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speaking of tube amps

199.164.160.4
Posted on November 7, 2016 at 14:35:30
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 To support the mid/tweeters on my MG20s, I was about to grab these over the weekend but the seller doesn't want to do shipping. Found another pair of the same on ebay and again, no shipping. Needless to say I was bummed. Oh well, I still have my VTL 100s although one is in the shop getting repaired. Looking to compare the two.

Am wondering if anyone has had experience with the Cary SLM 100 monos?










 

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RE: speaking of tube amps, posted on November 7, 2016 at 14:54:45
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 Call up Cary and ask them about using KT120s in that amp.

They make excellent amps with good parts and workmanship and do well on output trannies. Note massive power trannie too.

 

RE: speaking of tube amps, posted on November 7, 2016 at 18:23:51
Desafinado
Audiophile

Posts: 183
Location: Alberta
Joined: March 10, 2013
 Maybe these would suffice.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649310696-atmaspere-novacron-ma15/?utm_source=featured_ad&utm_medium=click&utm_content=front&utm_campaign=649310696

 

saw those, posted on November 7, 2016 at 19:08:54
Green Lantern
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Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 drooled for about 15 min, considered selling my car, riding the bus for a year, eating rice, but snapped back into reality at the last minute. Nice but way out of my budget.









 

good info thanks - nt, posted on November 7, 2016 at 19:09:35
Green Lantern
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Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003









 

RE: saw those, posted on November 7, 2016 at 21:17:22
Desafinado
Audiophile

Posts: 183
Location: Alberta
Joined: March 10, 2013
 Don't forget the current exchange rate:

$1.00 CAD = $0.75 USD so you really only need $6000 US.

 

RE: saw those, posted on November 8, 2016 at 08:10:08
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 I pulled the trigger on something else, I'll post it when it arrives!









 

Other options, posted on November 8, 2016 at 08:17:10
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 The 20.1 could use 200W to some benefit. There are a few good options to get there or close.

Generally you want 4 KT120s per channel. That is rather expensive coming out of the normal go to names. Only the big Rogue amps come into play

Older amps from Melos and Manley would check your boxes as well, but they will likely need a recap and some upgrades.

Then there is the ASL Hurricanes. Not expensive on the used market.

There are Chinese brand products you might want to look at like the Jolida 3000/Envy any version with 211 PP tubes at 200 wpc (or 845 tubes theoretically).
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue46/jolida.htm

 

RE: Other options, posted on November 9, 2016 at 07:15:16
Mendel
Audiophile

Posts: 1207
Location: GTA
Joined: January 17, 2009
 Have to chime in here with all this talk of KT120s.
I find the Tung Sol KT120 to be a very mediocre sounding valve, as do many others including Dennis Had and Mike Sanders. The new KT150s are supposed to be much better (have not heard them).
The Gold Aero tubes in the amp posted by GL are actually NOS EI KT90s (the reliable type 2 as indicated by all the weld marks on the plates)which are way better than the TS KT120s IMO.
You do not have to use TS KT120s to get high power in tube amps. Better to give up a few watts and go with better sounding KT88 or KT90 tubes, or go with the even higher power KT150s (as Audio Research has done in all their amps).
Sorry for the rant, but I think people are being mislead into using TS KT120s "for more power" despite the hit in sound quality these tubes provide. Just one mans opinion.

 

RE: Other options, posted on November 9, 2016 at 08:03:18
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 The tubes I had compared them with do not include NOS but the usual suspects KT88EH and other (can't remember), 6550 Winged C, KT90EH, so I will take your word for it and I will try and see if the Dyna III is compatible with the KT150. Do you happen to know?

I liked them for their sound over the alts I tried. Since then the PSvane tubes have come up in performance and critical reviews, any opinion there? Stoked with the notion of there being more potential SQ to be had.

.

 

RE: Other options, posted on November 9, 2016 at 08:36:22
Mendel
Audiophile

Posts: 1207
Location: GTA
Joined: January 17, 2009
 Hi Satie.
Don't know if the Dyna can take KT150s but probably not. They seem to require a bigger power/bias supply than the KT88/90/120 series.
In my Rogue, I much prefer the Psvane grey glass KT88 to the TS KT120. The only problem is that they cost twice as much. I also prefer the Penta Labs KT88SC (also know as the Prefered Series KT88), the Treasure black bottle KT88z (if you can get a good set tested by a dealer here in North America, avoid the direct from China sales), EI KT90 (type 2--I believe TCtubes still has some NOS), many like the Gold Lion KT88.
Can you use KT66?
You give up some power, but KT66 is a very linear sound compared to KT88/90/120. I have been running Gold Lion KT66 in the Rogue for 2 months and am very impressed.
Many like the GE 6550 as a high power tube and a gentleman on this site has been selling them NOS for many years. Also the Winged C 6550 is much loved but getting pricey now that the plant is closed.
I would expect all of the above tubes to sound superior to the TS KT120 in your amp. But sound is a very personal thing and not all amps are the same. You really have to try it. I tried the Tung Sol KT120 to get more power for my amp to drive my Acoustats. While the TS is powerful and extended at the frequency ends, it also sounds dry, grainy and "electronic/unnatural" to me in my amp. It lack the midrange "bloom" and air up top that I need from my tube amp. Many may disagree.
Enjoy the roll!

 

RE: Other options, posted on November 9, 2016 at 13:10:01
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 In the Dyna III the KT120 matched the winged C on detail and had a slightly less warm tonal balance. Dynamics, however, were miles ahead with the TS. I went to the KT88 EH to get a bit more power in triode mode,, which I did get, but also a glassy haze, Same glassy haze with the KT90EH but more dynamic. The TS was warmer than both
EH tubes and had no glassy haze, more open on top and not electronic sounding at all, definitely far less electronic sounding as the EH tubes.

I think it is more a fit for the warmer Dyna (and CJs) than the more neutral Rogue where the TS would give a top end emphasis.

I think the 66 will not have enough swing.

The Dynas are doing mid tweet duties so have no bass load and are heard 250hz and up.

I am not going to splurge on NOS but the lower cost PSvanes are an option. Since your Rogues and the Dyna are not balanced the same way, could you give a comparison among the Psvanes Gold Lion and Pentas vs. the KT120 or 6550C that I am familiar with?

 

RE: Other options, posted on November 9, 2016 at 17:36:54
Mendel
Audiophile

Posts: 1207
Location: GTA
Joined: January 17, 2009
 If you only use your tube amp for mids and highs, you really should try KT66--best top end of any output tube I have tried in the Rogue.
The tubes I prefer are all a little warmer with more bloom and air in the midrange than the TS KT120 in the Rogue. Don't get me wrong, the TS sounds decent in the Rogue (I believe they are now standard with the Rogue amps) and not solid state. But more solid state sounding than the other tubes I prefer. I want solid state detail and extension, with the warmth and natural imaging that tubes provide.

 

RE: Other options, posted on November 10, 2016 at 08:51:16
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 I use a resistor to raise the impedance of the MT section to 4 ohms so I lose 1/3 of the power and can't use the KT120 in triode for most music. Which is 30 W , but have plenty at ultralinear which is 60W. So the KT66 is an unlikely match.

If I am stuck in ultralinear then the other KT88 variants you mentioned would be options. But the Dynas are already voiced for a warmer balance than the Rogue so don't need that to come from the tubes. To the extent the other tubes are too warm then the XO can be altered to bring in the tweeter at a higher level.

 

RE: Other options, posted on November 24, 2016 at 05:05:41
john65b
Audiophile

Posts: 326
Location: Chicago
Joined: July 19, 2005
 Instead of buying a Quickie amp, I just built a pair of monoblocks from a schematic. I chose the 8417 as it was one of Sanders faves. Those 8417 tubes are very sensitive, expensive, easily driven, and sounded very nice. In the end, decided to sell off my stash of 12 8417 tubes and try Tung Sol KT120. I like them. But you have to rebias the amp for KT120, you cannot drop them in any amp and have a critical listen. I biased my KT120 kinda hot, and they sound very nice with my 6922 / 6H30 Aikido.... currently driving MGIIIa (the best Bang for buck speaker around).

I VOID WARRANTIES

 

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