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I have been trying the Treasure black bottle KT66 for the past couple of weeks and comparing to the Gold Lion Kt66.
Unlike the GLs, the bias has been jumping around quite with the Treasures and I have been adjusting regularly. Figured it was the long breaking these tubes required. The adjustment was always upward (more bias needed, I would check them and they would be at 25ma and I would crank them back up to 30ma). Finally I ran out of bias adjustment room on valve 4 could not get it past 25ma). Took the tube out and it tested weak. Tested the others and they tested weaker also. This is after only maybe 100 hours of use. They were all near the end of the bias adjustment. Took them out and replaced with the GLs. Had to turn the bias way down from the top of the range where it had been with the Treasures.
Did I mention that one of the original quad was dead (white getter) when I first bought them home and had to be replaced?
Not sure what is going on but I have had it with these Treasure tubes. I ate the loss on the KT120s from Racheal, but these are going back to PartConnexion.
I liked the sound of these a lot (maybe even more than the Gold Lions but it is close) but can't stand dealing with unreliable tubes. I have never had a problem with the grey glass Psvane KT88 tubes or the Penta Labs KT88, or my quad of Treasure 6CA7, don't know why quality is slipping at the Treasure plant.
Regardless, I can not recommend any Treasure black bottle tubes. Too bad, they did sound good but the quality is crap. What a joke considering what they charge.
Edits: 09/24/16Follow Ups:
Mendel,
That is odd. I'm using the KT66z in a single ended & triode wired amp and have had no issues. BTW, what did Racheal have to say?
The KT66z were from PartConnexion. They have readily agreed to take them back, no problem. They always stand behind their tubes.
I got the KT120z through Racheal in Calgary. The first quad had a tube that wouldn't bias, so I had to send the whole quad back. The second quad ran great for 2 weeks then wouldn't hold stable bias. I am sure Racheal would have taken them back, but by this time I was fed up and didn't want to spend the time and dollars to ship them back so I just ate the loss.
Now I understand this grade A and grade B stuff with Treasure tubes. A lot of bad shit coming out of that factory with minimal testing.
If you get a good set they are great. They always sound good when they work, the question is if they work and for how long. I have a quad of the Treasure 6CA7 (which I bought used on Canuck Audio for $150 Canadian) and they have several hundred hours on them, they have never given me any problems and sound great (for EL34). But given that the Treasures go for roughly $100 a tube the risk and aggravation is not worth it to me anymore. I can find EI KT90, GE 6550, strong used GEC KT66 and GE 6L6gc, Mullard EL34 and others for that kind of price. Never had a problem with a vintage output tube in the Rogue.
Also never had any problem with the Penta Labs KT88 or the Psvane KT88. Only the Treasures, and only the Treasures seem to have different grades. Kinda makes you wonder.
I read that duds are smuggled out of the factory and sold. Bummer. I bought a barely used quad of the KT66z for $185 and liked them enough to get another quad. My amp is single ended triode wired and self biasing. I have no idea how hard they are driven. The GL KT66 is a fine tube too. I just like the Treasure's a bit more.
Edits: 09/28/16
Sounds like you received weak batch from the manufacturer. Or they were used.???
Edits: 09/26/16
Is your amp prepared to use kt-66 ?
To qualify the grid leak must be < 100kohm when using fixed bias
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/086/k/KT66.pdf
If using higher grid leak the tube may be unstable, it's certainly
outside spec anyway.
Thanks for the posts guys.
Yes tubular, my amp can use KT66 and have been using Gold Lion KT66 recently and GEC KT66 for many years without problems.
I obviously got a bad batch of tubes. Seem to be a lot of bad batches of these "premium" Treasure tubes.
mt
I am fully expecting to return them to PartsConnexion for exchange. Will probably just get another quad of GL KT66- they sound good and have been reliable so far (about 150 hours)
OK, good! I haven't tried those Gold Lions, yet. But, every new issued GL seems to be pretty good stuff.
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