol makes the Gold Pin uber rugged version of the KT-120s. Another set of tubs to get. I think I need to be put in a straight jacket.

HA...yeah...the Sovteks were an impulse purchase from an electronics/hobby shop so I was clueless about them...really bought because they were so inexpensive (about $100 for all four), but they look cool when glowing. I had to return the JAN Phillips 12at7s since one failed in the amp...weirdly...no harm to the amp ...and they suggested the Mullards so I bit. Warranty! Since KT120s have no "vintage" relative to re-issue, we can assume they're safe in the current "matched or cryoed or shaken and not stirred" world...I do wonder how many of these are being made relative to other tubes as they show up everywhere now.

Follow up: The Mullard 12at7s sound great. And the frightening glow explosion flash when the amp powers up is a beautiful thing.

When I first saw the Mullard CV4024s flash so much on the initial turn on I was a little alarmed but then read that flashing is normal for them. It is cool looking. They glow brighter than the Tung Sol 12AT7 re-issues. Very pretty.

Yeah...I had heard about Mullard Flashing and also was calmed when I looked up specific information about it. It adds a dramatic moment to amp start-up that otherwise would be a non-dramatic event. Maybe my threshold of entertainment is too low.