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In Reply to: RE: Tung Sol KT150 posted by samzx12 on October 31, 2016 at 13:12:46
From multiple sources, the KT150 is a much more linear tube than the KT120 and therefore preferable Tung Sol or not. One manufacturer even told me he wouldn't use the KT120 at all. And you can get a bit more power from a KT150.
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I have been searching and reading about both tubes, and checking schematics. And i have not found anyone with the opinions that you have expressed. Since i am from Missouri, i just wanted to check out the articles for myself. cheers, Dak
It seems he has little enthusiasm for KT120's.
That is an excellent article and of real value for those who understand the technical details. It took me a while to track down the plate curves bur Mr. Hayes is correct: the tube is not linear.
But a number of well thought of makers use and/or recommend it - ARC for one, and IIRC conrad-johnson for another. It is NOT always a drop-in sub for a KT-88 although in many cases it can sub for it. Kevin Hayes seemed to object most to the idea that it wasn't a drop in sub for the KT-88 - at least that's what I understood from his writing.
And while the 14% distortion sounds scary, take a look in an RCA tube manual at some of the distortion figures on highly regarded power tubes. You might be surprised. In class A single ended use the EL34 has double digit distortion as do the 6L6GC, the 6550A and others. So the KT-120 is obviously going to be more successful in a circuit that uses NFB to reduce the total circuit distortion. That's what the curves and the data indicate to me.
Ken Stevens of Convergent Audio Technology uses KT120's in his current amps. My JL1 amps were modified for the KT120. Never better.
Great article thanks. Personally the KT120 was the least favorite tube I tried overall when it comes to good sound. There was NO sweetness at all in comparison to for instance a EL34. I liked the soundstage and punch but as usual mileage varies.
The first time was directly from a conversation with the VAC amp designer. Then I recall reading it in a review in Hi Fi World by Noel Keywood, the magazine editor who also designed amplifiers.
Actually, Dennis Had, founder of Cary Audio agrees. He feels the KT120 does not clip like a KT88. It goes non linear first. the KT150 does not. I was told this when he build me my first amp.
The KT120 is a dynamic powerful tube but didn't work well for me in my Primaluna integrated.
From Dennis Had directly. The discussion involved one of the amps he built for me. I originally asked about the KT120 and he said he did not care for the way the KT120 clipped. He said its behavior is more like a solid state device than a tube.
I went with the KT150. Dennis built me a pair of stunning MB12 KT150 SET monoblocks.
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