Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by Justlisten2

Alright, I just got a e-mail of clarification from Dennis. LOL! Peter, he must have gotten your e-mail, here is what he wrote:

"I have received a few emails over the last hour or so about your Jag Blue Inspire. I guess there is a organized web site these folks monitor that you are participating. There was a question about the KT150 vs KT88 in your amplifier. The KT150 will work great in your new upcoming amp. The reason I mentioned not to use the KT150's in your machine is because they almost touch each other physically. Which is just fine ... looks a bit strange. LOL It is perfectly AOK to fire up with a pair of the KT150's in your amp. The cost is soooooooo much higher for the same performance as the KT88's in my opinion. My cost on a pair of the KT150's is more than double my price of the Gold Lion KT88's.


Hey keep the words going on the web ... love it!!!! Have a great evening and I'll talk to you soon .........."

So I guess I was wrong, the size of the KT-150 base is the same as the KT-88, and I could use the KT-150 tube in this amp. It won't be the first tube that I'll play with on this amp though. I'm in no rush to try the KT-150, but I may give it a go down the road, just for kicks.

Dennis is correct. Though the KT-150 have a little more power you may not hear a difference and may prefer the KT88. The Shuguang solid plate. a copy of the original GEC, and Gold Lion re-issue are two excellent tubes. I have used both in other amps. The important thing is to get tubes from a dealer that tests them properly. You pay a little more because they are bought in bulk and tubes that don't make the grade are culled. I have no experience with the Treasure series or Psvanes. Sophia has an ST shaped KT88 that is claimed to be excellent but they are $250 for a grade A pair.

The driver tube usually makes a bigger difference than the power tube. You can go nuts and broke rolling power tubes. Been there, done that and have a T-shirt.

Once you get a combo that makes your amp sing with your speakers..leave it alone and enjoy the and be happy.

I learned the above the expensive way.

The good thing is that we have excellent new production power tubes to choose from and many of them are sonically better that their forbearers. Spend your $$$ on better driver tubes not used and questionable pedigreed power tubes.

Got my asbestos underwear on so I'm ready for the flames.

[pstrisik]

No flames, but we all have different ears and thus different takes on what's best. I have found (currently) some expensive "first choices" and one inexpensive favorite for the driver. So a bit opposite of what you found. All vintage: GEC KT-77 live up to the hype if you can live with the cost ($500 on up per pair), fat bottle CV378/53KU/GZ37 rectifier if you can live with the cost ($250-$400), and the humble Russian 6N23P Voskhod "rocket logo" from the 1970's ($10-$30) - and I've tried some relatively expensive NOS drivers from Holland, Germany, and England. The KT-77's have pushed out my previous fave, the now unobtanium Visseaux 6V6 (but I'm not letting them go!).

I have not found any current production tubes that out perform these. One possible exception is the Sophia mesh plate 274B that I am running in my LP-2. I have not tried Sophia's new KT-88's or EL-34's at their price. But looking now, less than I recall at $250/pr for their top 10% picks. Still not motivated to try as I am very happy with the KT-77's

My amp came with a pair of KT-150's. I will pull them out for a listen as it has been six months or more. The advantage of the KT-150 amp is the extra heavy duty transformers. Dennis says this gives all the reserve you will need to handle the KT-150 tubes, but benefits any tube in that amp.

[FloridaBoy]

The best tube is the one your ears prefer. I've got a couple GZ37 and a GZ33 which is similar to the 37 but draws 3 amps. They are all quite expensive today....if you can find them. I'll need an adapter to use them in my Inspire. They should last for many, many, years. The new Gold Lion KT77 and JJ's both are nice. I find the GL's are more open sounding. They did take a good while to settle in. $500 for the originals is a bit too rich for me. However, they will last a long time in these amps and there are 300B's that cost more.

The problem I have with a tube like the Sophia KT88 is that there are no opinions yet. Might be too new.

I have some Tung Sol 6AR6WA's that were designed by Western Electric. They are said to be a 350B in a smaller bottle. You can use them in The Inspire with an adapter. The adapters are on ebay and the tubes are not expensive. I will post after I try them.

[nhparrot]

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Did you try a cheater plug? It could possibly be a ground loop.

Thanks - But I have tried cheater plug and different power cords. Low volume hum audible through the speakers when no source is playing.

[FloridaBoy]

Have you tried different tubes?

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

Since we are doing tube porn (as opposed to porn tube ), here's the new Sophia KT88. A whopping $400/pr for Grade A, $350/$275 for Grades B/C.



.

Sophia now has a ST shape KT88 $250 a pair for grade A.

http://www.sophiaelectric.com/pages/se/kt88.htm

Which KT88's do you guys like?

[nhparrot]

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Have you tried different tubes?

Yes different tubes, sources, preamps, speaker cables and speakers. I have confirmed that the audible hum is an artifact of the amp.

[FloridaBoy]

I'm not Mr. Know-it-all. Just hoping to save a trip to Dennis but you have done everything possible.

[Beatlebum]

I hope to hear something from Dennis today regarding my IFA-1. I really hope it's a cold solder joint or something else that's easily fixed because the amp sounded amazing, audible hum aside.

[BearCityUSA]

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Sophia now has a ST shape KT88 $250 a pair for grade A.

http://www.sophiaelectric.com/pages/se/kt88.htm

Which KT88's do you guys like?

I bought a pair of Psvane KT88 TII which I had high hopes for. I have been interested in supporting new tubes since NOS is ultimately unsustainable, especially with Output tubes since the do not last as long. Anyway, I tried waiting for them to break in and best some others (J/J, KT150, new Tung Sol) and never got their. I am sure I will try again soon since I have new speakers on the way which will require a complete rolling. Right now I am running a pair of NOS GE KT66s. Anyone else have feedback on the Psvanes?