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MC275...time for new KT88s

jblnut

jblnut

Don't Overthink It
Ever get the suspicion that something isn't quite right with your system? That it doesn't sound like you remembered? You start wondering 'what could be wrong'? You might swap some cables or try a new phono cart and the magic won't come back. You might also convince yourself that those 30 year old tweeters need the foam damper replaced so you live without them for a few weeks and still, when they get back it might even be worse?

WTF?

Then you remember that like phono carts, tubes are a wear item and that they can slowly fade out over time. So this morning I got the OEM tubes out of the box and swapped out the main output KT88s.

Holy mother...yeah that's what it used to sound like! Only now it's even better because of the spectacular new AT ART9 and all the vintage Audioquest Rubys I tracked down.

So...shopping time for output tubes. Any reason not to just swing for the fences and get the Psvane KT88-Tii's?

jblnut
 
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I have always wanted to get the Shuguang Black Treasure, but haven't done t hat yet. The Psvane's should be as good, maybe better. What are these AT ART9's you talked about?
 
Here's a list of output tubes I have tried in my rebuilt original issue 275. In order of personal preference. Gold Lion KT-88 reissues, Tung-Sol 6550 reissues, Penta Labs KT-88's and EH KT-88's. These are my preferences so take them with a dose of salt. The differences in output tubes are not as great as in small signal tubes IMHO. YMMV, Etc. and so forth. :)
 
Will the iron handle TungSol KT120's? Those are by far the best performers I've got here and are my daily drivers. Only other tubes that come close are TAD KT88STR's. Those might be worth looking into ... modeled after the old school MOV monsters, heavy glass 'n evarthang ... purty lil thangs too ...

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Not all that impressed with my quad of Psvane ... then again, those are the HiFi series, so ... apples and oranges.
 
chuckworkb said:
I have always wanted to get the Shuguang Black Treasure, but haven't done t hat yet. The Psvane's should be as good, maybe better. What are these AT ART9's you talked about?
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Its my new phono cartridge...Audio Technica ART9. For reference the tubes that just wore out were the Russian Genelex Gold Lions. Really liked them and got 4 good years outta them. As always though...thinking about greener grass elsewhere. Damn hobby always has you second guessing....

Thanks for all the replies and ideas...keep 'em coming!

jblnut
 
I just went through the exact same sequence including wondering what was wrong, re-installing the OEM tubes as and experiment and being amazed at the return of the sound. So I just got another set of Genelex Gold Lion KT-88 reissues. I also put in some Tongsol 12AX7s and RAM (not sure) 12AT7s.

All is good now.

Kinda wish I had some test equipment to see how the amp tested with the worn tubes - down on power, higher harmonic distortion or whatever. Would be an interesting experiment.
 
nj pheonix said:
TAD looks like shuguang . At least bottle and plates. Metal base looks a little different
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Good eye ... but built to TADs specific requirements. As mentioned earlier, the tube is meant to be an exact reproduction of the British Marconi Osram, which was pretty much the same as the well regarded Genelex Golden Lion - some pretty good roots. All testing and burn in is done in Germany, and I understand they reject a boatload of tubes before the label goes on.

PS ... their stateside distributor is MojoTone. I believe I paid $225 for a matched quad. The TungSol KT120's were actually cheaper.
 
I replaced the generic Chinese tubes in my Yaqin MC100B a few years ago with the Psvane Treasure IIs I bought from Grant Fidelity back when Ian was still with us and have never looked back. A bit pricy for a quad but well worth it in my opinion.
 
sKiZo said:
Good eye ... but built to TADs specific requirements. As mentioned earlier, the tube is meant to be an exact reproduction of the British Marconi Osram, which was pretty much the same as the well regarded Genelex Golden Lion - some pretty good roots. All testing and burn in is done in Germany, and I understand they reject a boatload of tubes before the label goes on.

PS ... their stateside distributor is MojoTone. I believe I paid $225 for a matched quad. The TungSol KT120's were actually cheaper.
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Good to know.
I know last time i spoke to Jim McShane he was big on the reissue Gold Lions.

He also does a top notch matching and vetting work.
Nice to have options
 
chuckworkb said:
Who makes the McIntosh KT88's?
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Mine say "Made in Russia" and they are very very close in appearance to the Genelex GL's so I'd say we have a strong case for these being made in the same factory.

For those who have suggested using the factory tubes, I wish to save those for occasions just like this (a "baseline" if you will) and upgrade-itis prevents me from just ordering another pair of what came with the amp.. Surely I don't have to explain that in this room :-)

jblnut
 
I guess the deal is there aren't 100 factories making tubes around the world today, so they all probably come from the same 4 or 5 places with different labels on them, and different testing specs maybe. ( not sure of the real number of vacuum tube manufacturers today) China or Russia being the only countries I believe. You guys can correct me here since I am not that well versed on the Vacuum tube industry today.
 
Yeah I only go NOS on the more affordable small signal tubes. The 12AX7's in my 275 now are Baldwin-branded OEM Sylvania's iirc, and they were reasonably priced. I don't think any of us are shopping NOS Gold Lion KT88's for our 275....yikes.

I really like what I see and have read about these....looks like a very nice KT88 with some new technology even.

http://psvanetube.com/wordpress/store/products/kt88-tii-quad/

jblnut
 
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