MV60SE vs LP66S

[whaleyboy]

Originally Posted by Bugs762

Look here. C1 Capacitor Upgrades Bugs

Many thanks!

[ronenash]

One thing that comes to mind, when you talk to CJ check with them if they can offer resistors upgrade to the MV60 as well. There is a very noticeable improvement to be had with the upgrade of a dozen or so resistors to Vishay's.

[Bugs762]

Originally Posted by ronenash

One thing that comes to mind, when you talk to CJ check with them if they can offer resistors upgrade to the MV60 as well. There is a very noticeable improvement to be had with the upgrade of a dozen or so resistors to Vishay's.

Great idea, I will follow up on that.

[Bugs762]

Originally Posted by whaleyboy

Do you know if cap (or other) upgrades are available on the LP66S?

From Jeff at CJ,

The LP66 SE upgrade includes both TEFLON caps and KT120 power tubes, for $2125.

Jeff

There shouldn't be anything special about installing the KT120s. I would check on the price of the C1 upgrade alone and source my own tubes.

Bugs

[pstrisik]

The KT120 is taller than the 6550. At least with some other amps, the "upgrade" involved lowering the sockets so the 120's would fit with the cage on.

[ronenash]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

The KT120 is taller than the 6550. At least with some other amps, the "upgrade" involved lowering the sockets so the 120's would fit with the cage on.

Indeed this was the case with my LP125mSE.

[pstrisik]

Yes. I think it is true with my Pr11A - from memory since I don't use the cage. Most of the designs are really beautiful with no cage. I think the cage is just a necessary evil if the amp has to be in a vulnerable place.

I guess we should say further, about the KT120 upgrade, that it is only the sockets, no electronic changes have to be made to run the newer tube.

[Bugs762]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

Yes. I think it is true with my Pr11A - from memory since I don't use the cage. Most of the designs are really beautiful with no cage. I think the cage is just a necessary evil if the amp has to be in a vulnerable place.

I guess we should say further, about the KT120 upgrade, that it is only the sockets, no electronic changes have to be made to run the newer tube.

While the perceived beauty of the MV60 is controversial (i.e. not as pretty as some of the other amps) I feel pretty lucky that the KT120s fit under the tube cage without retrofitting the tube sockets. Now to raise the necessary funds

Bugs

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by Bugs762

While the perceived beauty of the MV60 is controversial (i.e. not as pretty as some of the other amps) I feel pretty lucky that the KT120s fit under the tube cage without retrofitting the tube sockets. Now to raise the necessary funds

Bugs

So is the KT120 upgrade for the MV60 just providing the tubes? Still worth a couple of hundred dollars though, so nothing to sneeze at.

The MV60 was during the "fin" era . Nice if you could remove that piece and get the conventional level front like the 125's, 140's, Pr8,11,12, etc.

[Bugs762]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

So is the KT120 upgrade for the MV60 just providing the tubes? Still worth a couple of hundred dollars though, so nothing to sneeze at.

The MV60 was during the "fin" era . Nice if you could remove that piece and get the conventional level front like the 125's, 140's, Pr8,11,12, etc.

Really nothing more to do on the MV60SE than to pull out the 6550s and install the KT120s. Everything fits and the cage will cover the tubes. I've been running mine for about a year and there is a noticeable difference in linearity over the 6550s. I don't like fins on cars either. I would prefer that the fin wasn't there, but the amp works out great for me.

I've read that the MV60 has the same output transformers as the Premier 11a. I assume that the Premier 11 has better overall parts quality.