Is this thread really so dead?

[mfoley3]

Thanks Bob, that makes things simple.
Mike

[Bill Stevenson]

You guys have anticipated a question I was going to post today. My ARTsa is equipped with KT120s, four per channel. I live in West Palm Beach, Florida, and especially in the summer months, Florida Power & Light increases the line voltage on the grid during the hottest part of the day. The bias LEDs come on when that happens. Jeff at CJ told me not to worry about it, to just ignore it when this happens. So I have and had no problems. Last night I noticed only one, then 2 LEDs on, and since I hadn't adjusted bias in a month or more, decided to do so. Two things happened that prompt this query: First, one of the tubes could not be biased to the point where the LED went out, and second, a great big thump noise came out of my speakers while trying to adjust the bias on that tube. No harm was done, everything sounds OK, and about a half hour later, presumably after FP&L dropped the voltage even the one recalcitrant LED went out. The amp is almost 1 year old and gets used 3-4 hours per day.

Thanks,

Bill

[Coppy]

Bill,

Jeff has been at c-j for many years and is the guy who understands the tech stuff at c-j better than anyone so if he gives advise, it's spot on. I think he's now been promoted to company president. That said, it may be time for a replacement KT120, although they should last longer than a year. The thump and bias issue is a good question for Jeff. Tubes is tubes, they're always a mystery.

Bob

[Bill Stevenson]

Thank you Bob! I will call Jeff and see what he says.

[Joe Appierto]

I really shouldn't drink and post -- it's normally not a good combination but in this case, kinda glad I did a couple of days ago. Good to see some give and take, sharing of experiences and opinions. That's why we're here, no?

[mfoley3]

Well done Joe! 👍
Thanks, Mike

[Briz Vegaas]

Momentum. The more people post the more people post.

I think the hifi business has gone a bit quiet, apart from excitement about FPGA DACs and similar. I'm still listening to my CT5 and 120ied LP70S and enjoying what it does. They make a very nice matching pair.

That second hand GAT is yet to turn up at my local op (thrift) shop for crazy money. Until then its more of the same, steady as she goes.

[apogee]

I mosly read ,but i do have a question for those who own a gat.
l am looking for for a gat (i do use a conrad johnson pv11 with mullard)
But from reading the post it seem that there is a problem with the gat and the longevity of the tube.
i would like to ear from people who own the gat about the tube:
How long did they last and what kind was the best.
is buying the gat a good purchase or a problematic one

[Coppy]

Apogee...
I've owned my GAT since new, about eight years ago and never had a tube go out. I've bought some NOS tubes that went noisy very fast, maybe they came that way. The original tubes from c-j were and are just fine. I'm now running some NOS Telefunken diamond bottoms and they are quiet and wonderful. This seems to be an issue for some located outside the US with different voltage supplies. Again, I'd check with c-j directly for an opinion.
The GAT is a wonderful preamp.
Bob

[Bill Stevenson]

I agree with Bob. I have an ET5, which is the same circuit as the GAT and had read the same comments of others having tubes go noisy fairly quickly on both the GAT and the ET5. I have had no problems at all with tubes supplied by cj. Currently using a Phillips that sounds great and with about 1000 hours on it is still quiet.