AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Manufacturers Forums > McIntosh Audio

McIntosh Audio A Tradition of Excellence

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-16-2017, 06:24 PM
SL1800 SL1800 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: OK
Posts: 756
Default New Tubes!!

I installed all new Gold Lion tubes in my two McIntosh MC275 amplifiers today. How often do you guys replace tubes? I know it depends on how much the system gets used. I have owned these amps for 4 years and this is the first time to replace the tubes. I don’t know if I should give credit to the tube brand or just the age difference but all I can stay is Wow!!!!! The imaging and dynamics and frequency extremes are all so much better than before. I’m one happy camper!!

IMG_7380.JPG
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-16-2017, 06:36 PM
jdandy's Avatar
jdandy jdandy is offline
Merry Christmas to all



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 53,224
Default

Steve.......Gold Lion tubes in the MC275 are the cat's meow! You should get 6000 to 8000 hours out of your new tubes. Happy listening.

I hope you remembered to shop our very own tube vender, Vintage_Tube.
__________________
Dan



STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-16-2017, 06:49 PM
vintage_tube's Avatar
vintage_tube vintage_tube is online now
Just Pure Lucky



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 8,749
Default

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy8yWnf5hPU



Best Sir,

Bob
__________________
Amps:VAC 450iQ Monos in Silver Flake on HRS M3X2-1921's, HRS G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchor Conecoasters.
Preamp:VAC Master Preamplifier (Silver Flake)
Digital Source: dCS Rossini CD/SACD Transport, Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler Plus & matching Clock (Silver)
Analogue Preamp:VAC Renaissance SE Phono stage in Silver Flake with XLR Output Option & with Nordost Valhalla XLR's.
Analogue Sources:SME 20/2 w/SME V arm & Nordost Valhalla TA cable, Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge & Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JRF Magnetic Sciences. Akai RC-17 cabled remote (original owner since 1974).
Vibration Control:TT on HRS M3X2-1921 shelf.
Speakers:Wilson Audio Alexia in Argento Silver/Black grills sitting on Acoustic Diode Kit.
Power Cables:4 Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on amps, preamp & DAC. Ansuz Acoustics C2 on Transport & Clock.
Power Distribution Bar:Shunyata Everest 8000 w/Omega XC Power Cable.
Power Outlets:Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlet, GTX Wall Plate & Duplex Cover (x2) on dedicated, same panel phase, 20A breakers.
Speaker Cables:3M Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts.
Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps.
Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110 ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC.
Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital
Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax
Headphones:Vintage Koss Pro IV AA.
RCM: Audio Desk PRO
Tube Test Gear:Mint late '60's/calibrated Heathkit TT-1A, MaxiMatcher Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-16-2017, 08:23 PM
W9TR's Avatar
W9TR W9TR is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: The Neutral Zone
Posts: 4,665
Default

Steve,
Glad you're loving the GL re-issues.

When I swapped out the McIntosh tubes in my 275 I got better dynamics, smooooother mid-range, and better definition on the highs.

I replace tubes about every 6000 hours, which for me is every 5-6 years. I listen on average 20 hours a week.

Tom
__________________
Main System:
Amati Futura Mains
Amati Homage VOX Center,
Proac Response 1sc Rears,
Three MC2301's for L,C,R
MC 602 for the rears
C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80
Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic
Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation

SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC

MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material.

Lake House:
Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3

OnDeck:
McIntosh MAC 4300v
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-16-2017, 09:25 PM
mulveling mulveling is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 589
Default

I'd replace power tubes WAY more frequently than every 4000-6000 hours. I've now replaced 2 full sets (a dozen each) of Tung-Sol KT120 that were at somewhere between 1000-2000 hours (Rogue Apollo amps), and each time noticed a distinct sonic improvement with the replacement set.

Small 12**7 tubes seem to last much longer; haven't had one go bad yet, but then I also use only vintage models there, and I've had the tendency to roll/rotate them quite a bit over the years.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-16-2017, 09:32 PM
vintage_tube's Avatar
vintage_tube vintage_tube is online now
Just Pure Lucky



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 8,749
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mulveling View Post
I'd replace power tubes WAY more frequently than every 4000-6000 hours. I've now replaced 2 full sets (a dozen each) of Tung-Sol KT120 that were at somewhere between 1000-2000 hours (Rogue Apollo amps), and each time noticed a distinct sonic improvement with the replacement set.
At that rate you need to buy 'em at $46 each in matched pairs, quads, sextets, or octets.

Best Sir,

Bob
__________________
Amps:VAC 450iQ Monos in Silver Flake on HRS M3X2-1921's, HRS G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchor Conecoasters.
Preamp:VAC Master Preamplifier (Silver Flake)
Digital Source: dCS Rossini CD/SACD Transport, Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler Plus & matching Clock (Silver)
Analogue Preamp:VAC Renaissance SE Phono stage in Silver Flake with XLR Output Option & with Nordost Valhalla XLR's.
Analogue Sources:SME 20/2 w/SME V arm & Nordost Valhalla TA cable, Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge & Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JRF Magnetic Sciences. Akai RC-17 cabled remote (original owner since 1974).
Vibration Control:TT on HRS M3X2-1921 shelf.
Speakers:Wilson Audio Alexia in Argento Silver/Black grills sitting on Acoustic Diode Kit.
Power Cables:4 Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on amps, preamp & DAC. Ansuz Acoustics C2 on Transport & Clock.
Power Distribution Bar:Shunyata Everest 8000 w/Omega XC Power Cable.
Power Outlets:Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlet, GTX Wall Plate & Duplex Cover (x2) on dedicated, same panel phase, 20A breakers.
Speaker Cables:3M Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts.
Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps.
Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110 ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC.
Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital
Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax
Headphones:Vintage Koss Pro IV AA.
RCM: Audio Desk PRO
Tube Test Gear:Mint late '60's/calibrated Heathkit TT-1A, MaxiMatcher Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets.

Last edited by vintage_tube; 10-16-2017 at 09:40 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-17-2017, 12:11 AM
mulveling mulveling is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 589
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by vintage_tube View Post
At that rate you need to buy 'em at $46 each in matched pairs, quads, sextets, or octets.

Best Sir,

Bob
Good to know
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-19-2017, 10:19 PM
Lockheed Martin's Avatar
Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 66
Default

You can try KT88-Z, combine with Telefunken, Mazda or Philip mini watt on 12ax7 tube socket. It will sound wonderful.
__________________
Shunyata Research, McIntosh Laboratory, Altec Lansing, James Bullough Lansing...
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:07 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video