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  #1  
Old 12-13-2014, 01:40 PM
New guy New guy is offline
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Default KT 150 tubes in REF 250
Has anyone put in KT150s into an ARC REF250? I know there are several REF75 & 150 owners using this tube. I have the REF250s and just wondering about compatibility and sound improvement.
My amps have 800 hours so it may be at least another year or so before retubing.

Rich
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  #2  
Old 12-13-2014, 01:52 PM
bsandovalb bsandovalb is offline
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You can use the kt-150 without issues.... There is a guy I know in my country who has put them, has around 600hrs with no issues!, he is very happy with the change
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  #3  
Old 12-13-2014, 02:07 PM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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I put them in my ref75 and I am not that impressed. I hope they will improve a bit with break in. They only have about 10 hours on them but I think they put 75 on them at upscale audio. They don't seem any different than the kt120s.
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  #4  
Old 12-13-2014, 02:26 PM
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Bsandovalb,


Thank you for the information.


Marc,
I think you are the first person that I have heard from that is not impressed with the KT150s in the REF75. Hopefully, it will improve with more time.

Rich
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  #5  
Old 12-13-2014, 06:05 PM
jpgr4blu jpgr4blu is offline
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I've posted elsewhere. After about 40 hours on KT150, conclusion is definitely an upgrade over KT120 especially in the low end. A noticeable upgrade, but not a component upgrade. I would do it again although I would not run out to retube if you have minimal hours on Kt120s.
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  #6  
Old 12-15-2014, 02:09 AM
joeling joeling is offline
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I tried it a few months ago & blew the infamous coupling caps & some resistors. I have since replaced the caps with the gold ones & new tubes are enroute. Going to try again.
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Source 1 - Bergmann Sleipner + Benz Micro LP-S + ARC ref phono 10 (should have done this ages ago)

Source 2 - Avid Acutus SP reference + Thales Reference tone arm + Benz Micro LPS (DS Audio Master 1 broken tip repaired but cost me USD2k. Still having issues - channel imbalance - back to dealer. However, channel issues not withstanding, sounded very very nice. Need to get it back soonest)

Source 3 - DCS Vivaldi + Antelope reference clock or Cybershaft Op18 (not floating my boat so far)

Source 5 - ROON ROCK with Aurender W20 as NAS & 2 units of SOTM switch with 10M input (the new frontier but still cannot beat CD for now) - ROON endpoint - Vivaldi upsampler

Amplification - Naim Statement

Speakers - ProAc Carbon 8 + JL FM113 x2 (replacement purchased - Stella Utopia EVO but due to lockdown, could be a year's wait)

Purepower 2000 x 2 (&$@#% but
sounds nice)

Shunyata Denali X 2
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  #7  
Old 12-15-2014, 06:22 AM
Harlequin Harlequin is offline
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Joeling, when you had the amplifier repaired did you make inquiries with the tech as to his opinion on the likely cause ? and were the remaining valves tested for any signs of being compromised ? I would also presume that the tech checked the components relating to bias, and coupling, of the remaining un damaged OPT's.

Unless your tech has actually confirmed otherwise? your unfortunate situation does rather appear to bear all the hall marks of an individual defective tube suddenly failing, as apposed to an inappropriate utilisation per se.

I wish you a happier outcome should you proceed a second time.

Jasper.
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  #8  
Old 12-15-2014, 10:00 AM
joeling joeling is offline
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Unfortunately no. I was so spooked that I swapped all the tubes back to KT120s then sent them for repairs.

Also I did not mark the tubes that caused the disintegration of the couple of resistors.

So, I bought new tubes to avoid a repeat - hopefully
__________________
Source 1 - Bergmann Sleipner + Benz Micro LP-S + ARC ref phono 10 (should have done this ages ago)

Source 2 - Avid Acutus SP reference + Thales Reference tone arm + Benz Micro LPS (DS Audio Master 1 broken tip repaired but cost me USD2k. Still having issues - channel imbalance - back to dealer. However, channel issues not withstanding, sounded very very nice. Need to get it back soonest)

Source 3 - DCS Vivaldi + Antelope reference clock or Cybershaft Op18 (not floating my boat so far)

Source 5 - ROON ROCK with Aurender W20 as NAS & 2 units of SOTM switch with 10M input (the new frontier but still cannot beat CD for now) - ROON endpoint - Vivaldi upsampler

Amplification - Naim Statement

Speakers - ProAc Carbon 8 + JL FM113 x2 (replacement purchased - Stella Utopia EVO but due to lockdown, could be a year's wait)

Purepower 2000 x 2 (&$@#% but
sounds nice)

Shunyata Denali X 2
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  #9  
Old 12-16-2014, 12:19 AM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by New guy View Post
Bsandovalb,

Thank you for the information.

Marc,
I think you are the first person that I have heard from that is not impressed with the KT150s in the REF75. Hopefully, it will improve with more time.

Rich
I know... I hope it will improve, too. Maybe I should have waited until I had to retube. They sound fine, I just can't really discern an improvement yet. But they are very fresh.
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  #10  
Old 12-17-2014, 02:40 AM
New guy New guy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joeling View Post
I tried it a few months ago & blew the infamous coupling caps & some resistors. I have since replaced the caps with the gold ones & new tubes are enroute. Going to try again.
Joe,

I also had the Teflon caps replaced in my ref250s as well. Please do post your findings with the KT150 tubes.

Rich
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