OK MEP, what's the scoop on the REF75 with KT150's?

Mike

Mike

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Enquiring minds want to know.

What sonic differences did you hear vs the KT120's?

Did you notice any jump in power with the KT150's?


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I think there is a big difference between the KT-120 and KT-150 tubes. The KT-150s are better sounding tubes from top to bottom-better bass, better midrange, and better highs. With regards to power, the meters on my Ref 75 barely move with either output tube. I fell in love with the KT-150s when I reviewed the Raven monoblock amps and my feelings didn't change when I installed them in my Ref 75.

One of the big things I think the KT-150s do better than the KT-120s is bring a 3D effect to your music. They are like sonic hologram generators. When I reviewed the Viero Level 3 speaker cables recently, one of the areas that I failed to emphasize is how those cables brought the 3D sound into play better than any speaker cable I have had in my system. When I first removed the Viero cables from my system in order to send them to Myles for his follow-up review, I was bummed at the loss of SQ as well as the 3D soundstage. When I installed the KT-150 tubes in the Ref 75, I got a healthy dose of the 3D soundstage back. I told myself that it was going to be scary to hear the Viero cables again in my system. And yes, I put my money where my mouth is and I bought a pair of the Viero speaker cables and I'm eagerly awaiting their arrival from Italy.

I highly encourage anyone with a tube amp that is capable of running the KT-150s to buy them. I can't imagine that you will be disappointed.
 
Thanks Mark. Do you think the REF75 with KT150's could drive my Strads?

Lastly, is the Viero cables you speak highly of speaker cables, IC's or both? And what model?


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Mark,

Thank you so much for the follow-up. I am excited to hear them myself and now I think I need to save for those cables. Damn!
 
Mike said:
Thanks Mark. Do you think the REF75 with KT150's could drive my Strads?

Lastly, is the Viero cables you speak highly of speaker cables, IC's or both?


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Mike-I have no experience with your Strads and I don't know what their efficiency is and what their minimum impedance is and how tough the phase angles are. Stop the press, Instead of being lazy I went to Stereophile and pulled this up from JA's measurements:

"The drop-dead gorgeous Stradivari Homage is specified as having a very high 92dB voltage sensitivity; to Sonus Faber's credit, my estimated figure was even higher, at 93dB(B)/2.83V/m. However, the speaker asks the partnering amplifier for a lot of current capability, its impedance (fig.1) dropping to 3 ohms and below for much of the upper bass and midrange. And the combination of 4.4 ohms impedance magnitude and –48 capacitive phase angle at 55Hz will give lesser amplifiers conniptions." Sonus Faber Stradivari Homage loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Based on what JA had to say, I certainly couldn't recommend the Ref 75 to drive your Strads, but maybe someone here has heard them and knows better. With regards to Viero, he manufactures a line of speaker cables, ICs, PCs, and phono cables. I will be reviewing the phono cable, PCs, and balanced ICs as soon as Devis Viero sends them to me.
 
Thanks Mark. Maybe REF250's? [emoji41]


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mep said:
With regards to Viero, he manufactures a line of speaker cables, ICs, PCs, and phono cables. I will be reviewing the phono cable, PCs, and balanced ICs as soon as Devis Viero sends them to me.
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mep, I had no idea that you are a reviewer. For what publication do you write and could you send a link to one of your reviews? Thanks in advance. Sorry to be off topic.
 
Don't like KT120s in general, but heard Albert Porters Focal Grande EMs on ARC 250s with KT150s and it sounded great.
 
PeterA said:
mep, I had no idea that you are a reviewer. For what publication do you write and could you send a link to one of your reviews? Thanks in advance. Sorry to be off topic.
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Peter-I have been reviewing gear for over a year now for Positive Feedback Online. I recently posted a link to my latest review which was the VIERO speaker cables on this forum. Myles also posted a link on AS to his follow-up review. I'm on my IPhone now or otherwise I would post the links.
 
Mike said:
Thanks Mark. Maybe REF250's? [emoji41]


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Mike-I'm sure the ARC Ref 250s would sound good, the question would be how much bottom end response would you be giving up compared to SS and would you be willing to make that trade off?
 
mep said:
Mike-I'm sure the ARC Ref 250s would sound good, the question would be how much bottom end response would you be giving up compared to SS and would you be willing to make that trade off?
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Yes, probably a full octave compared to the Pass XS amps. :)

I'm just toying with ideas.
 
Mike...I think the Ref 150s will do the trick with your Strads but if you have local demo opportunity best to hear for yourself if it works.
 
cmalak said:
Mike...I think the Ref 150s will do the trick with your Strads but if you have local demo opportunity best to hear for yourself if it works.
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No meters. Gotta have the meters! :) GS150 would do the trick too.
 
mep said:
Peter-I have been reviewing gear for over a year now for Positive Feedback Online. I recently posted a link to my latest review which was the VIERO speaker cables on this forum. Myles also posted a link on AS to his follow-up review. I'm on my IPhone now or otherwise I would post the links.
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Thank you mep. I'll look them up. I like PFO.
 
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