Question -- can these be used in the ST-120 kit?
4 posters
Tun-Sol Kt-150 tubes
Brap- Posts : 234
Join date : 2013-11-28
Age : 69
Location : Plainfield, illinois
Bob Latino- Admin
- Posts : 3276
Join date : 2008-11-26
Location : Massachusetts
I honestly don't know ? If someone has tried a set of KT150's in their VTA ST-120, please post the results here and maybe a photo of the KT150's in your ST-120. The KT150's are really for higher powered amps than the VTA ST-120 but *probably* could be used in the VTA ST-120 as long as they are biased like a KT88 @ 55 milliamps per tube (.550 VDC bias voltage).
Consider also that the KT150's are about $90!! (retail) EACH so a matched quad will run you $360 - $380. You can get a matched quad of the high quality Genalex Gold Lion KT88's for $200 or so. Yes - The egg shape of the KT150 tube looks cool but they are expensive .. The KT120's gave about an 8% increase in power in the VTA ST-120 amp and probably the KT150's would give a similar increase in power. Consider also that the KT120 tube is only $45 to $50 a tube (retail) (about 1/2 the price of a KT150) and can be used in the VTA ST-120 with no issues.
Bob
Brap- Posts : 234
Join date : 2013-11-28
Age : 69
Location : Plainfield, illinois
Thanks Bob -- yeah quite the big ticket item. Just wondering because they do look really cool!!! 
sKiZo- Posts : 1530
Join date : 2013-04-01
Location : Michigan USA
Triple getters on those things?
I'm a fan of the KT120's if you're thinking on those. They're a tight fit on the stock dynaco chassis, but they do fit, and they've got a sound all their own. Started out with a set of Psvane KT88's, but those have been relegated to backup.
You'll never realize the full output of the KT120 - one of our amps would require a complete redesign to take advantage. Good part about that is they're not really working all that hard in an amp designed for the KT88, so they should last forever at these stress levels. Haven't heard any long term reports yet, but they haven't been out that long.
I'm a fan of the KT120's if you're thinking on those. They're a tight fit on the stock dynaco chassis, but they do fit, and they've got a sound all their own. Started out with a set of Psvane KT88's, but those have been relegated to backup.
You'll never realize the full output of the KT120 - one of our amps would require a complete redesign to take advantage. Good part about that is they're not really working all that hard in an amp designed for the KT88, so they should last forever at these stress levels. Haven't heard any long term reports yet, but they haven't been out that long.
deepee99- Posts : 2244
Join date : 2012-05-23
Location : Wallace, Idaho
sKiZo wrote:Triple getters on those things?
I'm a fan of the KT120's if you're thinking on those. They're a tight fit on the stock dynaco chassis, but they do fit, and they've got a sound all their own. Started out with a set of Psvane KT88's, but those have been relegated to backup.
You'll never realize the full output of the KT120 - one of our amps would require a complete redesign to take advantage. Good part about that is they're not really working all that hard in an amp designed for the KT88, so they should last forever at these stress levels. Haven't heard any long term reports yet, but they haven't been out that long.
I would second sKIZo's experience with the TS KT-120s. Notwithstanding the odd week off for tube-rolling, I've been running mine 10-12 hours a day for the past 18 months in my M-125s and genuinely like the way they sound, esp. in triode mode. No issues. Bias has remained rock-steady. For $90 a tube you're getting up there into used 1960s-vintage TungSol 6550s territory.