Best Tubes for MC275 V & C220

H

hwbs54

Member
I would liked to change all the original Mcintosh tubes on both MC275V and C220. Understand that by changing all the tubes could make a world of difference in sound quality. Hear that GEC, Tungsol and Gold Lion KT 88 are the best in the world. Can someone out there using both MC275V and C220 that have change the tubes please share your experiences. Tks.
 
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I am using MC275V and C220
On MC275V I am using NOS Telefunken 12ax7 NOS Mullards 12at7 Gold Lion kt88 reissue (I also tried Tung sol Reissue but less detail and smaller sound stage than reissue gold lions)
On C220 also NOS Telefunken 12ax7s
more accurate and detailed than factory tubes that came with
I hope this helps
 
macomega said:
I am using ...Gold Lion kt88 reissue (I also tried Tung sol Reissue but less detail and smaller sound stage than reissue gold lions)
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I need to do a power retube on my ma2275 are those gold Lion kt88 reissues among the ones mac has tested?
 
If you go to TubeDepot.com, they are available. Can someone tell me the difference between smooth and ribbed plate? How different do they sound?
 
Can someone tell me the difference between smooth and ribbed plate? How different do they sound?
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Almost sounds like a question one might ask a Trojan sales rep. :D
 
I was disappointed with EAT's

audiocraz said:
Has anyone tried EAT KT88 on MC275 yet.
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Chaney and I tried some which I admit were not brand new. But neither are my NOS Genalex Gold Lions brand new (but test pretty close to new) and they completely outclassed the EAT's (and everything else so far). The EAT's sounded like my PentaLabs KT88SC's -- very good, but not great. Genalex tubes (including some EL34's a friend has in his Marantz 8) seem to have a sparkle, or shimmer, that no other tube can match. That's my 2 cents. EAT's will cost you $1400 :yes:
 
I've swapped the tubes on my C2200 and the other Mac tube amps I've got but, frankly, there was _not_ a wholesale change in the sonic presentation of the preamp. This applies to the phono preamp and to the preamp portions individually of the C2200. I'm thinking this is rather more like reporting on what wine each one of us finds most enjoyable: everyone has an opinion.

For your money, I suspect there are better things to focus on unless you would just like to see for yourself what this dust-up is all about. You'll be out your money but can report back on your judgements. You now have mine. Care for a glass of chardonnay?

Cheers,

David
 
David you are correct. McIntosh tube products are designed so all tubes that follow the original design curve of the tube type will work. Now if a tube is defective or microphonic this could cause a change in sound.

Thank you,
Ron-C
 
McIntosh tube products are designed so all tubes that follow the original design curve of the tube type will work. Now if a tube is defective or microphonic this could cause a change in sound.
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What are you saying Ron, no need to spend upwards of $1400 on tubes? When it comes to tubes and I have played around in the past, give me a fresh set of tubes that were burned in, screened and matched and I am good to go. The fresh quad set of burned in, matched and screened Svetlana SED winged-C KT88's sounded better in my 275 than some exotic older tubes that were cryo'd and cost a whole heck of alot more but what do I know.... :smoke:
 
not enough info

all tubes that follow the original design curve of the tube type will work.
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Sure, but just because they have identical curves/characteristics doesn't mean they'll all sound the same.
You'll be out your money but can report back on your judgements. You now have mine.
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David's comments would be more meaningfull if he said what tubes he'd tried that left him underwhelmed. There are lots of different/equivalent tubes out there that offer no improvement over the OEM tubes -- but there are many that do. Research is the key. You can't rely on the advice of online tube sellers. Most don't even sell the tubes that would really make a difference. It's true, you can spend a lot of money for nothing, if you don't perform your "due diligence" :thmbsp:
 
The McIntosh circuit design is such that various tubes will not change the performance of the amp or preamp as long as the tube follows the original design curves. With some tube designs like those from Eastern Europe this may not be the case. Ditto on the low end Sino-Russian suppliers. The better contemporary tubes from China and Russia are equaling the performance of the classic tubes from the golden era back in the 1950s and 1960s.
If a set of output tubes is worn and starting to fall off in output, any fresh set of tubes will be more dynamic. Just because the new tubes are branded as some classic brand re-issue does not mean they are the great tube leap forward.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
PHC1 said:
Worst part about buying expensive NOS tubes is that there is always a chance they are fake. Many have been burned.
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This is true, however part of the "due diligence" I mentioned, is learning to tell the difference. It's actually not that hard if you know what to look for. (I never buy new or NOS tubes that don't include a clear picture :no: )
 
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