Tube change.

SE as a company has been quick to respond to questions. Yesterday’s reply from them was that with the amps I’m using I should expect a significant improvement in performance. We shall see. The designer of my preamp has a new upgrade for it and once thats done I will be moving towards purchasing the SE kt-88’s. I appreciate all the comments and input received on my posting. Thanks.

m

Sophia Electric tubes sound like a great choice. Tell us what you think when you get them in a running. 

As another owner of a Dennis Had amp (Inspire SEP Firebottle HO...high output!) I do sympathize with multi tube amp owners (owned a Jolida amp for a while that had 4 output tubes). I'm obligated to use efficient speakers but I like horns so it's FINE. The cool thing for me is my preamp uses 6SN7GTB tubes as well as the Had amp so various versions of those accumulate in my tube drawer as well as the Had power tube heap. I like Gold Lion stuff mostly and think their KT88s are great...as well as the 77s, 66s, 120s...you get the picture. It's almost too easy to take the 2 minutes or so roll 2 tubes (preamp tube is an Amperex that's likely a rebranded GE...NOS GEs are preferred in the preamp). I swap the Had with a Pass XA-25 when the mood strikes me so there's that.

Is your pre-amplifier tube or solid state? If it has any tubes i recommend focusing on those as they are the beginning of the food chain.

I upgraded older tubes on a preamplifier which had two tubes to Amperex Orange pq red tip. After making this change i did not feel there was a need to change out 16 power tubes on my monos.  these tubes were on the pricey side but a lot cheaper than replacing 16 Power tubes.  

Gold Lion KT88s here in C-Js best amps.  on my second set.  They recommend them.