Planning to buy KR845 tubes??
Nagra VPA was launched in 1999 and has an official frequently asked questions site states that KR 845 tubes no longer comply with the original specifications and therefore no longer supply them with their VPA amplifiers. In 2004 Nagras news letter reported trying out KR 845 tubes unfortunately quality issues continue to prevent Nagra from using them. Nine years later, in 2013 being cautious I emailed the dealer in Singapore but I was later referred to Ms Eunice of KR Audio. The subject was my question as to whether the latest KR 845 is suitable for use in Nagra VPA which I own. After a few emails back and forth it was confirmed by Ms Eunice that KR 845 is suitable for Nagra design. With that written commitment and assurance, I bought 4 pieces (2 matched pairs) of KR845 tubes and started using them. In my system, KR 845 sounded excellent as compared to Shuguang 845 and 845B that I use prior to KR 845. Ten months into use (from new) clocking around 500 hours one tube went dead. I wrote to KR Audio immediately reporting about the tube failure. Strangely enough KR Audio responded that their 845 tubes are not suitable for my Nagra VPA which contradicts to Ms Eunice assurance to me prior to my purchase. Some emails went back and forth among the Singapore dealer, Ms Eunice and I. Some days later, I was shocked and frustrated to see two new tubes delivered from KR Audio despite of me informing them against sending. I refused to accept since these tubes are not suitable. Some emails went back and forth again but this time only with the dealer in Singapore where those tubes were purchased. I was adamant that there was no point and risky of me to continue using any of those KR845 since they are not suitable. Fortunately my Nagra VPA survived the tube failure as in the past there were quite some cases of the older series VPA being damaged using KR845 tubes. In my situation, there maybe two issues, quality of the tubes and suitability.
I was helpless and at their mercy, eventually accepted the offer of a refund of about 50% of the purchased price from the Singapore dealer on condition to return the existing four and the two new tubes. I was very unhappy and disappointed as I was deceived into buying those tubes. I was expecting 90% of the purchased price if not a full refund.
Devastated and in need of replacement tubes of good quality. I started searching forums after forums about the much talked about Psvane WE845. I decided to take the risk and bought a set of four. It was blessing in disguise that these WE845 in my system sounded close to the KR845 only costing half the KR price. Some forums suspect the reliability of WE845 but I am prepared to take this calculated risk as I can buy 8 pieces at the same price of four KR tubes.
Please make your own judgement of the above matter and hope more Audiogoners and other readers are aware of my unfortunate experience before throwing your hard earned money. I would not have got into this mess had I read this forum about that many Audiogoners are unhappy about their experiences with KR tubes.
Nagra VPA was launched in 1999 and has an official frequently asked questions site states that KR 845 tubes no longer comply with the original specifications and therefore no longer supply them with their VPA amplifiers. In 2004 Nagras news letter reported trying out KR 845 tubes unfortunately quality issues continue to prevent Nagra from using them. Nine years later, in 2013 being cautious I emailed the dealer in Singapore but I was later referred to Ms Eunice of KR Audio. The subject was my question as to whether the latest KR 845 is suitable for use in Nagra VPA which I own. After a few emails back and forth it was confirmed by Ms Eunice that KR 845 is suitable for Nagra design. With that written commitment and assurance, I bought 4 pieces (2 matched pairs) of KR845 tubes and started using them. In my system, KR 845 sounded excellent as compared to Shuguang 845 and 845B that I use prior to KR 845. Ten months into use (from new) clocking around 500 hours one tube went dead. I wrote to KR Audio immediately reporting about the tube failure. Strangely enough KR Audio responded that their 845 tubes are not suitable for my Nagra VPA which contradicts to Ms Eunice assurance to me prior to my purchase. Some emails went back and forth among the Singapore dealer, Ms Eunice and I. Some days later, I was shocked and frustrated to see two new tubes delivered from KR Audio despite of me informing them against sending. I refused to accept since these tubes are not suitable. Some emails went back and forth again but this time only with the dealer in Singapore where those tubes were purchased. I was adamant that there was no point and risky of me to continue using any of those KR845 since they are not suitable. Fortunately my Nagra VPA survived the tube failure as in the past there were quite some cases of the older series VPA being damaged using KR845 tubes. In my situation, there maybe two issues, quality of the tubes and suitability.
I was helpless and at their mercy, eventually accepted the offer of a refund of about 50% of the purchased price from the Singapore dealer on condition to return the existing four and the two new tubes. I was very unhappy and disappointed as I was deceived into buying those tubes. I was expecting 90% of the purchased price if not a full refund.
Devastated and in need of replacement tubes of good quality. I started searching forums after forums about the much talked about Psvane WE845. I decided to take the risk and bought a set of four. It was blessing in disguise that these WE845 in my system sounded close to the KR845 only costing half the KR price. Some forums suspect the reliability of WE845 but I am prepared to take this calculated risk as I can buy 8 pieces at the same price of four KR tubes.
Please make your own judgement of the above matter and hope more Audiogoners and other readers are aware of my unfortunate experience before throwing your hard earned money. I would not have got into this mess had I read this forum about that many Audiogoners are unhappy about their experiences with KR tubes.