Just Installed My KT-150 Tubes

mep

mep

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So Christmas came a little early and I cracked open the box from Uncle Kevin which contained my new set of KT-150 tubes for my ARC Ref 75. The tubes are installed and making music. I didn't install the cover back on. I think it will fit, but it will be close to hitting the tops of the tubes.

I have read reports where some people have swapped the KT-150s for the KT-120 tubes in their ARC Ref 75 amp and claimed they "didn't have to touch the bias as it was still dead on." Not the case here. I checked the bias right away and it was running way too hot. I had to back all 4 tubes way down to get the bias set correctly.

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Mark, have I got this right. You had 120's & have now gone to 150's in the Ref 75. If so I am very interested in your findings. I think the 150's have slightly better detail & play with a sense of ease, but, for you, the proof is about to be revealed
 
bzr said:
Mark, have I got this right. You had 120's & have now gone to 150's in the Ref 75. If so I am very interested in your findings. I think the 150's have slightly better detail & play with a sense of ease, but, for you, the proof is about to be revealed
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Kev-Yes, you have it right.
 
Nice Mark! Looking forward to your impressions. The KT-150's are cool looking tubes that's for sure.
 
George-The KT-120 tube may not be a great tube, but I will take it over any 6550/KT-88 in current production as I think it is a much better tube top to bottom.
 
No arguments regarding new production tubes except I haven't tried the Shuguang Treasures or Psvane. Right now my favorite is the Vintage Ei KT90 type II. If you are looking for the most detailed tube the EAT KT88 Diamond is killer (along with price) but doesn't get along with my Octave.
 
Mark,

Do you think the KT-150 will last longer in the Ref. 75 as compared to the KT-120? I'm assuming if they are run at the same bias, it might be easier on the KT-150's. Curious of your thoughts. Thanks!
 
joeinid said:
Mark,

Do you think the KT-150 will last longer in the Ref. 75 as compared to the KT-120? I'm assuming if they are run at the same bias, it might be easier on the KT-150's. Curious of your thoughts. Thanks!
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Joe-I think I have read some rumors somewhere that the KT-150s will last much longer than the KT-120 tubes, but I don't know if there is any truth to that. Only time will tell.
 
octadyndude said:
No arguments regarding new production tubes except I haven't tried the Shuguang Treasures or Psvane. Right now my favorite is the Vintage Ei KT90 type II. If you are looking for the most detailed tube the EAT KT88 Diamond is killer (along with price) but doesn't get along with my Octave.
Click to expand...

I don't know about those expensive Chinese tubes either. To me, the words "expensive" and "Chinese" don't go together. From what I have read years ago, when the Brits shut down tube production they sold off all their tube manufacturing gear to China. But what they don't have is the knowledge and the manufacturing quality of the great British companies who cranked out some of the world's finest tubes. It's too bad we are basically left with the Russians, but at least they have always manufactured tubes and never stopped. The 6H30 tube has now become a standard input tube for companies like BAT (who brought them to the U.S.) and ARC and we wouldn't have it if it wasn't for the Russians.

In the meantime, I'm not paying big money for any Chinese tubes. I shudder any time I pick up a tube and it says "Made in China."
 
joeinid said:
Mark,

Do you think the KT-150 will last longer in the Ref. 75 as compared to the KT-120? I'm assuming if they are run at the same bias, it might be easier on the KT-150's. Curious of your thoughts. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Joe I'm pretty sure they would last longer only because the plate and G1 voltage is a bit lower than what most manufacturers use for a KT 150. I asked Andreas Hoffman (owner and designer of Octave) his thoughts regarding the KT 150 in my V110. His response was - No problem but you won't get any additional power but you will hear the sonic differences. He liked it more than the KT 120 sonically. He even said he was looking at designing an integrated based on the V80 to optimize the KT 150 power. That was about a year ago and haven't seen anything since then.
 
Thank Mark and George. We are having some major tube fun. That's what it's all about.
 
mep said:
I don't know about those expensive Chinese tubes either. To me, the words "expensive" and "Chinese" don't go together. From what I have read years ago, when the Brits shut down tube production they sold off all their tube manufacturing gear to China. But what they don't have is the knowledge and the manufacturing quality of the great British companies who cranked out some of the world's finest tubes. It's too bad we are basically left with the Russians, but at least they have always manufactured tubes and never stopped. The 6H30 tube has now become a standard input tube for companies like BAT (who brought them to the U.S.) and ARC and we wouldn't have it if it wasn't for the Russians.

In the meantime, I'm not paying big money for any Chinese tubes. I shudder any time I pick up a tube and it says "Made in China."
Click to expand...
Shuguang was founded 1958. So they have been around for a while. Americans IMO made some of the finest power tubes ever (thinking original Tung Sol 6550 black plates). A couple of years later the Brits came out with the KT 88 to compete with the 6550. To me the TS 6550 bp is like the best EL34 but with much better lows and highs and more power. The Gec KT 88 is more linear sounding but a tad dry sounding especially compared to the EAT KT 88. The Ei KT90 is more like an EL34 but also more linear sounding and more powerful. Except for the Shuguang I own all the tube I mentioned.

That said speaker choice makes a huge difference on which brand of tube sounds best. The TS 6550 was 'the' tube when I had Dyn C1 Sigs IMO and not so good with the Raidho D1/2's.
 
octadyndude said:
Joe I'm pretty sure they would last longer only because the plate and G1 voltage is a bit lower than what most manufacturers use for a KT 150. I asked Andreas Hoffman (owner and designer of Octave) his thoughts regarding the KT 150 in my V110. His response was - No problem but you won't get any additional power but you will hear the sonic differences. He liked it more than the KT 120 sonically. He even said he was looking at designing an integrated based on the V80 to optimize the KT 150 power. That was about a year ago and haven't seen anything since then.
Click to expand...

Do you mean KT-88s? To my knowledge, the one and only manufacture of KT-120 and KT-150 tubes is Sovtek under the Tung-Sol name.
 
octadyndude said:
Shuguang was founded 1958. So they have been around for a while. Americans IMO made some of the finest power tubes ever (thinking original Tung Sol 6550 black plates). A couple of years later the Brits came out with the KT 88 to compete with the 6550. To me the TS 6550 bp is like the best EL34 but with much better lows and highs and more power. The Gec KT 88 is more linear sounding but a tad dry sounding especially compared to the EAT KT 88. The Ei KT90 is more like an EL34 but also more linear sounding and more powerful. Except for the Shuguang I own all the tube I mentioned.

That said speaker choice makes a huge difference on which brand of tube sounds best. The TS 6550 was 'the' tube when I had Dyn C1 Sigs IMO and not so good with the Raidho D1/2's.
Click to expand...

I had no idea the Chinese were making tubes in 1958. Are you sure it wasn't the Shuguang Firecracker company? Most of the early tubes the Chinese sold were firecrackers. They would glow cherry red and then blow up. Their early KT-88s were supposed to be M-80s. :D
 
mep said:
Do you mean KT-88s? To my knowledge, the one and only manufacture of KT-120 and KT-150 tubes is Sovtek under the Tung-Sol name.
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Sorry I meant amp manufacturers.
Psvane does have a KT 120 too. Haven't seen any and don't know any pricing. I did hear the were unreliable a while back.
PSVANE HIFI KT120 | Psvane & Shuguang audio tubes
I also heard Tung Sol is working on a KT 180

Duh pricing is in the link
 
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