Quote:
Originally Posted by Rooze
Hello folks. I’m new to the forum and have spent several hours reading through this long and informative thread, primarily looking for tube recommendations for an Inspire KT88 SEP that I purchased over the weekend.
I’m using a pair of Decware Zen Master clones, an open baffle / fullrange driver design rated 100dB / 8 ohm.
I’ve a number of tube options on hand that I’ll begin experimenting with soon, but I wondered if someone might be willing to suggest a combination of output, input/driver and rectifier tubes that would deliver a warm, lush sound in the way of classic designs like the old Leak Stereo 20 that I remember so fondly, or even some of the older CJs?
With the stock GL KT88 the sound is detailed, dynamic, open/transparent, but lacks a little tube warmth and bloom.
Having only acquired the Inspire a couple days ago I haven’t played around much with cables and ancillaries, but I like what I hear so far and I’m just looking for a ‘quick-start’ to get me going in the right direction.
Many thanks!
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Hmm, think it’s going to be tough to get that kind of sound out of the Firebottle. It’s just such a different design. Off the the top of my head the “warmest” combo I’ve had in mine is probably Tungsol 6k6gt with a Raytheon gf8g input tube. Oh and a Tungsol 5w4gt rectifier. I also think the GE 6bg6ga is a pretty warm tube in the Firebottle using a 5u4gt rectifier.
In the end I think the KT88 Firebottle will always sound more open and “transparent” than classic push pull amps. Personally I think those old amps ended up masking the music and the Firebottle lets it come through. I once loved a system built around a McIntosh mc240 and big Spendor BBC monitors. So warm, so lush! But after a while I realized that everything sounded like that on that system. I like chocolate cake but it turns out I can’t eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner.
One of my absolute favorite things about the Firebottle KT88 is how many shades of sound you can get with different tubes. I’ve had a blast trying out many different tubes. I started a thread in this forum just about tube rolling.