Alternate Power Tubes for a Cary V12R

If the vintage tubes (matched) are over 4K just sell the V12R and get the CAD120's or monoblocks.

I have a 280 V12 R and also love the EL-34's. I have used EH KT 88's which are certainly more extended top and bottom but we all know do not have that magical midrange and I've also run SED Winged "C" 6550's which are somewhat of a compromise between the 2 in a good way: they still have good extension but take off a bit of the edge which the EH 88's had while smoothing out the mids in a more relaxed presentation and hinting at (but not yet approaching enough) the magic of the EL-34 mids. What I am about to try next I had to call Cary to get the OK for. Apparently if your V12 has the later generation transformers (as do mine because I checked), they are fully capable of handling the new Tung Sol KT 120's. They hold tremendous promise and should be really cool in varying degrees of triode as well, not to mention the added dynamics, headroom and punch...
BTW This is a great amp.

I'd be curious to hear your experience with the KT120s - every review I've written of them has been glowing. Do you know what your your V12R was manufactured and does that offer a clue to which transformers were installed?

I will have to check the manu date, I'm pretty sure it's probably a later model (I have the "F 1" "Formula One" updated Special Edition with the Jensen Copper in oil caps and Cardas wiring as well as ??? other little stuff and a silver faceplate with black top finish in place of the Jaguar Red) but one call to Cary will help you check out the transformers yourself. I believe I was told most, if not all the "R" series have the bigger transformers so you're probably all right.I will report back when the Kt 120's arrive and break in. Good luck.

I have been using Shuguang Treasure 6CA7's for well over 2 years and am very happy with them in my v12i.
Making about 32 watts in 2/3 triode 1/3 ultralinear.
Well recommended and worth the investment.