2. amps-preamps
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Amplifier Power tubes - important to sound?

i replaced all the small tubes on my mono amplifiers and now I'm left with replacing the stock Power tubes, kt88.

I like what I hear with 12 new small tubes - telefunken nos 12ax7 and 12at7. 

Now I am left with replacing 16 kt88 stock JJ tubes.   will Probably use Siemens 6550 nos.

How much will this impact what I hear do you think?  I recall hearing that power tubes don't make that much of a difference.

 

emergingsoul
dogearedaudio
120 posts
 

Just to be clear, I was certainly not recommending anything other than the correct tube type for the OP’s amplifier. I was simply pointing out that the quality of the output tubes can make a difference, in terms of both power output and the amount of distortion they produce.

emergingsoul OP
1,130 posts
 

Curious, I read herein that the feedback level related to the amplifier is important to consider for purposes of evaluating whether it really makes much of a difference to tube roll power tubes. Anyone know why that would be?

Further, I am biamping with mc 901 monos and since the solid state part of it handles the bass drivers maybe power tubes are not that important since it appears it impacts the bass area more so.

But since I love spending so much money on everything audio even the slightest change might be worth considering. Maybe power tubes would impact the mid driver.

There are some people posting herein who know a hell of a lot about tubes. It’s actually kind of scary.

dentdog's avatar
dentdog
498 posts
 

I have quite a collection of KT88s. For my system the KR KT88 sounds best. Mainly the tone and balance top to bottom being accurate. 

rel
224 posts
 

roxy54's avatar

roxy54

7,903 posts

 

@emergingsoul

It’s so strange. I want to believe that your just putting us on

”your”?  “your”??

OMG @roxy54: are you OK?

Do we need a new grammar nazi???

rzado
174 posts
 

@darkblacksmoke 

I agree, the prices are ludicrous, but that is just what the market is.  For example, looking for true NOS Genalex / GEC tubes, I could only find one dealer that appeared to have multiple legitimately "NOS" quads (Gold Monarch) in stock - not the "tests new"  stuff you typically see on Ebay.  And they wanted $4500 a quad.  (Although I do note there is one guy on EBay right now selling what looks to be one legit NOS quad for $2k). 

Its a simple issue of supply and demand - there just is no supply.  If you can find these tubes in quantity for half that price I'd be forking over the cash pretty quickly.

I agree with you on Tube Depot - they sold me a Mullard EZ81 that wasn't (no date codes, looked to be a Brimar).

I also completely agree with you that anyone says that the KR KT88 sound like the GEC KT88 clearly hasn't listened to them both.

 

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