2. amps-preamps
  3. 195191-150037

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

 

emergingsoul
nogaps
21 posts
 

I think if you do some research on kt88s, you'll find there are many better options than the JJ tubes, with or without a Mac label on them. 

These days, $60-$70/tube is a pretty modest amount for (really good) kt88s. 

mrdecibel
3,172 posts
 

Isn’t the MC 901 a single channel power amplifier, meaning two are needed for stereo, 2 channel, L&R?

chuck
231 posts
 

Wow, I do not think I have ever seen someone excited to retube their amp!   I am with no gaps.  I think there are better options than JJ tubes.   I would choose Gold Lion or Electro Harmonix over JJ KT 88's

nogaps
21 posts
 

@chuck 

 

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.

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