Octave MRE 220 Monoblocks

Thanks George. I will have to figure out a way to audition the BB or SBB after break-in. You are determined to bring me to the dark side of tube rolling. I'm quite impressed with how the MRE compensates or transforms the typical charaterisitcs of the KT 120 and the Tung Sol 6SN7. As I mentioned in my review, it didn't start out that way.

Would the Ei KT 90's reduce the output of the MRE's? Do they have the same output potential as the KT 120's?

Ray
 
Yes the Ei KT90 would reduce the power slightly but they were the only other tube I could run in the V110 at the higher plate voltage (which they did sound better than the lower plate voltage). Ei has been out of production for many years now. When I asked Andreas regarding the KT150 in the V110 he said no problem. But you will not get any additional power. You will hear the sonic differences only.

That said there are many people who love the KT120. The price is reasonable too. The KT150 cost double what the KT120's are. About 2 years ago I heard a rumor that Tung Sol was working on a KT180. But I haven't heard anything since. There is 1 tube I would strongly not recommend. That is the EAT KT88 Diamond. Super expensive but when I had the V70se I went through 4 of 7 in less than 2 months (they were used). Also they were the most linear SS sounding tube I ever tried.
 
Yes; I have read many positive reviews of the KT 120. I will say I am very impressed with them in the MRE 220's, though it is the only driver tube I've known. I haven't ask Thomas or Andreas if the KT 150 would work in the MRE's.
 
When I first got the V70se I bought as many vintage output tubes as I could afford. The reason is I wanted to hear the differences in my system. I found all 6550's KT88's etc had no 'house sound' and you can't lump together - let's say 6550's sound a particular way. The V70se came stock with SED KT88's and I bought SED 6550's and EL34's. From those the KT88 had a warmer sound where the 6550 was extremely linear. Original TS 6550 solid plates were even warmer sounding that the SED KT88's. GEC KT88's were very linear like the SED 6550 but with more sparkle in the highs. But that's the beauty of having a tube amp. You can change the sound with only tubes. Little tubes (inputs and drivers) can make a significant change in sound too. Oh all the combinations that are possible :bonkers:.

That said the only tubes that I had a lot of problems with were the current production EAT KT88 diamonds. One tube guru told me EAT's worked best with a max plate voltage of 450V. The V70se plate voltage is 540V and the V110 is either 540V for most tubes or 620V for the KT120/Ei KT90 or KT150 (switch selectable).
 
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