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The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of all original Dynaco tube audio equipment - Customer support for Tubes4hifi VTA tube amp and preamp kits and all Dynakitparts.com products


3 posters

    ST-120 output tube- 2 part question

    kevinmi
    kevinmi


    Posts : 88
    Join date : 2009-11-17

    ST-120 output tube- 2 part question Empty ST-120 output tube- 2 part question

    Post by kevinmi Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:30 pm

    Is it possible to run EL-34 tubes in a ST-120 amp, and if you could, would it sound different than running KT-88's?
    Rich
    Rich


    Posts : 32
    Join date : 2013-01-17

    ST-120 output tube- 2 part question Empty Re: ST-120 output tube- 2 part question

    Post by Rich Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:57 pm

    No, it isn't possible to run EL-34 or 6L6 family tubes in VTA-120 as voltage supplied by transformers is quiet high for those families tubes and you will get those tubes run off very fast. This is something Bob Latino told me before.

    Regards.
    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
    Admin


    Posts : 3260
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    Location : Massachusetts

    ST-120 output tube- 2 part question Empty Re: ST-120 output tube- 2 part question

    Post by Bob Latino Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:57 pm

    Rich is correct - You can plug them in and they probably will "work" BUT ..

    1. EL34's will probably have a shorter life than normal if used in the VTA ST-120.
    2. The bias system is set up for KT88's, 6550's or KT120 output tubes. EL34's may not bias properly in the VTA ST-120.

    I do not recommend using EL34, KT66, KT77, 6L6 or the Russian 6P3C output tubes in the VTA ST-120.

    Bob
    kevinmi
    kevinmi


    Posts : 88
    Join date : 2009-11-17

    ST-120 output tube- 2 part question Empty Re: ST-120 output tube- 2 part question

    Post by kevinmi Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:08 pm

    Thanks for the response. I'm pretty sure I've asked that question before, so I expected that answer. I've never heard EL-34 tubes, so I was just curious as to what they would sound like.
    Rich
    Rich


    Posts : 32
    Join date : 2013-01-17

    ST-120 output tube- 2 part question Empty Re: ST-120 output tube- 2 part question

    Post by Rich Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:18 pm

    You can use KT-90 which is a "modernized EL-34" built almost exactly the same as EL-34 but bigger and stronger and a perfect replacement for a KT-88.
    i'm sure that you will love the sound of a KT-90, but for me (I used to have kt-90 before) KT-120 is superior indeed.

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