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Went to buy Vandersteen 2C speakers and came home with a conrad-johnson Premier 11A.

I found a great deal on a pair of Vandersteen 2C speakers with Sound Anchor stands.  I didn’t need them, but they are identical to a pair that I had back in the 90s.  While I was there, the seller mentioned that he had an amp that he wanted to sell.  It was on a shelf in a basement collecting dust.  The price was right, so I bought it.  He said there are about 40 hours on the tubes.  Hopefully, the caps are ok.  I’m thinking I’ll try a Wiim Ultra streamer with volume control just to see if everything works.  I have old preamps by NAD and Rotel, but they aren't good ones.

Is there anything special that I should do before firing up the old girl?  This is my first tube amplifier. 

sls883
sls883 OP
1,063 posts
 

The voltage was off on the variac (by about 5 volts).  I checked it with a volt meter and figured out where I needed to be on the dial to go from 50V to 100V.  I went through that process as recommended by Lew Johnson.  I then cleaned the tubes and adjusted the bias on the tubes per the owner's manual.

Lew also suggested starting with cheap speakers, just in case.  I hooked it up to my old B&W 302 speakers.  I'm using a Wiim Ultra as a streamer/preamp.  So far, everything works and it sounds great.  Those little B&W are dang good for cheap speaker from the 90s....

I'm letting it cool down and it will make the swap over to the Vandersteen 2C speakers. 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,824 posts
 

@sls883 

congrats. I looked at used ones on hifishark, several listings have a 'works but 5v off' comment, that seems like it's expected from these.

My friend's is in better shape, this is the model I borrowed from him. He couldn't remember where he got it.

elliottbnewcombjr
7,824 posts
 

@alvinnir2 

"We both use the KT88, more of less a direct equivalent of the 6550."

My Cayin A88T came with 6550's, manual said could use KT88's, I tried them, prefer them. I had it re-biased eventually, I don't think it made any difference, perhaps prior owner got it with KT88's, changed to 6550's and never changed the bias.

I see some amps, that use EL34's, and a physical switch in the back if you use the alternate ____ tube.

My question: can you switch KT88's and 6550's in any amp that is made for either tube type?

sls883 OP
1,063 posts
 

@elliottbnewcombjr Thank you.  

I have it connected to the Vandersteen 2C speakers now.  It sounds really good with the Wiim Ultra streamer.  Not as good as my main rig, but it was a LOT less expensive.

Now, to figure out where to put it permanently.  My wife wants to put it upstairs in the living room.

dekay's avatar
dekay
6,216 posts
 

"The voltage was off on the variac (by about 5 volts)."

I didn’t realize that you were savvy (with a meter).

5V is not bad (one review had a unit measured "up" by around 25V - which could inflict some serious damage if the dial were to be trusted on its own merit.

PS:

The unbranded tubes with "dots" are most likely GE - which I not a bad thing.

 

DeKay

 

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