Anyone compared chryoed vs non chryo kt 120s

[rlw3]

I like the extra "torque" like ability to do work that my kt 120's have over my 6550's in my c-j pr 12 mono blocks. But they are chryoed and have a little hardness especially when matched with chryoed 5751's and 6fq7's. Right now I am running non chryo small tubes and there is a hint of hardness but at the same time a measure of c-j typical warmth and sweetness; not too much in either direction. This sweet and sour type of combination is a very enjoyable. sound stage is excellent with this combo with no 6550s much improved

I wonder what some non chroed kt 120's would sound like if anyone has already compared. maybe i will buy a second set of 120's and compare . Chryo vs non chryo.

[vintage_tube]

I am not a proponent of cryo'ing tubes -- I don't quite buy the fact that it helps in anyway. IMO, it weakens the internal structure/filament of tube by doing so. Have a chemist and an tube engineer gather in one place and show me otherwise and I could be swayed.

Someone dreamt up a way to make money -- like a 'hot stamper.'

Best

Bob

[rlw3]

Originally Posted by vintage_tube

I am not a proponent of cryo'ing tubes -- I don't quite buy the fact that it helps in anyway. IMO, it weakens the internal structure/filament of tube by doing so. Have a chemist and an tube engineer gather in one place and show me otherwise and I could be swayed.

Someone dreamt up a way to make money -- like a 'hot stamper.'

Best

Bob

My question was regarding the differences between a chryoed and non chryoed tube in order to seperate performance due to its being a kt120 vs its being chryoed
This was not a thread asking whether or not one likes chryoed tubes.
To my knowledge there has been no discussion that chryoing weakens the internal parts of a tube. If anyone knows of some articles that show this negative please share their title so we all can read it.
I hope to get some kt120s that are not chryoed and report back on this thread. Then i will review chryo vs non chryo tubes on my cj act 2.2 and then on my art audio phono -6h30p and 6n1p respectively
I am open minded as the biggest benefit of tubes outside of their native quality of sound is their ability to be exchanged, thus changing the voicing.
thanks, ray

[MyPal]

No, but I heard cryoed tubes are invincible!



What happens to the molecular state when the tube is powered & heats up again...Is this the subsequent annealing process that consolidates the benefit of cryo dipping?

Any metallurgists out there that would care to weigh in & offer some science to the dubious premium of cryo treating 40 year old tubes for example?

I do think that Herbie's tube Dampeners offer better results than a naked tube though.

[Joe Appierto]

Originally Posted by rlw3

My question was regarding the differences between a chryoed and non chryoed tube in order to seperate performance due to its being a kt120 vs its being chryoed
This was not a thread asking whether or not one likes chryoed tubes.
To my knowledge there has been no discussion that chryoing weakens the internal parts of a tube. If anyone knows of some articles that show this negative please share their title so we all can read it.
I hope to get some kt120s that are not chryoed and report back on this thread. Then i will review chryo vs non chryo tubes on my cj act 2.2 and then on my art audio phono -6h30p and 6n1p respectively
I am open minded as the biggest benefit of tubes outside of their native quality of sound is their ability to be exchanged, thus changing the voicing.
thanks, ray

I'm looking forward to your impressions of the cryoed KT120's versus the standard issue, Ray. I've used the cryoed KT120's in both a c-j Premier 11A and and Premier 140 and while I think they're very nice sounding, they aren't among my favorites in either application. I've often wondered how much of my impressions about them was due to their cryogenic treatment.

I've also used cryoed 6H30π-EB's and thought they offered a small improvement over the stock version of that tube but overall, not nearly the same improvement that the 6H30π-DR yields over the -EB (either version). Just my 2¢ but then it always come down to one person's opinion.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by rlw3

I like the extra "torque" like ability to do work that my kt 120's have over my 6550's in my c-j pr 12 mono blocks. But they are chryoed and have a little hardness especially when matched with chryoed 5751's and 6fq7's. Right now I am running non chryo small tubes and there is a hint of hardness but at the same time a measure of c-j typical warmth and sweetness; not too much in either direction. This sweet and sour type of combination is a very enjoyable. sound stage is excellent with this combo with no 6550s much improved

I wonder what some non chroed kt 120's would sound like if anyone has already compared. maybe i will buy a second set of 120's and compare . Chryo vs non chryo.

I've also found that cryo'ing some tubes an lends a hardness to them. I don't think I'd want my KT-120s cryo'd, they sound fine just as they are. Sometimes it can be beneficial on some preamp type tubes, but again, results vary.

[rlw3]

Extra charge for chryoing tubes was $6 each at upscale so they are not getting rich. Used all chyro thru out pr 12 was too much. Really like the way a little hardness/speed of decay from chryo kt120 offsets the typical cj richness/slowness from 6550 when paired with non chryo 5751 and 6fq7s

[ronenash]

Never tried them myself but heard them at other places. Always seemed like people are hearing what they expect to hear. I never heard much difference certainly not for the better, if anything they were drier sounding.

[vintage_tube]

[QUOTE=rlw3;375672[/QUOTE]

Parden me Ray, but your last couple words is what opened the door to my opinion --- "Chryo vs non chryo".

Next time I'll try and read thru the tea leaves.



Best

Bob

[rlw3]

thanks bob
just trying to do some useful apples to apples comparisons where only one variable is different. just ordered the tubes from upscale who sez they will exchange chryo for non chryo 120s if i call them after getting 50 hrs on them. upscale audio gives great service IMO