gortnipper Posted October 13, 2010 Posted October 13, 2010 Anybody out there have/heard a SE KT88 amp? If so, what topology? How does it sound/compare to other SE/SET amps?
Antipodes1553552706 Posted October 13, 2010 Posted October 13, 2010 I had one amongst the set of amplifiers I went through recently - to find out what would drive my speakers best. It was a VAC and any VACs that I have had were all beautifully made, inside and out. I think it was a PA60C but might have that slightly wrong. It could be switched between 30w triode and 60w ultralinear and was running Gold Lion KT88s I think. It had three chassis - one for power supply and one for each channel, and you place them side by side. Together they add up to a fairly large amp, but not crazily so as each chassis is narrow. The sound was smoother and more liquid, and less forward when in triode mode, but the general sound characteristics were very similar between the two states. The typical sound of KT88s was definitely there, a ballsy quality, very full with a hint of roughness, and a sweet top end. Not much like the 300b triode amps I have, for example.
gortnipper Posted October 13, 2010 Author Posted October 13, 2010 Are you sure the VAC wasnt a push-pull amp to make that much power? It had two KT88s per channel, right? Single ended KT88s usually make high-single or low-double digit power.
Guest Guest Posted October 13, 2010 Posted October 13, 2010 Antipodes;135428 wrote: Twas definitely there, a ballsy quality, very full with a hint of roughness. Sounds Like a Goldwater Red Sorry! Des
Antipodes1553552706 Posted October 13, 2010 Posted October 13, 2010 gortnipper;135447 wrote: Are you sure the VAC wasnt a push-pull amp to make that much power? It had two KT88s per channel, right? Single ended KT88s usually make high-single or low-double digit power. You may be right - it may have been push pull triode (as opposed to single ended parallel) and it isn't here so that I can check.
Jon1553552729 Posted October 13, 2010 Posted October 13, 2010 Here - Single ended topology and some comments as well...
gortnipper Posted October 14, 2010 Author Posted October 14, 2010 Des W;135448 wrote: Sounds Like a Goldwater Red Sorry! Des I used to have a set of Cary KT88 push-pull parallel monoblocs - 95 watts in triode mode, so I am pretty famililiar with various KT88 flavours. Jon;135457 wrote: Here - Single ended topology and some comments as well... Yes, I have seen this and this is a project I am considering to build. But, I am curious about local taste impressions of all SE varietals...
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