Has anyone tried KT150s in their ARC Ref 110?

Cmalak ... to the best of my knowledge, ARC has not approved, tacitly or otherwise, the use of the KT-150 tube in any of its amps -- current models or previous versions. Folks who drop the KT-150 into their ARC amps do so at their own risk.

Another member who owns a Ref 210 asked the same question as you. I already cautioned him about using the KT-150 in his amp for two reasons:

First, the Ref 110 and 210 amps don't have as beefy a power transformer or power supply as the current Ref amps. The current Ref amps were specifically designed to run with KT-120s. By contrast, the Ref 110 and 210 amps were designed to run on 6550 tubes.

Second, even if KT-150 tubes "appear" to run ok in the Ref 110 or 210, no one has any idea if the long term use of the KT-150 will prematurely age the amp.

Personally I serious suspect that using the KT-150 on current or immediately prior version Ref amps will do NO harm. BUT ... we have serious bucks tied up with our gear. Why take even a small chance. I suggest that we give ARC time to sort this out.

Btw, I own a Ref 150 and am itching to drop the KT-150s into my amp. However, until ARC authorizes the new tube's use, I am holding pat.

BIF

Bifwynne...if I remember correctly, you had the Ref 110 before the Ref 150. Did you ever try the Winged 6550C SED tube in the 110 vs. ARC's standard issue Svetlana 6550? If yes any thoughts on that tube?

There simply cannot be enought threads about this...I may start another one.

Cmalak, actually, I used to own the VS-115, which was the Ref 110's baby brother. Some said it sounded 85 to 90 percent as good as the Ref 110. Anyway, that's history.

The VS-115, when first released, used SED 6550 "Winged C" tubes. They were very nice tubes!! Later, ARC switched over to the KT-120s. In my opinion, the KT-120s had it all over the 6550Cs.

I'm pretty sure ARC said it was ok to use the KT-120s for the Ref 110. Frankly, I think it's a no-brainer. Btw, I think one can pick up KT-120s from reputable tube vendors for less than $50 bucks a tube.

I suggest you wait until ARC officially approves the KT-150 for your Ref 110. I am waiting for ARC to approve the use of the KT-150 for my Ref 150, and I think there is less risk with my amp than your Ref 110.

There simply cannot be enought threads about this...I may start another one.

I know someone with an IQ at best, 1, said he watches weather forecasts and believe the station with the best results.

So keep creating these thread until you get the answer you want to hear.

Bifwynne...thanks for your response.

Joecasey/Wolf_Garcia...please take it offline and just for the record, this thread was specific to the Ref 110 which is not a current Ref amp and hence why I thought it was ok to start a new thread, given that the other thread was about the KT150s in ARC's current Reference amps.

Take what offline? Are we getting TESTY? I did misspell "enough" which is bad. My bad...bad bad bad...

I know the KT120's are OK in the Ref 110. They are said to bring the 110 very near to the 150 in performance. I have heard such an amp at my dealers. Whether you need some modification, I am not sure, a dealer should be able to tell you.

I have had a thread running for months re KT150's in Arc reference amps. ARC are supposed to be doing lifetime testing on this now, no words of wisdom yet

Nothing yet from ARC. I also noted in the other thread not to use the new (if you can still find them)Winged C tubes as their problematic. Use the 6550we instead.

Gary (Hifigeek1) -- fyi. Some many months back, maybe a year ago, I made an online purchase of SED 6550 "Winged Cs" from Upscale Audio. To his credit and honesty, Kevin Deal cancelled the sale because he said there were some problem tubes in his then current inventory of Winged Cs.

I know the original factory that made the Winged Cs in St. Petersberg, Russia burned down a while back. Kevin explained that he had acquired a batch of original Winged Cs. Nevertheless, since then, I buy 6550WEs from ARC and the rest of my tubes from Upscale.

Just re-tubed my ARC Ref 5 SE and CD-8 with ARC sourced 6550 WEs and Upscale Audio matched 6H30s. The rig sounds heavenly. :)

However, my ARC Ref 150 has 1000 hours on its tube set. Sure hoping the KT-150 issue is sorted out by the time I'm ready to switch out the KT-120s.

Bifwynne please email me..Thx

" 07-14-14: Hifigeek1
Bifwynne please email me..Thx "

You wouldn't be holding out on us poor old fungi, now would you Gary?

Nope. I'm not.