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I bought a pair of VTL225 deluxe amps used about 6 years ago. They are in my second system, driving Maggie 2.7s. I bought them with KT90s (VTL label on the tubes) Over the years I have had to replace about 3 tubes and electoharmonix KT90s were what I could get.
Its getting to be the to retune. What direction should I go? I figure I have three choices, Electroharmonix KT90s, KT88s or 6550s.
I don't listen very loudly, and the room is 10 ft width, 20 ft depth and 8 ft height. Tonal quality is most important (BTW we are talking a total of 16 tubes)
Suggestions?
Follow Ups:
I would be careful substituting any tube for an amp that was running KT-90s
I was in the industry when that tube came out and in addition to some pronounced hysteresis it tended to draw more current-
If VTL can't make a recommendation (or better, Modification)...
Happy Listening
Many, many years ago I bought a pair of VTL delux 300s. That was soon after the KT 90s became available and the seller had his original 6550s replaced with the KT 90s at the factory. I was given the impression that some small change was required to optimize use of the KT 90s. BTW, that was a very good pair of amps.
Anyway, my recollection is that the 225s originally had EL 34s. So I would check with VTL with serial numbers to find out which tubes are plug ins with your pair.
"The piano ain't got no wrong notes." Thelonious Monk
VTL had both an EL34 version and a KT90 version. My pair are the KT90 version. Nonetheless, I am going to check with VTL before I go ahead with the retubing.
Ask Jim McShane for his recommendation. He had the market cornered when EI KT90s where available so he would know a good replacement.
If you can get the KT88s go for the Gold Lion. They are winners in my Latino ST-70 amp.
Do you mean the reissues? I have heard great things about the KT-88s, I recently got the KT66s and like them also.
Nt
My vote would also be for using a 6550C.
I asked if the tube was usable in their amps, not if they were making amps using KT120s. My apologies if I was not clear. The 6550C is a beautiful sounding tube, great suggestion, as is the Genelex KT88 reissue.
Edits: 01/12/17
None of their designs have ever supported the higher bias current of the KT-120. You can't just drop it into any amp. Bea Lamm does not recommend such a swap and Luke is more specific as to why they haven't adjusted the circuitry in order to do so:
" The primary reason we don't use the KT120 is that we don't find their sound to meet our sonic requirements, with a grainy, forward sound, akin to that of the 6DJ8/6922 series of tubes. The KT120 seems to us to homogenize the sound, such that nuances and fine inner details get masked. There is a suppleness in the sound of the 6550/KT88 that seems to be lacking in the KT120."
Audio Beat review of MB-450
Off topic from the OP's question, but your quote caught my eye. Based on my limited experience, I like the EL34 and the KT88 quite a bit more than the 6550 which has sounded dry and grainy to me. I have not heard the KT90 or the KT120 yet, but I've read descriptions from a few people who found the KT90 to be dry or thin or aggressive and said they found the KT120 brought back the magic of the KT88.I'll find out what I think about the KT120 in a home system soon as I've ordered a Conus Magnum II. I auditioned it and liked what I heard, but it wasn't the longest of auditions. If I don't like the KT120, I might look into some Gold Lion KT88s or KT77s as I don't need a lot of power in this particular system.
___
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Edits: 01/12/17 01/12/17
Apologies to the OP. I think you will have those KT120 tubes out toot suite. The EI KT90 is THE finest high power output tube I have listened to in an H-K Citation II, especially triode wired. An electroharmonix KT90 is another animal that is close but not quite there.
I have plans to build a second Citation with Gold Lion Kt88 outputs. I had a chance to hear them in several configurations and they are defiantly worth the effort.
Remember VTL (Dave Manly) had that tube built to use in his amplifiers.
I would go with the re issue Tungsol 6550s. Very nice sounding tube and very robust.
When my EI KT 90's finally died I replaced them with new production Tongsol 6550's. Different amps and speakers though. I'm presently using them in Primaluna Dialogues and prefer them over the new production 6550's/KT88's.
FWIW.
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