You could get your existing tubes tested relatively cheaply, first. Even a place that services electric guitar amps in your area should be able to test them. That should confirm if you need to change them out.
McIntosh amp Power tube replacements needed
So I have to replace 16 kt88 Power tubes on an MC 901 amplifier and I'm so excited to be doing this. I've been using the stock tubes for the past couple years and they seemed OK but having the McIntosh logo costs $120 per tube and I hear they are the phenomenally wonderfully manufactured JJ tubes.
Also hear the roaring gold lion tubes might be better and certainly cheaper.
Tubes still work but the volume is slowly declining and dynamics seem to be declining. The decline in performance seems to be a bit more pronounced over the past few weeks. like a turtle that doesn't recognize that the water is getting hotter. I have no idea how hot the water is right now but I'm still doing OK and if I turn up the heat things seem better but not really.
Any recommendations out there on what I should buy? McIntosh doesn't even offer a quantity discount. does anyone buy tubes from McIntosh?. They seem overpriced by quite a bit
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JJ sells 2 different KT88 tubes a clear glass and a blue glass , $60 and $70 per tube, respectively. If as you stated the "McIntosh" tubes are made by JJ and cost $120 you have to ask yourself what is "special" about these tubes given that JJ doesn’t sell a higher line of KT88s under its own brand. I’d suppose that McIntosh might claim they are the best of the best, or made to their specifications. Up to you if you would buy into either possible contention at 100% mark-up over their actual lineup. Personally, all that I use JJ manufacturer supplied tubes for is amp break-in. There’s nothing SQ wise about their KT88s, 12x7s, or 5AR4 rectifiers that are satisfying to my ears regardless of the amps in play. The Gold Lion KT88 I find to be a better all around sounding tube , and very reliable. I have also used the Psvane T2 KT88 which for me adds a bit more body to the sound than the Gold Lion, but I have had mixed results with their reliability. Psvane has some new models out which I don’t have any experience with SQ or reliability wise. New production Mullard KT88, and Telefunken Black Diamonds have some good reviews if you want to maybe research them; again I don’t have experience with them.
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I'm hip. A 16 tube install could sum up to a chunk of change. Linlai Global Dream might be good to look into, or other Linlai. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/linlai-kt88-experience Shuguang has a number of higher-end options as does Psvane. Ray tubes, lately, has been thought of pretty (very) highly. Ray has a "select" kt88 you might look into. |