New KT150 tubes?

Smoffat, let me be clear. I am not interested in ARC's precious cache of KT-150s. I understand that ARC will charge $200 a tube. I have no intention of paying $1600 for 8 tubes ... period. Instead, I will probably buy 2 quads from Upscale Audio. Upscale is charging about half that.

I only want to know one thing and one thing only. Will the KT-150 damage or prematurely age the Ref 150? That is it.

Oh ... and as far as Tsushima is concerned, he is in no position to know the answer to my question. Just because the KT-150s presently "work" in his Ref 150 is not responsive to my question.

OTOH, if I learned that the innards of the GS-150 were identical to the Ref 150, then I could fairly infer that the KT-150 would do no harm.

Brf ... you touch on my very question. How does the GS-150 differ from the Ref 150, save the fascia and the tubes?

Not getting any definitive answer to my question. In the absence of any information to the contrary, all I can see is that the GS-150 and Ref 150 share identical specs ... on paper. I concede that published specs do not speak to whether other important components have changed ... but so far, no information in the public domain ... yet.

Tsushima ... more importantly, the main question is whether ARC changed the innards of the GS-150, principally the components that would handle the increased current demands of the KT-150 tube. Specifically, the power tranny and other passives that drive the tube.

At this point, all I have to go on are the published specs of the Ref 150 and the GS-150, which are IDENTICAL!! I can surmise and infer all day long. I have only one question. Will the KT-150 damage or prematurely age the innards of the Ref 150. That is ALL I care about and I can't seem to get a straight answer.

Tsushima1 ... I asked my ARC authorized tech to contact ARC's repair folks to find out if ARC is offering any kind of an upgrade kit for the current Ref amp line. He is unaware that such is the case, but said he would check.

I also asked him to try an get a definitive answer to my Q about using the KT-150s in my Ref 150. Namely, whether the KT-150s will damage or prematurely age my amp. I am looking for a "YES," a "NO" or "DON'T KNOW" answer.

I think he will get the "same old-same old" answer as the rest of us.

Thanks Smoffatt. Looking forward to learning about the circuitry changes in the GS-150. So far, the ARC web site gives no clue.

Jasper .... I am perplexed by the hype surrounding the GS-150. On paper, the GS-150 specs identically to the Ref 150, except for the KT-150s and possibly a different output tranny.

I am sufficiently familiar with ARC's product line to have the status to ask ... what changed? Maybe better passives??? .... maybe the output trannies sound better??? I would like to understand why and how the GS-150 is better and different than the Ref 150, other than its new "package" and use of KT-150 tubes.

BIF

P.S. I am getting an uncomfortable feeling that ARC's old guard is being replaced by marketing/business geeks. An old saw from business school is that if you can't improve the product, ... change the package. I am concerned that that is what the GS-150 may be ... a Ref 150 in a new package.

I look forward to being proved wrong because I am an ARC fan.

FYI: ARC owners. I spoke with Chris Ossana from ARC on Monday about an issue involving the white Teflon caps in my Ref 5 SE and Ref 150.

During the course of the call, I asked Chris about the KT-150s ... again. Chris continues to tow the company line. Chris said that ARC engineering has NOT approved the KT-150s for use in the current Ref amps; only the "new" GS-150 amp.

No one could say they are a bigger ARC fan than me, but I am getting big time irritated by the approval lag. ARC has been life testing the KT-150s for well over a year. I admit that I am not a techie, but from what I can glean from the web, aside from a little more current draw, the "120s" and the "150s" spec almost identically.

Further, ARC's published GS-150 specs look almost identical to the published Ref 150 specs. I smell a marketing rat here.

Even still, I will not chance risking my amp until ARC sprinkles holy water on the KT-150s. But I am getting annoyed big time.

My KT-120s are ready for replacement. I already blew 2 bias resisters because an old tube arced. I would like to buy 2 quads of KT-150s from Upscale Audio but am waiting on ARC. As I said above, I smell a marketing trick to sell the "new and improved" GS-150 that specs identically to the Ref 150, but for the KT-150s.

Sorry for the cynicism.

Happy New Year.

Bruce

Joeinid .... the Ref 75 uses only 2 pairs of KT-150s. The Ref 150 2 quads. The Ref 250, I think 3 pairs per channel. My gut tells me that there is NO issue, but I am not a techie and I will not give advice or do something that is crosswise to ARC.

As far as the GS-150 is concerned ... yes it costs a small fortune. But other than a designer skin and a 2 tap (4 and 8 ohms) output tranny, I'm still waiting to learn how the innards differ from the Ref 150. On paper, the two amps spec identically.

Joe ... I'm annoyed because my tubes have 2000 hours logged on them and are ready (crying) to be replaced. One old tube already arced and took out bias resisters. I really want to use the KT-150s ... but won't because ARC has NOT sprinkled holy water on the new tubes.

I'm annoyed because ARC has had their hands on the KT-150s for some time now and should be able to report the results of life testing. I repeat what I said ... I smell a marketing trick here. Or, ARC doesn't have enough KT-150 tubes for current GS-150 production needs AND for current Ref amps.

Either way, it's annoying. If it's a cheap marketing trick, I'm pissed. If it's a supply issue, ARC is not the only tube vendor in town.

Just about.