Great news! Bob carver is going to modify my cherries.

Milsap195

Milsap195

New member
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Messages
43
Location
Elizabethtown Ky
Talked to Mr carver this week and he is going to modify my cherry 180's up to the current raven 350 level. Upgraded insides an a set of kt-150 will have me pushing between 310 and 320 watts. They are on their way to Washington as we speak.. Can't wait!
 
Congratulations! This will be fun. I can't wait for you opinion on the KT-150.
 
mep said:
I mentioned the sound of the KT-150 tubes in my review of the Raven Silhouette Reference amps. You can read my Raven Audio review here:
Raven Audio Silhouette Preamp and Amp
Click to expand...


It it sounds like you were quite happy with the kt-150 in your review. In the review you mentioned that with these tubes nothing stood out across the spectrum I take that as a good thing. In your opinion will these be the new standard for power tubes? When I sent my amps to bob he requested that I send the kt-88's with them so I am not sure if I am getting them back or if he will keep them and just send the 150's. I'm hope I will get them so I can compare the two tubes.
 
I think it's too early to tell if the KT-150 will be the new standard. ARC, CJ, and others have just switched over to the KT-120 within the last couple of years after they determined the tube not only sounded good, but that it would be reliable as well. It also called for redesigning the power transformer compared to what was/is needed for 6550/KT-88 tubes in order to take advantage of the greater plate dissipation of the KT-120. The same thing would have to be done all over again for the KT-150. I guess my short answer is that it could happen, but it won't be overnight.
 
Milsap195 said:
It it sounds like you were quite happy with the kt-150 in your review. In the review you mentioned that with these tubes nothing stood out across the spectrum I take that as a good thing. In your opinion will these be the new standard for power tubes? When I sent my amps to bob he requested that I send the kt-88's with them so I am not sure if I am getting them back or if he will keep them and just send the 150's. I'm hope I will get them so I can compare the two tubes.
Click to expand...
Unless Bob has a switch that can toggle plate/grid voltages the KT88's will probably not be able to be used. My Octave V110 has a switch on the back that changes the plate/grid voltages to be used for EL34/6550/KT88/KT90 (70W) or KT120's (110W). Turns out my Ei KT90's works fine in the high voltage circuit. I wrote the owner/designer of Octave (Andreas Hoffman) asking about the KT150 for my V110 and said they will work just fine but will only be able to hear the sonic differences between the KT120 and KT150. NO power increase. He said he is considering a new amp to take full advantage of the higher power the KT150's are capable of.
 
If you want to utilize the KT-150 to its fullest potential, you will need a new power transformer and possibly new output transformers.
 
I hope 310 watts will be plenty. Having the six tubes makes the power easy and hopefully the last set of tubes I will ever have to purchase. So no need to max them out.
 
Got a message from bob this morning saying my amps were completed. He wanted to know how I wanted them signed. Do I have him personalize them to me or just sign his name only. I feel the personalization hurts the value. What do you think?
 
Milsap195 said:
Got a message from bob this morning saying my amps were completed. He wanted to know how I wanted them signed. Do I have him personalize them to me or just sign his name only. I feel the personalization hurts the value. What do you think?
Click to expand...

His name only.
 
dont personalize them. it will hurt the value. i had a 1977 baseball signed by every yankee and on the other side it said"to steve best wishes phil rizzuto" and that hurt the value big time. and oh yea my sister signed it too. that really hurt the value.lol. i guess a baseball isnt he same as a carver amp but, i still would not personalize it.
congrats on the finished product, good luck with them
 
time to get sick and leave work. might be a bit obvious though. lol
best of luck with them let us know how they sound!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top