Author Topic: KT150  (Read 17171 times)

Offline spm3

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KT150
« on: July 26, 2017, 11:26:00 AM »
Has anyone listened to the KT150's yet?
I just bought a matched quad. It should reach me next week.

Wondering if anyone has opinions on these before I open my own

Offline Hugh

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Re: KT150
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2017, 12:13:12 PM »
What amp for those?
Hugh Nguyen
Angel City Audio
Exclusive Melody US Distributor

Offline spm3

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Re: KT150
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2017, 12:28:54 PM »
I have the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium Integrated

Offline dBe

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Re: KT150
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2017, 07:43:26 PM »
I have the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium Integrated
Cool.

Offline richidoo

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Re: KT150
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2017, 09:24:20 AM »
While the pins fit, the amp doesn't have big enough transformers to get either the full power or best sound quality out of the KT150, so don't be surprised if you find that the stock tubes (EL34 type) sound better than the KT150s, because they are getting all the juice they need to sound their best while KT150 gets half of what it wants and would easily saturate the OPT if allowed to make full power. Hopefully the KT150s will still make better tone and presence than your stock tubes, but usually tubes sounds best when powered closer to their max ratings. Kevin Deal (PrimaLuna importer) is a master marketer but he's not a chister, so I'm sure it will sound good if he says try KT150. I look forward to your take as I'm intrigued by these big tubes also. The little amp will be dwarfed by the huge glass! Pictures please!

Offline richidoo

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Re: KT150
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2017, 09:26:01 AM »
Last year, Legacy Audio demonstrated their big speakers with these 400W, $50k   KT150 amps.

https://www.ravenaudio.com/Shaman-MK2-Monoblocks_p_13.html

Offline tmazz

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Re: KT150
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2017, 05:46:50 PM »
I had the same concerns as Rich. While the KT 150s are pin compatible with EL 34s, Kt88s etc, they do have more output and therefore put more demand on the output transformers. But even more critical than that, they require more bias currrent and even many amps designed around KT 88s/6550 do not have enough headroom in their power supplies to run KT 120s, nevermind KT 150s.

With this in mind I took a look at the specs on PrimaLuna's web site and low and behold, that little integrated is designed right out of the factory to handle all of those tubes right up to and including the KT 150s.

I was very impressed.  :thumb:
Remember, it's all about the music........

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Offline Nick B

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Re: KT150
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2017, 08:28:33 PM »
Has anyone listened to the KT150's yet?
I just bought a matched quad. It should reach me next week.

Wondering if anyone has opinions on these before I open my own


Geez, I do miss tube gear a bit...it's been 20 years. You are going to report what you think, right??
Nick
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
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Audio Envy p cords
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PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline tmazz

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Re: KT150
« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2017, 12:07:39 PM »
Has anyone listened to the KT150's yet?
I just bought a matched quad. It should reach me next week.

Wondering if anyone has opinions on these before I open my own


Geez, I do miss tube gear a bit...it's been 20 years. You are going to report what you think, right??
Nick

Nick you would be surprised how much closer the sound of good tube gear and good solid state gear has become over the past 20 years. Which only makes sense since any tube or solid state sound is really nothing but distortion (which by definition is anthing in a signal that varies for the original input. It doesn't matter if the resultant sound is good or bad, if it is in any way different from the input (except for the increased amplitude, it is distorted .) So it only come to reason that as both tube and solid state designs get better over time (less distorted) they will start to sound more and more like each other.
Remember, it's all about the music........

• Nola Boxers
• Sunfire True SW Super Jr (2)
• McIntosh MC 275
• ARC SP-9
• VPI HW-19 Mk IV/SDS/SME IV/Soundsmith Carmen Mk II ES
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Offline jimbones

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Re: KT150
« Reply #9 on: July 28, 2017, 07:07:56 PM »
Shawn is incommunicado for a few days as he went out of the country.
Rogue RP7 Pre, Art Audio Vinyl Reference Phono,CJ Premier 12 Pwr, VPI Classic II/Dynavector 20X2L, Roon Rock, Auralic Vega DAC, Emotiva ERC-3, MIT, TWL, WireWorld, Wywires, Shunyata

Offline Nick B

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Re: KT150
« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2017, 09:20:54 PM »
Has anyone listened to the KT150's yet?
I just bought a matched quad. It should reach me next week.

Wondering if anyone has opinions on these before I open my own


Geez, I do miss tube gear a bit...it's been 20 years. You are going to report what you think, right??
Nick

Nick you would be surprised how much closer the sound of good tube gear and good solid state gear has become over the past 20 years. Which only makes sense since any tube or solid state sound is really nothing but distortion (which by definition is anthing in a signal that varies for the original input. It doesn't matter if the resultant sound is good or bad, if it is in any way different from the input (except for the increased amplitude, it is distorted .) So it only come to reason that as both tube and solid state designs get better over time (less distorted) they will start to sound more and more like each other.

Tom,
Distortion, yes..but it sure sounds great! You know I love my McCormack amp, but I did think about a tube amp just for a change of pace. I was looking at a couple, maybe Prima Luna, Golden Tube Audio, not sure what others now as it was a year or two ago. But retubing on a couple of those was about $200 and thats not a "maintenance fee" that I want every couple of years. Also, my SP Tech's are 86 db. So the safe bet for me is still ss.
Nick
 
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline tmazz

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Re: KT150
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2017, 10:13:51 PM »
I certainly wasn't trying to diss either SS or tube amps, just commenting that  the better they both get the small the difference becomes between them.

$200 for a retube set sounds like a great deal to me. My Audio Research VT-200  uses 16 power tubes and 10 small signal tubes. $1880 for a culled and burnt set from ARC, $1200 from commercial tube sellers.  Glorious sound, but when it comes time for tubes... ouch.  :duh
Remember, it's all about the music........

• Nola Boxers
• Sunfire True SW Super Jr (2)
• McIntosh MC 275
• ARC SP-9
• VPI HW-19 Mk IV/SDS/SME IV/Soundsmith Carmen Mk II ES
• Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 DAC/Rasp Pi Roon Endpoint
• DigiBuss/TWL PC&USB/MIT Cables

Offline Nick B

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Re: KT150
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2017, 10:15:42 AM »
Tom,
 I was just having some fun with the concept/definition of distortion. I'd love to try a tube amp again some day, but then again, saving on retubing costs has allowed me to get an Uber.  As to the Audio Research, the first and only time I've ever heard it in an individuals home was over 20 years ago and the guy was playing vinyl. An absolutely exquisite sound. Here was this handsome 50 year old guy with AR gear and he had a 25 year old girlfriend who was as exquisite as the sound. Now that's a win/win on many levels....
Nick
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline tmazz

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Re: KT150
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2017, 11:22:04 AM »
And a 25 year old girlfriend who obviously put up with his audio obsessions!!!

That's a win/win/win.   :thumb:
« Last Edit: July 29, 2017, 11:27:24 AM by tmazz »
Remember, it's all about the music........

• Nola Boxers
• Sunfire True SW Super Jr (2)
• McIntosh MC 275
• ARC SP-9
• VPI HW-19 Mk IV/SDS/SME IV/Soundsmith Carmen Mk II ES
• Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 DAC/Rasp Pi Roon Endpoint
• DigiBuss/TWL PC&USB/MIT Cables

Offline sleepyguy24

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Re: KT150
« Reply #14 on: July 29, 2017, 12:32:02 PM »
Hi spm3

I had a Jolida 502P with Tung Sol KT-150 and it was a wonderful combination. I had solid bass with sweet mid range of EL34s. So much better than the Tung Sol KT-120 or KT-88s IMO. I hope the KT-150s work will with your gear and you can enjoy the music.