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KT150s in Audio Research Ref 110.

Is anyone using KT150s in the Ref 110 and what is your opinion please?  ARC told me that they weren't recommended but I've read differently.  I'm currently using KT120s. 
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moofoo
286 posts
 
For several years I had auto-bias integrated and power amps and I went through all the power tubes (and several small pre tubes). I ran El34, kt77, kt120, kt150, Kt88, 6550. I kept coming back to the El34s and the 6550s. At the time I had a pair of Spendor sp2/3s that the Sovtek 6550s sounded wonderful with. The Sovteks were new production and reasonably priced. 
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samzx12 OP
1,216 posts
 
George I understand.  Sometimes you have to pay to play. Been there with a  few tube amps.  From my understanding ARC ran low on 6550 tubes and the later production runs of Ref 110s used the KT120s.  
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samzx12 OP
1,216 posts
 
Moo foo how would you describe the differences between the 6550 and 120?
minorl
1,014 posts
 

Please take into account that if one uses tubes specifically not recommended by the manufacturer, you are doing so at your own risk.  I own REF 250 (not SE) amps and spoke with my dealer and with Audio Research representatives at the company about using KT150 tubes and they told me that several expensive upgrades must be done to properly allow for this use.

Expensive transformer life may be shortened.  I'm good with the KT120s.

If, I decide to upgrade the amps to REF 250SE amps, then Audio Research will perform the upgrade, which includes the addition of KT150 tubes.

I've already spend a few thousand on repairs of one of my amps, simply because one of the tubes blew spectacularly.  It took out some caps and resistors and an integrated circuit also.  I was trying to save money and purchased "matched" tubes from a well known tube supplier.

The authorized Audio Research repair facility told me that they never uses tubes from that supplier as they aren't spec'd to Audio Research standards.

Anyway, unless you are prepared to come out of pocket for expensive repairs down the road, I wouldn't use tubes that the company doesn't approve of.

enjoy

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samzx12 OP
1,216 posts
 
Thank you Minorl. Very informative and exactly what I was wanting to hear. I would never use tubes not recommended by the manufacturer.  I'm really not into taking unnecessary chances with expensive equipment as some people evidently are as I saw a Ref 110 for sale with KT150s.  I thought maybe they know something I do not or taking chances.  Let's go with the latter lol. 
My KT120s came from Upscale Audio and they were already in the amp when I bought it. They have approximately 300 hours and sound very nice.  In another amp I despised the midrange of the 120 but in the Ref 110 much better. 
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