Final SE Amp Tube Decision

Posted by danlaudionut (A) on April 26, 2007 at 16:01:27

Now that every tube has over 20 hours on them.
And the amp has over 200 hours on it.
Time for a final tube comparison.

My System:
Cambridge DiscMagic Transport
Monica II DAC with 12B4 output tube
Dave Slagle's ATVC on the output
DIY Speakers with:
- Audax Aerogel 5.25" and 4" in parallel,
- Dynaudio D-260 tweeter and
- 4uFd GE Motor Run Crossover Cap

KT66 - still the reigning HF champs.
But the drop of definition below ~4KHz
combined with the excess of HF energy
and the rather bland bass response,
definitely eliminates them.
In my system they just don't fit.

KT77 - definitely the champs of definition.
All the details are clearly heard across the spectrum.
Bad recordings are exposed for what they are!
Good recordings are a marvelous ear candy BUT
something was continually bothering me.
At first I thought that the sound was disconnected.
I now realize what it was - to paraphrase an old saying:
"I couldn't enjoy the forest because
the trees were getting in the way."
All the details jumping out at me continually
prevented me from enjoying the MUSIC.
Like the Linn system I heard at a show in Montreal,
it fascinated me but I left without a looking back.
Enjoying the music is what it is all about.
So this tube doesn't do it for me in my system.

This leaves me with my SED KT88 mislabeled as a 6550.
All the great organic richness is still there and
all the details are still there but subtle or textured.
They are knit into the music not overpowering it.
After the KT77, the KT88 sounded dull and boring.
After the KT66, the KT88 sounded like the HF was missing.
But if I just leave them in for awhile and just listen,
I realize that nothing is missing just less flamboyant.
The music pulls me in and I am thoughly enjoying it.
The KT66 or the KT77 never did that for me.
This reminded me of the sound from the Conrad-Johnson
powered 969 Quad room at the same show in Montreal,
after tearing myself out of the room, I kept coming back.
For me that was where the music was.
As for me and in my system,
the KT88s are where the music is.

DanL

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Topic - Final SE Amp Tube Decision - danlaudionut 16:01:27 04/26/07 (35)

Danl, you still there? - Ian L 10:50:24 04/28/07 (8)

What does it do? - Triode_Kingdom 19:15:28 04/28/07 (5)

Re: What does it do? + $0.02 - Ian L 11:13:20 04/29/07 (4)

Re: What does it do? + $0.02 - Triode_Kingdom 14:48:28 04/29/07 (3)

Re: What does it do? + $0.02 - Ian L 18:06:01 04/29/07 (2)

Re: What does it do? + $0.02 - Triode_Kingdom 19:49:46 04/29/07 (1)

Whatever it's effect ... - Naz 22:13:27 04/29/07 (0)

Re: Danl, you still there? - danlaudionut 11:25:52 04/28/07 (1)

Re: Danl, you still there? - Ian L 14:54:31 04/28/07 (0)

TV Power pentodes wired as triodes (i.e., sweep tubes) - Frihed89 00:18:31 04/28/07 (0)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - zarniwoop 19:25:11 04/26/07 (24)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - danlaudionut 19:48:02 04/26/07 (23)

Also, Dr. DANLoudaudionut try 3 (1.2V) NiMh batteries on cathode. - -3db 15:48:40 04/28/07 (0)

I liked Triode KT88 SE @ 350V and 100ma - -3db 15:29:14 04/28/07 (1)

Re: I liked Triode KT88 SE @ 350V and 100ma - danlaudionut 19:34:52 04/28/07 (0)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - zarniwoop 20:12:37 04/26/07 (19)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - drsx 20:47:18 04/26/07 (9)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - zarniwoop 06:38:34 04/27/07 (0)

"why don't you try a real triode" - Tre' 21:06:12 04/26/07 (0)

Not fond of paralleling tubes (nt) - danlaudionut 20:49:31 04/26/07 (6)

But triode-connected tets/pents are worse, - Triode_Kingdom 21:35:25 04/26/07 (5)

Re: But triode-connected tets/pents are worse, - danlaudionut 22:02:20 04/26/07 (4)

Re: But triode-connected tets/pents are worse, - Triode_Kingdom 07:09:09 04/27/07 (2)

take it easy TK - lovetube 08:32:18 04/27/07 (1)

OK, but... - Triode_Kingdom 15:41:47 04/27/07 (0)

Re: But triode-connected tets/pents are worse, - Naz 00:48:43 04/27/07 (0)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - danlaudionut 20:45:40 04/26/07 (8)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - Tre' 14:38:56 04/27/07 (2)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - danlaudionut 15:29:53 04/27/07 (1)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - Tre' 16:22:29 04/27/07 (0)

Re: Final SE Amp Tube Decision - zarniwoop 06:46:21 04/27/07 (0)

Re: 6N1P + others shootout - Meister 06:09:16 04/27/07 (3)

Re: 6N1P + others shootout - danlaudionut 10:06:44 04/27/07 (1)

Re: 6N1P + others shootout - JANDG 18:04:22 04/27/07 (0)

Sorry, wrong subject above: BIAS is the correct one. (nt) - Meister 06:11:10 04/27/07 (0)

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