WDT: KT88s (quad set)

[Edward]

[edit] - now found.

Fancy trying out some KT88s instead of EL34Ls in this custom PP amp I trying out. The amp is wired for both.

What do you have? Quad set required.

[Boyse6748]

Fancy trying out some KT88s instead of EL34Ls in this custom PP amp I trying out. The amp is wired for both.

What do you have? Quad set required.

Yes I do....

Originally from my Mcintosh.... I believe they are Svetlana tubes.. all good. ( but marked McIntosh). Not too many hours.

Probably worth a try!

Peter.




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[Edward]

Yes I do....

Originally from my Mcintosh.... I believe they are Svetlana tubes.. all good. ( but marked McIntosh). Not too many hours.

Probably worth a try!

Peter.


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Peter, please send me a PM with some details. Cheers.

Mind you I do need to check max size the amp can take.

[Boyse6748]

Peter, please send me a PM with some details. Cheers.

Mind you I do need to check max size the amp can take.

Sorry, I thought I had already said the price, £25 each... sorry, too good to give away. +p&p

No pressure... I’m happy to keep them as spares.

Peter


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[Edward]

Hi Peter

That will be fine - thanks. :)

Please see my PM.

E

[Edward]

The deed is done. :)

Here's hoping Peter's KT88 will actually fit given its width. As Peter says - worth a try.

[Edward]

Mr Postie arrived this morning.

They look and feel very 'beefy'. Certainly looks like a top quality build. Suspect McIntosh had them built to a high specification.

Thanks for sending them Peter.

I'll try find some time later today to plug them in and bias them.

Any reason two of them have small pieces of sellotape on the top? Were they from one channel and the others from the other side?

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[Boyse6748]

Glad they arrived in one piece. Yes, the Tape was the L/H Channel but it really doesn’t matter as they are a quad matched set. Just me being pedantic. They also sound extremely good.

Hope they will fit in your amp.

Peter


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[Edward]

So managed to find some time ..

Cleaned up pins and deoxit. Valves fit well, no overhang.

Couple of valves required very minor bias adjustment.

Overall great presentation - different to EL34s, I would say slightly 'better'. Here are some notes I wrote down immediately with my initial impressions (music was Yello Toy Story which i know well).

Triode mode
faster transients (attack and decay) thus more feeling of 'energy'
more definition (will reveal poor sources ruthlessly)
Bass slightly more focussed - not more extension as such.
excellent detail - but probably same as EL34s
excellent low and high volume detail.
excellent soundstage - holographic and precise.
overall slightly more 'grip' and 'fluidity' than the EL34s


Pentode mode
similar but more 'scale'.

I'll run them for several days and see how things go, but well pleased so far.

Just as a reminder I'm using a EL34/KT88 PP min 60w zero feedback custom amp driving Tannoy Eatons.

[Boyse6748]

Edward,

Like the assessment. Give them time to burn in again.... they have been in the cupboard for a year and in my opinion, will only get better with a number of hours on them again.

If I had the choice Pentode Mode would be my preferred option.... given that you have the choice.

Peter


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[Edward]

Yes thanks - I'm definitely anticipating things opening up over the next days.

Switching between pentode and triode is just a flick of a switch - 1.5 seconds tops.

By the way which McIntosh did these come out of? And what speakers you driving?

[Boyse6748]

Edward,

The love of my life is the the Mcintosh MA 2275, (10 years now) Speakers are the fabulous Revolver Cygnus. (more recent)

A match made in heaven...... well, at least for me!!

TT is the Denon DP80, Arm is the Stunning Dynavector DV 507 MkII

Very proud to own this kit. ..... it does it for me!!!!!

Been a Townshend Rock / 2 / 5 , 7 owner for many years ( more years than I wish to mention) , this TT beats them all.

Peter


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[Edward]

Very nice Peter. Must be 'majestic' judging from the McIntoshes and Revolvers I have heard at shows etc.

If you want me to take them of your hands I'm very happy to give you a few hundred quid for them. :lol: I can pop over right now! :eek:

Nah, seriously I can only dream (or win the lottery) for such a set up.