I was reading about the Audio Research GS150 amp ($25,000) designed around the Tung Sol KT150 vacuum tube. Audio Research states that if customers are thinking about upgrading to the install KT150s in their KT120 based amps to get a indication of the KT150 sound. So I have to ask... has anyone tried KT150s in a Latino amplifier? If so what did you think?
+7
skriefal
10-E-C
corndog71
denny9167
deepee99
sKiZo
arledgsc
11 posters
KT150 - Has Anyone Tried These Tubes ?
arledgsc- Posts : 496
Join date : 2012-11-30
Age : 70
Location : Santa Rosa CA
sKiZo- Posts : 1530
Join date : 2013-04-01
Location : Michigan USA
Would they even FIT in a stock dynaco chassis?
No problem here with a custom case, but I'm not up to spending twice what I paid for the KT120's unless I could expect an appreciable gain in power as well. Can't happen without seriously significant circuit mods. The KT120's give me about a 10% boost over KT88's, and I'd expect the same from the KT150's in an ST120.
The driver tubes are what most influence what you hear anyway. I'd put my money into those ... in fact, I have ...
Box One of Two
PS ... I've already got three tube sets for the Eico HF12A I picked up a couple weeks back. I think I may have a problem here ... Hi, my name is sKiZo, and I'm a tube-aholic ...
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Looking forward to hearing from any real world mad scientists with deep pockets who've made the investment.
No problem here with a custom case, but I'm not up to spending twice what I paid for the KT120's unless I could expect an appreciable gain in power as well. Can't happen without seriously significant circuit mods. The KT120's give me about a 10% boost over KT88's, and I'd expect the same from the KT150's in an ST120.
The driver tubes are what most influence what you hear anyway. I'd put my money into those ... in fact, I have ...
Box One of Two
PS ... I've already got three tube sets for the Eico HF12A I picked up a couple weeks back. I think I may have a problem here ... Hi, my name is sKiZo, and I'm a tube-aholic ...
***
Looking forward to hearing from any real world mad scientists with deep pockets who've made the investment.
deepee99- Posts : 2244
Join date : 2012-05-23
Location : Wallace, Idaho
I would (with deep regrets) concur with Skiz on this.
To put it into motor-head phraseology, power tubes are the pistons, but driver tubes are the carburettors. The drivers provide the right fuel-oxygen mix.
To put it into motor-head phraseology, power tubes are the pistons, but driver tubes are the carburettors. The drivers provide the right fuel-oxygen mix.
denny9167- Posts : 151
Join date : 2011-05-09
Age : 56
Location : Texas
David Hafler said the 6AN8 drove a parallel arrangement of KT88's very easily!! KT-120's singles would be no problem! not sure about KT-150's,maybe?
corndog71- Posts : 840
Join date : 2013-03-19
Location : It can get windy here
I've considered the KT150 tubes but they really need appropriate transformers to get the best performance out of them.
deepee99- Posts : 2244
Join date : 2012-05-23
Location : Wallace, Idaho
Nobody on this forum has commented on their purchase/performance of KT-150s. If we, who are amply crazy, haven't bothered with them, one wonders where their market must be. I'd be delighted to try an octet of them at someone else's expense. But for the money, I will continue to try corner the market on New Jersey 6550s.
sKiZo- Posts : 1530
Join date : 2013-04-01
Location : Michigan USA
Has anyone actually come out with an amp that can get the full monty from these things? I see a few that come with them, or recommend installing them, but those are basically equipped with bigger iron to drive them, but nowhere near the power out the tubes should be able to supply according to the specs.
Bring more of a bling thing if anything ... ring a ding ding.
This has come up in the past, and I do seem to remember Bob saying the iron can handle them, but not to expect any increase over what the KT120 can do in these amps. Only reviews I can find do tend to say the KT150 does have more of a punch at the bottom than a KT120, but few head to head comparisons, so take that for what it's worth. Same is said of the KT120 over a KT88, but that again depends on what brands you're comparing. Personally, methinks those who rave about the KT150 may just be trying to justify the expense, but ... take that for what it's worth as well.
Bring more of a bling thing if anything ... ring a ding ding.
This has come up in the past, and I do seem to remember Bob saying the iron can handle them, but not to expect any increase over what the KT120 can do in these amps. Only reviews I can find do tend to say the KT150 does have more of a punch at the bottom than a KT120, but few head to head comparisons, so take that for what it's worth. Same is said of the KT120 over a KT88, but that again depends on what brands you're comparing. Personally, methinks those who rave about the KT150 may just be trying to justify the expense, but ... take that for what it's worth as well.
denny9167- Posts : 151
Join date : 2011-05-09
Age : 56
Location : Texas
The only product I've seen 150's in that stands out to me is Audio Research, in their new series of products, would like to see the guts of one of these amps, ex: driver circuit, transformers etc. the 120's were a big step-up, not sure about how much of a step the 150's are. May have to make a trip to Audio Concepts in Dallas to check those out, that's if they have one of the newer ARC amps.
arledgsc- Posts : 496
Join date : 2012-11-30
Age : 70
Location : Santa Rosa CA
sKiZo wrote:Has anyone actually come out with an amp that can get the full monty from these things? I see a few that come with them, or recommend installing them, but those are basically equipped with bigger iron to drive them, but nowhere near the power out the tubes should be able to supply according to the specs.
The Audio Research GS150 does it appears. 150W per ch. using two KT150s in push-pull.
10-E-C- Posts : 267
Join date : 2014-02-12
Age : 70
Location : upper east tn
arledgsc wrote:sKiZo wrote:Has anyone actually come out with an amp that can get the full monty from these things? I see a few that come with them, or recommend installing them, but those are basically equipped with bigger iron to drive them, but nowhere near the power out the tubes should be able to supply according to the specs.
The Audio Research GS150 does it appears. 150W per ch. using two KT150s in push-pull.
At what price are they?
deepee99- Posts : 2244
Join date : 2012-05-23
Location : Wallace, Idaho
10-E-C wrote:arledgsc wrote:sKiZo wrote:Has anyone actually come out with an amp that can get the full monty from these things? I see a few that come with them, or recommend installing them, but those are basically equipped with bigger iron to drive them, but nowhere near the power out the tubes should be able to supply according to the specs.
The Audio Research GS150 does it appears. 150W per ch. using two KT150s in push-pull.
At what price are they?
25 kilobucks.
10-E-C- Posts : 267
Join date : 2014-02-12
Age : 70
Location : upper east tn
deepee99 wrote:10-E-C wrote:arledgsc wrote:sKiZo wrote:Has anyone actually come out with an amp that can get the full monty from these things? I see a few that come with them, or recommend installing them, but those are basically equipped with bigger iron to drive them, but nowhere near the power out the tubes should be able to supply according to the specs.
The Audio Research GS150 does it appears. 150W per ch. using two KT150s in push-pull.
At what price are they?
25 kilobucks.
Dang, I'd have to dig a lot of ginseng this fall to cover that!
skriefal- Posts : 135
Join date : 2011-09-20
Location : Utah, USA
arledgsc wrote:The Audio Research GS150 does it appears. 150W per ch. using two KT150s in push-pull.
I bet those tubes need to be replaced frequently!
Bob Latino- Admin
- Posts : 3263
Join date : 2008-11-26
Location : Massachusetts
You can use the Tung-Sol KT150 output tubes in either the VTA ST-120 or the M-125 monoblocks as long as you bias them "as a KT88". The KT150's can take much higher plate voltages and bias current than either amp can provide. I have had a few customers use them in either of the above mentioned amps. The downside to these tubes is that they are expensive. Below is a link to one of our forum posts with photos of the KT150's being used in a pair of M-125's.
KT150 output tubes in VTA M-125 monoblocks
Edit on 12/16/17 > I have had other customers tell me that the Tung-Sol KT150's will not bias properly in either the VTA M-125 or the VTA ST-120. I am recommending that you not use the KT150 output tubes in either amp.
Bob
KT150 output tubes in VTA M-125 monoblocks
Edit on 12/16/17 > I have had other customers tell me that the Tung-Sol KT150's will not bias properly in either the VTA M-125 or the VTA ST-120. I am recommending that you not use the KT150 output tubes in either amp.
Bob
Last edited by Bob Latino on Sat Dec 16, 2017 6:34 pm; edited 1 time in total
GP49- Posts : 792
Join date : 2009-04-30
Location : East of the sun and west of the moon
If reliability and long life come with the high cost, perhaps they would be a viable option.
But then, I don't roll tubes. Mine generally stay put. They get covered with dust and I blow them off a couple of times a year, maybe, when I check bias.
But then, I don't roll tubes. Mine generally stay put. They get covered with dust and I blow them off a couple of times a year, maybe, when I check bias.
bluemeanies- Posts : 274
Join date : 2015-02-09
Age : 73
Location : Folsom Pa.
They are sexy...but the price makes me limp. The KT 88's make my day. I will never say never but I am still in awe with the performance of my 804's using only 35 watts per channel in triode mode.
MarcVBelgium- Posts : 116
Join date : 2013-12-06
Age : 70
Location : Antwerp, BELGIUM
Dear all,
I have no experience with KT150, but in the case of Audio Research, these are the European prices
for upgrades....from standard (KT-120) to "SE" (KT-150) as offered by the Dutch distributor
REF 75 to REF 75 SE € 2.990
REF 150 to REF 150 SE € 5.390
REF 250 to REF 250 SE € 4.890 each
1 € is about 1.10 $.......these are only UPGRADES from the existing and very expensive "standard" AR amps.....
Then consider the price of a Dynaco ST-120......
I think we are all very "wise" men.....even the "tube-aholics" among us....
I have no experience with KT150, but in the case of Audio Research, these are the European prices
for upgrades....from standard (KT-120) to "SE" (KT-150) as offered by the Dutch distributor
REF 75 to REF 75 SE € 2.990
REF 150 to REF 150 SE € 5.390
REF 250 to REF 250 SE € 4.890 each
1 € is about 1.10 $.......these are only UPGRADES from the existing and very expensive "standard" AR amps.....
Then consider the price of a Dynaco ST-120......
I think we are all very "wise" men.....even the "tube-aholics" among us....
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