Vac 200iq tube rolling question

I had some RCA 6SN7 tubes left over from some Headphone tube amps i owned and changed out the stock tubes. They sounded quite nice perhaps a little clearer. Now I’m getting wanting to try some different Kt88 and have been looking at Psvane KT88-TII and at their other offering the new Treasure KT88-CZ Cobalt blue tubes.
Anyone try them yet in their amps? Any opinions?
I would also like to sometime try KT150 tubes but some folks opine that for them to sound good the amp should be designed specifically for that tube so I’m not sure I want to spend good money on them.
Or putting it another way do you think because the the 200iq is not specific for kt150s does it sound as good with them as those that are like the Conrad-Johnson’s and Audio Research?

I liked both the RCA and Sylvania 6SN7’s in the 200iQ’s. I thought the RCA’s a touch richer, the Sylvania’s a touch brighter. Different flavors for different tastes. My dealer prefers Sylvania’s. I prefer RCA’s.

I use the Gold Lion KT88’s. I thought that the PSvane KT-88 T-II were a bit too rich and thick for my taste. I had RCA 6SN7’s in the amps when I tried the PSvanes. I suspect the PSvanes would match better with the Sylvania’s but I didn’t try that combination.

If you try the newer Treasures, let us know what you think about them.

I asked Kevin about using KT150’s, and while KT150’s can be used in the 200iQ’s, he prefers the more balanced sound of KT88’s. He said I could use KT150’s, but wouldn’t get any more power from them, so it really boils down to which tube sonics you prefer.

Incoming tubes: KT120’s .........hope curiosity doesn’t kill the Vac.....lol
I have been wanting to try these but it will take some major goods to unseat The Kt150’s I’m afraid.
I have been acquiring all sorts of 6SN7s and swapping in and out. Good news bad news: no clear winners for me..they all sound dang good. Ah do luv the Sylvanias mids and the Ken-Rad’s bass....

hope the 120's are everything your wishing for.
As for 6sn7's, Generally speaking RCA's are warm, Sylvania's are bigger and bolder.
Many different flavors out there. Including the 5692's.
My all time favorite is a 6F8G on an adapter. RCA's or Tung-Sol's are my top choices.
I have a theory about the size of the tube bottle. In my findings the larger the bottle the more spacial a presentation it has. Thus the 6F8G's sound more 3D than the same brand 6SN7,
This holds true for any of the tubes I have tried in both the 6SN7 family and others.
The "GT's" are the smaller more common bottle size vs the "G" series which were the older coke bottle style.
These are my observations in my equipment. YMMV.

I wonder if using an adapter with one of these tubes “safe” with Vac amps?

Yep, safe with any amp that uses 6SN7's
The 6F8g is the grandfather of the 6sn7 lineage.

Awesome info! Thanks, more fun coming up! :celebrate008_2:

Why on earth would I think they would be CHEAPER than 6SN7’s lol......:snicker:

Well the Kt120´s burning! Nice first impressions. Very nice control of mids and highs without shrillness perhaps better than the Kt150s. Bass is strong but a little muddy compared to the Kt150s which I’m hoping will clear up with a little run time. Stage appears smaller.

My tube search is almost ended. I absolutely love the sound I’m getting.
The verdict is in. KT-150’s still my favorite. The muddy bass of the KT120’s cleaned up nicely but the stage is still small compared to the 150’s imo.
My current lineup in my 200iq is Kt150s and 4 grey glass RCA’s 6SN7GT’s
I have also been rolling tubes in my Vac Master Preamp. My preference by a slim margin is for the Amperex 6922 PQ over the Mullard 6922.
I am still gonna try some 6F8G with adapters eventually though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dguitarnut

My tube search is almost ended. I absolutely love the sound I’m getting.
The verdict is in. KT-150’s still my favorite. The muddy bass of the KT120’s cleaned up nicely but the stage is still small compared to the 150’s imo.
My current lineup in my 200iq is Kt150s and 4 grey glass RCA’s 6SN7GT’s
I have also been rolling tubes in my Vac Master Preamp. My preference by a slim margin is for the Amperex 6922 PQ over the Mullard 6922.
I am still gonna try some 6F8G with adapters eventually though.

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Larry, we need to give those KR KT150’s a spin.

Larry,

As a member of the fraternal order of the 200iQ, I have found the KT 150's vs the stock KT 88's to be more of a choice thing instead of a better or worse thing... This might be because my ears are my ears and everyone is different.

I agree that the low end is always going to have more of a solid and defined punch with the 150's. For me, the 150's give up a little in the mid range in favor of the low end and a sharper high end. Sometimes that sharpness in the high end is great and sometimes it has too much bite for me. It might just be that I prefer mid range over everything else.

Do you prefer the 150's across the board over the 88's?

I have also recently tried out a nos set of Sylvania 6SN7 Tall Boys, and they definitely cleared up the entire picture by a full step for me... They made the 200iQ sparkle in a new way. I'm leaving them in!

Mike / Larry: Sign me up for the 200iQ / KR KT150 testing crew! Just tell me where to order when you want to pull the trigger. Maybe we can get a power buy going?! ;-)

I’ve got KT150s in my 450 Statement iQs and love them.

I’d be interested in volunteering for the testing corps, but what’s the retail on the KR KT150s?


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Wow....KR Kt150s should be sweet. I loved the KR Kt88’s when I tried them Mike and I thought they were beautiful, with a better balance and midrange than the stock Golden Lions. I would have kept them had I not fallen in love with Tungsols Kt150s.
To me the Kt150s were a little brash in the highs like you said Jeremy but in my system build it has been tamed with the Gigafoil and supporting tube combinations.
I admit the midrange is not as glorious as with the Kt88’s specially when I tried the vintage Genalex Golden Monarchs or Lions. But I gotta have that bass and expansive stage that the 150s give me that they did not have.
I hate compromising and wish there was that perfect tube. Maybe these KR Kt150s have that mojo. The search for the holy grail of sound is fun and frustrating at the same time.

I have not tried other KT 88's yet... It's a new tube type for me, so I'm not up to speed on the options.

Larry, did you find a good dealer for the KR's? did you try other KT88's? I will probably give them a try

Mike is a KR dealer. I usually meet him in a dark alley at the corner of international Pl. and Professional Park dr............

Thanks! I just purchased a quad of the KR KT88's from Mike! Looking forward to rolling them in!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by steinkrieg

Larry,

I have also recently tried out a nos set of Sylvania 6SN7 Tall Boys, and they definitely cleared up the entire picture by a full step for me... They made the 200iQ sparkle in a new way. I'm leaving them in!

Mike / Larry: Sign me up for the 200iQ / KR KT150 testing crew! Just tell me where to order when you want to pull the trigger. Maybe we can get a power buy going?! ;-)

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I switched to Sylvania 6SN7’s 6-9 months ago from RCA’s. Agree with the “cleared up” and “sparkle” comments.

I keep thinking that I should do some power tube rolling. The GL’s probably are a bit “warm” and could use a bit more “clearing up”. But when I sit down to listen, I think “Why would I ever change tubes”? The 200 iQ’s with GL KT88’s just sound so “right” and thoroughly enjoyable!

Dave

The KR Kt88’s I liked a lots! I think you will be pleased Jeremy.
Do the tall boy Sylvanias sound different than the short ones?
i have a pair of 6SN7S GT Sylvanias but not tall boys. They sound very nice and are a little more transparent or airy than the RCA’s.

Lots of folks do seem to like the tall boys for various reasons. It's all so system and ear dependent that I have trouble making grand statements about any tubes. However, the tall boys that I did get do have that airy transparency that you mention. Here is a great link to info about 6SN7's... also check out the videos. Lots of info here on these tubes and many other types! I got my tall boys from Brent as well, but he is currently out of stock.

http://www.audiotubes.com/6sn7.htm

Has anyone run across a review of the KR KT150 tubes?


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