2. amps-preamps
  3. 175952-166334

Tube Amp question:TUBE replacements: explain MATCHED?

I don’t get the mystery behind it all.  I have a Cary CAD- 808…( I’m buying early before I need to replace)… so far, I have bought SOVTEK, in the EL 84, ( new)… I have bought 12AX7WC SOVTEK TESTED STRONG MATCHED PAIR (difference = 0%) TUBES=ECC83, and now I’m looking at (4) Lightly Used SOVTEK KT88’s… I…but I’d rather buy NEW KT88’s… does MATCHED mean I cannot buy another brand/make of a KT88? I believe this would fulfill needs to properly replace what I’m running now…I bought the amp with tubes installed… I am a novice… amp sounds great… however I need the plug-in to check the Bias, and I guess a meter? 

Does matched mean I have to stay with the same brand? I need (4) more KT88 tubes. Do they need to be (4) matched tubes?

SOVTEK only?

Thanks 

Dave
 

moose89

Showing 2 responses by wspohn

wspohn's avatar
wspohn
620 posts
 

Nice that there is bias adjustment. Best case is individual bias adjustment (my CJ amp has this) which means that you don't need a set of matched tubes.

wspohn's avatar
wspohn
620 posts
 

@immatthewj 

Interesting that they do bias in banks - my CJ does each one separately but it is simple - use a plastic screwdriver to adjust each of four lights until they go on, then just until they go off again  Takes a couple of minutes to do all four tubes and CJ suggest that you do this every 6 months as maintenance.

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