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Re: Power tubes for ARC D115

66.74.72.231

Posted by Bambi B on September 17, 2004 at 06:52:24

In Reply to: Power tubes for ARC D115 posted by pwhinson on September 16, 2004 at 19:11:59:

Pwhinson,

I 've used an D-115 (with SP8 and SP10) since 1988- but always with 6550s- first the original Philips ECG then my favourite for a long time- GE 6550A. The GEs are fortunately still around and not extremely expensive while everyone pursues Tung-Sols. I believe the current production tube of choice for the D-115 is the SED (formerly Svetlana) 6550 with the "C" designation. If you order replacements from ARC, I think they will send you some expensive, selected SEDs.

BTW, ARC tubes are expensive, but absolutely "plug and play" and reliable. My SP8 still has it's original ARC tubes. When I strayed on tubes for the SP10, I spent a small fortune and many hours before having to send it for a holiday at ARC anyway.

I've never heard of any serious electrical prohibition in using KT-88s in the D70/115- the "blowing up" mentioned by Keith Lockwood, but over the years, I think that there has been a consensus that KT-88s are just not attractive sounding in the D-70/115s. I've not tried KT-88s in the D-115 only from this reputation.

As for other models, there has been a continuing rumour that really every ARC amplifier designed for 6550 will not perform well with KT-88s, and ARC has a semi-official non-recommendation for the substitution. But as the electrical demands of the KT-88 are so similar to the 6550, and ARC are generally extra rugged and never merely marginal in the PS, I would question in which circumstances- amplifier and loads- that would result in damage only from substituting KT88s.

Congratulations on a great choice in your amplifier. I feel the D70 especially and the D-115 are excelllent amplifiers and somewhat undervalued. Perhaps it's that they're not glamourous looking- but an amazing 3-D sound. The close cousin to the D-115, the M100 monoblocks are still for me, the most refined amplifier ARC ever made.

Cheers,

Bambi B

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