Life of KT 150 Tubes


Auris audio Mono Block -Forte 150 uses Two KT150 for power output for each monos, Very strangely a both amps popped the KT 150 same time. I can vouch it had less than 1000 hours in 2 years as I have NAIM NAC 252/NAP 300 in the same room. I tested the tubes and one is 100% dead and the rest have very marginal life. With great difficulty I have ordered four new tubes. Would any of you know why this would have happened, in the sense bath amps not working at the same time? I am trying to get hold of Auris in Serbia. Even a good Valve tech will not open the unit without schematics and Auris wouldn’t provide one. I am in Canada. There are 2 authorized service center in the US. When crated both amp weighs 94 Kgs.Not easy to ship. I tried with a borrowed set of TUBES , there is no Biasing at all,mA reads 0, but there is signal coming in and VU display lights up. 

Lesson learnt well not to buy equipment that is hard to service. I bought this even before there was a dealer in canada. I tried contacting the distributor Motet in Toronto. They are telling me to contact Dealer in Edmonton 300Km away. He never sold me the unit, why would he have any interest if he didn’t make any money on this unit? The unit cost $16,800 USD. Any advise what I should do?

vishu

Showing 4 responses by daveyf

@audition__audio If you check the specs of the Amplitrex it states it can supply 500 volts on the line.Like I said, it is the only tester I know of that can actually test the KT150's.

How did you test the KT150’s? I am not saying that they are not damaged and that they did not damage your amp when they blew, BUT the KT150’s need 600 volts on the line to test and very few tube testers can actually supply that.

 The only tube tester I am aware of that has any chance of properly testing a KT150 is the Amplitrex AT 1000.

Not necessarily. The Amplitrex can supply 500 volts on the line, which as you say is not ideal, but it is the best out there. This would give one a better idea about the general health of the tube than any other tester i am aware of. Are you aware of a tester that can supply 600 volts? Custom made is probably not the answer for the reasons you state.