New KT150 tubes?

Veerapaneni ...my Ref 150 is almost ready for a retube. The KT-120s have almost 2000 hours of use on them.

I am frustrated that ARC will not bless the KT-150 for use in their current Ref series. At this point I have only ONE question: will the KT-150s damage my Ref 150? Period.

I'll take my chances on life testing and sound quality. I just want to know the answer to that simple question. Will I damage my Ref 150

Though a non-techie, the KT-150 additional current draw looks immaterial as compared to the KT-120. The GS-150 and Ref 150 specs look identical. I infer that the GS-150 is a goosed up Ref 150, with just a prettier fascia. It is not even clear to me that the GS-150 has better innards.

Take a look at the ARC web site and check the GS-150 and Ref 150 tech specs ... IDENTICAL in every reported aspect!!!

As many of you who follow my posts know, I am an ARC fan. But I am getting a tad irritated by ARC's refusal to answer my question: will the KT-150 damage my amp???

Bruce

The latest data from my uber-scientific research regarding "damage from 120s/150s due to filament draw" says they will not damage a god damned thing. You can read more about this study in my earlier post, and if they damage your ARC it will be the first ever reported incident of this sort of damage and I'll send you a little certificate to commemorate the event. Totally worth the risk...and to update the status of MY new KT150s: They are GREAT sounding tubes.

Certainly in my Ref 75, the 120's and 150's are a straight swap, using the same bias range on the VU meters. No problems with my amp after about 50 hours use.

As for ARC, I suppose you might say, why should they approve the tube swap when they want you to buy their new range. It's still annoying to their loyal customers however.

Thanks for this re-assuring comment Norfish. I feel the same way as you did before making the swap to the REF150. I will audition a REF75 in my system first and make a sonic assessment. If i feel that i need more "bottom end grip" i will audition a REF150. Will likely audition with KT120's.

Upstream i have a GNSC modded REF3 LE (Limited Edition) and REF2 Phono (not SE version). Steve was a great audio guy. Too bad GNSC is now defunct but with the new amp/preamp models that ARC has released in the last 3-4 years, i'm not sure a company like GNSC would be very relevant today as much they were 5 years ago. My Classic 120's were modded in 2005 including the balanced inputs from SE. The REF3 and REF2 Phono were done in the spring of 2010 a few months before GNSC was shut down.

Agreed David. Take a look at the ARC web site and stare at the GS-150 and Ref 150 specs. The GS-150 specs identically to the Ref 150, but for a few extra watts of rated power ..., no doubt because the GS-150 uses KT-150 tubes.

If the GS-150 has different innards, ARC should say so. Bad marketing in my opinion. At this point, as a consumer, all I see is a retro'ish looking fascia and KT-150 tubes. If that's all there is, one would be crazy to part with the extra cash for this new entry to the ARC line-up.

In the 60s, we used to describe good looking so called muscle cars as "no-go showboats." Until I hear otherwise, that's what I think of the GS-150.

Really annoyed with ARC. My amp is close to a retube and I would like to drop in the KT-150s. All I want to hear from ARC is that the KT-150s will NOT damage my amp. I'll take my chances on sonics and tube life.