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KT-150

PostPosted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:55 pm
by JackD201
Is there a source locally for Reflektor KT-150s?

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:41 pm
by 328gts
Hi ,

I assume Lito G has them because the new Gallileo series of ARC uses the KT 150. He is out of the country but will be on the 28th of this month. Get in touch w/ him maybe he will be able to help you out.

328gts

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:50 am
by JackD201
Cool. Thanks I'll give Señor a shout out.

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:51 am
by dafos
H Jack, señor has been installing Kt 150's in some ref amps originally fitted with kt 120's, just not sure what brand of kt 150 ARC provides. All new ref amps have now been upgraded to kt 150 tubes so señor should have a healthy spare stash of these new tubes. Just wondering though, where do you plan to use them? :)

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:07 pm
by JackD201
Thanks for the heads up partner. I plan to try them on KR VA 900 monos. They are actually the only amps we have that can take KT120/KT150.

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:02 pm
by jadis
Allow me to share my own findings re the blossoming of the KT series of tubes into the super tubes, KT-120 and now the KT-150. (I will not be surprised to hear of a KT-180 or KT-200 in the very near future). :lol:

My ARC VS115 amp was factory equipped with 6550 tubes, and I changed them into the KT-88s. I was tempted to go the KT-120 way, via Senor Sensible's stocks from the ARC factory selected tubes, but I made an inquiry with ARC before I took the plunge.

Message: Hi, I have a VS115 power amp. Can I use KT120 or KT150 tubes in place of the 6550s? Thanks. Philip

Hello Philip,

The VS115 was designed for use with the 6550 output tube. Audio Research has tried KT120 tubes in the VS115 and they work. However, the increased heater current causes the power transformer to run very hot. This may affect the long term reliability of the power transformer so we recommend using 6550s. We have not tried KT150s.

Best Regards,

Kalvin Dahl
Customer Support Manager
New direct phone line: 763-270-1233


As it is, the power transformer already runs hot at the 30 minute above level, with the KT88s. Good thing I didn't take the plunge, or I will be frying eggs over it. :D

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 11:52 pm
by Mamimili
Hello Philip

How do you define hot vs. warm?
I don't mean hot enough to melt solder but is there a general guide that suggests "at or above XX temperature turn off your equipment and have it checked out".

For me, if i can hold it, it aint hot!

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:57 am
by jadis
Mamimili wrote:Hello Philip

How do you define hot vs. warm?
I don't mean hot enough to melt solder but is there a general guide that suggests "at or above XX temperature turn off your equipment and have it checked out".

For me, if i can hold it, it aint hot!


Hi Paul,

In my case, for hot, after touching the power transformer's sides for maybe 7-10 seconds, I'd like to take my hands out. For warm, I can hold it forever. I don't have the tech stuff to measure it, so that makes me uneasy a bit so what I did was to get a very small fan and place it at a certain distance to dissipate the heat. The bigger models of ARC have built-in fans.

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:14 am
by Mamimili
jadis wrote:
Mamimili wrote:Hello Philip

How do you define hot vs. warm?
I don't mean hot enough to melt solder but is there a general guide that suggests "at or above XX temperature turn off your equipment and have it checked out".

For me, if i can hold it, it aint hot!


Hi Paul,

In my case, for hot, after touching the power transformer's sides for maybe 7-10 seconds, I'd like to take my hands out. For warm, I can hold it forever. I don't have the tech stuff to measure it, so that makes me uneasy a bit so what I did was to get a very small fan and place it at a certain distance to dissipate the heat. The bigger models of ARC have built-in fans.


Thanks Philip, that ties in nicely with what i do, it's always good to get a second opinion!

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:18 am
by jadis
Mamimili wrote:
jadis wrote:
Mamimili wrote:Hello Philip

How do you define hot vs. warm?
I don't mean hot enough to melt solder but is there a general guide that suggests "at or above XX temperature turn off your equipment and have it checked out".

For me, if i can hold it, it aint hot!


Hi Paul,

In my case, for hot, after touching the power transformer's sides for maybe 7-10 seconds, I'd like to take my hands out. For warm, I can hold it forever. I don't have the tech stuff to measure it, so that makes me uneasy a bit so what I did was to get a very small fan and place it at a certain distance to dissipate the heat. The bigger models of ARC have built-in fans.


Thanks Philip, that ties in nicely with what i do, it's always good to get a second opinion!


Anytime, Paul. Glad to exchange notes too. :)

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 1:21 pm
by JackD201
Hi Phil :) In my case the VA900s are KT-120 amplifiers. Prior to asking here I asked Marek Gencev, chief designer of KR, if KT-150s can be simply dropped in. The answer was a categorical YES :clap:

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 1:45 pm
by jadis
JackD201 wrote:Hi Phil :) In my case the VA900s are KT-120 amplifiers. Prior to asking here I asked Marek Gencev, chief designer of KR, if KT-150s can be simply dropped in. The answer was a categorical YES :clap:


hi jack, that's great to hear. :) i was hoping to test the kt-120 with my amp, can't do pala. the 900s already look beefy, baka maging hercules na ang mga yan. haha

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:20 pm
by JackD201
Actually Pare, machong unano siya. Compact lang. :D :D :D

Image

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:53 pm
by jadis
JackD201 wrote:Actually Pare, machong unano siya. Compact lang. :D :D :D

Image


hahaha. that's a good one, pare. akala ko godzilla type. :D

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:56 pm
by tony
Mamimili wrote:Hello Philip

How do you define hot vs. warm?
I don't mean hot enough to melt solder but is there a general guide that suggests "at or above XX temperature turn off your equipment and have it checked out".

For me, if i can hold it, it aint hot!



ten second test, hold the traffo with your bare hand and count ten seconds,
if you are able to stand the heat for ten seconds, it may not be that hot...

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:12 pm
by Mamimili
tony wrote:
Mamimili wrote:Hello Philip

How do you define hot vs. warm?
I don't mean hot enough to melt solder but is there a general guide that suggests "at or above XX temperature turn off your equipment and have it checked out".

For me, if i can hold it, it aint hot!



ten second test, hold the traffo with your bare hand and count ten seconds,
if you are able to stand the heat for ten seconds, it may not be that hot...


Thanks Tony, it seems we are all using the same test!

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:15 pm
by jadis
I'm just curious, in the event of a power transformer failure due to overheating, will it go out with a bang or just die out quietly. What I'm worried about in such a case is when you are riding the crest of a 'high' in the music being played (with eyes closed and feeling like Leopold Stokowski), and BANG! or BOOM! It's going to be a horrible feeling. :sweat:

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:12 pm
by tony
jadis wrote:I'm just curious, in the event of a power transformer failure due to overheating, will it go out with a bang or just die out quietly. What I'm worried about in such a case is when you are riding the crest of a 'high' in the music being played (with eyes closed and feeling like Leopold Stokowski), and BANG! or BOOM! It's going to be a horrible feeling. :sweat:


have no fear.....
fuses will keep on blowing most likely...
capacitor failures will most likely produce a bang,
but in a well designed amp, that is highly unlikely...

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:14 pm
by Mamimili
Interesting stuff!
How about tubes? Do we get to see or hear any warning signs?

Re: KT-150

PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:26 pm
by tony
Mamimili wrote:Interesting stuff!
How about tubes? Do we get to see or hear any warning signs?


red plating is one, in this case just turn off the amp and then have it check by a qualified tech to find out why...
any tube near the end of its life will exhibit flash gettering fading out and disappearing altogether...