KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
A brave soul from the Audiogon forum mentioned he swapped in KT-150's into his Conrad-Johnson Premier Twelve mono amps. I know one user is not enough of a sample but I am very curious.
Here is the quote:
"Call me a rebel CJ told me flat out NO, but I just replaced the kt120's in my CJ Premier 12's with kt150's, 60 hours in no issues, been monitoring the transformers to see if they get hot, no issues. the sonic difference is astounding in my system. I have had these amps for 18 years, and have run 3 brands of 6550's, 3 brands of kt88's, for almost 3 years kt120's. I switched to kt120's because of better bass and better dynamics, but I always felt they brought a little touch of electronic edge, I didn't know if that was coming from somewhere else in the chain. Back to the 150's, the sound is so dramatically better, I will never go back unless my amps blow up or I do. Dynamics like nothing I have ever heard, no grain or edge, best bass, best and deepest soundstage ever and most musical"
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
joeinid
A brave soul from the Audiogon forum mentioned he swapped in KT-150's into his Conrad-Johnson Premier Twelve mono amps. I know one user is not enough of a sample but I am very curious.
Here is the quote:
"Call me a rebel CJ told me flat out NO, but I just replaced the kt120's in my CJ Premier 12's with kt150's, 60 hours in no issues, been monitoring the transformers to see if they get hot, no issues. the sonic difference is astounding in my system. I have had these amps for 18 years, and have run 3 brands of 6550's, 3 brands of kt88's, for almost 3 years kt120's. I switched to kt120's because of better bass and better dynamics, but I always felt they brought a little touch of electronic edge, I didn't know if that was coming from somewhere else in the chain. Back to the 150's, the sound is so dramatically better, I will never go back unless my amps blow up or I do. Dynamics like nothing I have ever heard, no grain or edge, best bass, best and deepest soundstage ever and most musical"
Yes Lew said absolutely not.
What edge?
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Myles B. Astor
Yes Lew said absolutely not.
What edge?
Some people claim they hear an 'edge' with KT-120 tubes. I think the KT-120s are an improvement over currently available 6550/KT-88 tubes (and no, I haven't heard some of the Chinese KT-88s that some people are paying big money for. I don't shop at WalMart and I don't buy Chinese tubes).
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
I don't hear that either. To me my GAT and ART amps are the least electronic and smoothest sounding gear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Myles B. Astor
Yes Lew said absolutely not.
What edge?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mep
Some people claim they hear an 'edge' with KT-120 tubes. I think the KT-120s are an improvement over currently available 6550/KT-88 tubes (and no, I haven't heard some of the Chinese KT-88s that some people are paying big money for. I don't shop at WalMart and I don't buy Chinese tubes).
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
joeinid
I don't hear that either. To me my GAT and ART amps are the least electronic and smoothest sounding gear.
Joe what do you have your GAT sitting on?
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Cheap amp stands, unfortunately. With all my gear, I keep moving stuff around. I know that I need to focus on isolation and cables. I'm not getting the most from my gear. I truly need a great rack too. When I start to get some funds up, it ends up going to more gear and not the finishing touches needed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Myles B. Astor
Joe what do you have your GAT sitting on?
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
joeinid
Cheap amp stands, unfortunately. With all my gear, I keep moving stuff around. I know that I need to focus on isolation and cables. I'm not getting the most from my gear. I truly need a great rack too. When I start to get some funds up, it ends up going to more gear and not the finishing touches needed.
Yes you are not getting all that you can out of your investment otherwise. You need to get the GAT on a SRA Ohio Class XL+2 base or you haven't heard 1/2 of what the piece can do.
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
I had them for my Burmester monos.
I think I have a new New Years resolution :) I do believe it's time to give them what they need to shine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Myles B. Astor
Yes you are not getting all that you can out of your investment otherwise. You need to get the GAT on a SRA Ohio Class XL+2 base or you haven't heard 1/2 of what the piece can do.
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
So how much does an SRA Ohio Class XL+2 base cost?
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mep
So how much does an SRA Ohio Class XL+2 base cost?
$4K each and are calibrated to your amps. Prices may have gone up since I had my Burmester monos with these stands.
"Each Ohio Class XL+² is hand built and because of the different parameters involved can range in price from about $1,000 each to as much as $8,000 each"
http://www.tonepublications.com/revi...ent-platforms/
1 Attachment(s)
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
http://audioshark.org/attachment.php...p;d=1419803654
On the left under the Doshi is the less expensive SRA Isobase; under the Classic Direct is the Ohio Class XL+2 base. The Ohio Class base is good down to 0.5 Hz.
Attachment 9027
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
joeinid
My guess is slightly less. :) Probably in the area of $3-3500. (Still less than any air isolation solution and maybe as good or better.) The GAT requires a little smaller base than does the Burmester. :)
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
I should have kept my bases and just had them recalibrated.
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
joeinid
I should have kept my bases and just had them recalibrated.
Yes, that's the beauty of the new Ohio Class bases!
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Joe,
I am with Myles on this one. I do not have the SRA Ohio Class bases, though i am told by many they are stupendous. In my case, i use HRS M3 base with 6 HRS nimbus couplers and 3 HRS large DPX (double thickness) damping plates on top plus an Artesania damping plate. I also use 2 EAT tube dampers. Basically an 'isolation sandwich'...and it really improved the solidity of the sound of the GAT (a lot), also stilled the images and providing a much 'stronger signal' in terms of again that solidity.
One man's experience.
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LL21
Joe,
I am with Myles on this one. I do not have the SRA Ohio Class bases, though i am told by many they are stupendous. In my case, i use HRS M3 base with 6 HRS nimbus couplers and 3 HRS large DPX (double thickness) damping plates on top plus an Artesania damping plate. I also use 2 EAT tube dampers. Basically an 'isolation sandwich'...and it really improved the solidity of the sound of the GAT (a lot), also stilled the images and providing a much 'stronger signal' in terms of again that solidity.
One man's experience.
EAT tube dampers? New one on me. Have look those up Lloyd.
Lloyd definitely nailed it. The bases double the unit's dynamics and really drop the noise floor. Less noise = more information. Go figure as the GAT only has two tubes. My theory? Teflon caps are microphonic.
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
The EAT dampers are a tight fit but yes, they are worth it.
I was not so smart selling the SRA stands. I was easily able to recoup my funds and jumped only to regret it now. Live and learn.
Thanks guys.
http://soundapproach.com/media/catal...ll_eat_eat.jpg
http://www.musicdirect.com/images/pr...COOLDAMPER.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Myles B. Astor
EAT tube dampers? New one on me. Have look those up Lloyd.
Lloyd definitely nailed it. The bases double the unit's dynamics and really drop the noise floor. Less noise = more information. Go figure as the GAT only has two tubes. My theory? Teflon caps are microphonic.
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Duh, of course. I just forgot because ordered my EAT tubes without the dampers because the rings were incompatible with my Doshi phono section.
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Wow...its been a while since i was on this forum and thread! Glad to hear people are enjoying EAT tube dampers!
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Hi Lloyd!
Anything new in your system?
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Myles B. Astor
Hi Lloyd!
Anything new in your system?
Hi Myles, great to hear from you. I will visit here more often...been quiet lately. Yes, since you and i last spoke, i have a few things:
- 2nd hand Burmester 948 Power Conditioner. At the recommendation of a few manufacturers who personally own them...i got the opportunity and am pleased to have done so.
- Transparent Audio RefMM (MM2) jumpers linking the backside of the Wilson X1s (which currently use a thick copper plate). Adding the jumpers made a big improvement in clarity, particularly bass delineation and keeping pace with details during deep house music. I was pleased to find a fellow X1 owner also tried jumpers and has found similar benefits.
Going forward, i am hoping to work with a manufacturer who owns Alexandrias as his reference on further isolating these speakers from vibration. Stay tuned!
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Myles B. Astor
Hi Lloyd!
Anything new in your system?
Oh and i finally got around to your suggestion of Tele 6922s from Upscale...great stuff!!! One was a bit noisy and i am waiting for the replacement. Otherwise, great!
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
I also find that the KT-120's sound a little less warm than the KT-88's in my Ray Lumley M-100 mono blocks but they have better bass and dynamics. I would be afraid to try the KT-150's in my amps as the transformers would be difficult to replace should something happen and the amps are relatively rare.
I too monitored the temp of the transformers with a heat gun when I first tried them out and found a negligible increase in temperature over the KT-88. However, as they were not designed for KT-120 I think I will stay away from KT-150. You are a braver soul than I.
Re: KT-150's in Conrad Johnson amps?
Hi Albert,
I have not tried the KT-150 in my ARTsa Stereo amp yet. I have to believe there is enough juice available for them to work. It's still $900-1000 to buy a set. I may order a set after the summer for the ARTsa. The KT-150 in my Jolida is outstanding for the money. I expect CJ to update their line sometime but think I'll be out of luck with an official upgrade. It's no big deal really, my CJ gear is amazing already.
