By Michael Miguest
They say the "HERD" is almost always wrong. Presently, the audio herd is buying into the more "Power" paradigm with regard to output power tubes. Let me be honest here, I have not tried the 120 or the 150. However, I have used the the New Sensor Corp. Genalex KT88's for the last few years. In my opinion, more power doesn't necessarily translate into better sound. However, the audio pundits will have you believing it does. This Blog establishes the Output tube change to my VTL Stereo 90 that in my opinion, contributed synergistically to the incredible sound I achieved swapping my Ge 5 star triple mica 6201signal tubes with the Telefunken Long Plate 5965's from my previous Blog on this rare tube. Before I expound further on the Output tube change to my amplifier, I want to communicate a few poignant points that I neglected to touch on in that previous Blog. (1)The main differences between Long Plate tubes and Short Plate tubes can be summed up in 3 words: 3D, Lively, and Open. (2) The 5965 tubes are computer tubes and (3) The 5965 tubes draw more heater current than a 12AT7. Several years ago, I bought my VTL Stereo Ultra-Linear which had Ge 6550A output tubes and Ge 6201 signal tubes. In spite of fact that I enjoyed the sound of the 6550's, I bought into the audio hyperbole of the greater power of the KT88's will enhance your sound and re-tubed my amp with the New Sensor Corp. KT88's. Further more, the Gec/Mov KT88 has been lauded as the King of Output tubes and the New Sensor Corp. Genalex current Russia production tubes are marketed as the closest you can sonically come to the sound of the iconic Gec/Mov KT88. In addition, I changed my input signal tubes to Siemens 801s and my driver tubes to Ge 5 star black plate triple mica 6201. Recently, I lost my right channel from a KT88 tube gone bad and I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to have my amp inspected and if needed, upgrade capacitors, resistors, etc..... A good friend of mine who has the iconic Marantz 7c pre-amp had his technician totally restore his pre a few months ago. I was extremely impressed with the quality of the work and this is the person I decided to use for my power amp issues. He called me a day later after I dropped off my amp to him and informed me that the filaments in one of my tubes had touched and damaged my board which knocked out my right channel. I asked him what his impression was of the KT88 output tube? He replied with the following question: What type of music do you listen to? I told him jazz, classical, blues, R&B and rock with jazz, blues and classical the priorities. He then went on to tell me that the KT88's exaggerated the frequency range between 4.5 KHz-6.5 KHz which gives the majority of instruments an unnatural sound. Only a few instruments sound natural in this frequency range. He went on to say that the tube envelope design, which is indented towards the top of the envelope, pushes the high frequency spectrum to an almost bright level. In contradistinction, he told me the 6550's straight side envelope provides a more organic, even-handed presentation, better transients, and a more relaxed sound. He replaced my electrolytic capacitors, replaced the cheap Chinese resistors with higher quality, re-soldered my board and changed my RCA inputs to gold plated ones. In addition, he rejuvenated my KT88's and brought them back to 80%. I still had my original Ge 6550A output tubes and brought them with me when I went to pick up my amp. My tech tested them and they all tested strong. At this point I decided to have him take out the KT88's and put in my original 6550's. I decided not to go back to my original signal tubes and kept the Siemens 801s and 5 star Ge 6201 in the input and driver positions. Listening sessions corroborated the tech's opinion. The overall presentation with the 6550a's just sounded purer and more real than the KT88's. Let me be clear and say that the Genalex re-issues presented a very decent sound for current production tubes. However, in my opinion, the Ge 6550's are unbeatable. Tones are richer, and transients have greater impact across the entire frequency range which imparts a greater realism and completeness to the musical presentation. In conclusion, replacing the KT88's with the Ge 6550's and swapping the Ge 5 star 6201's with the Telefunken Long Plate 5965 has resulted in an inexorably addictive sound and not until I can no longer source NOS 6550's will I change my Output Power Tube direction. What can I say? At this moment in time, as well as the foreseeable future, I'm not following the "HERD". By Michael Miguest
Anyone who has 12AT7's in their circuit and doesn't try these rare Telefunken 5965's will arbitrarily deny themselves one of the most incredible musical presentations I have experienced thus far in my audio journey. In my VTL Stereo 90 Ultra- Linear Deluxe power amp, I was using the Siemens 801s and the GE 5 Star black plate triple mica 6201 in the input and driver positions. However, as good as this combo sounded, I always felt that when listening to classical music, I was missing the detail that would take my listening experience to a higher and more engaging level. Well, I took the plunge and purchased a matched pair of NOS Telefunken Long Plate 5965's to replace my GE 6201's. Nothing could have prepared me for the incredulous transformation this tube roll rendered to the listening experience across all "Genres". These two tubes have imparted a level of "Realism" in my system that is almost indescribable. Bass response is deep, textured, extended, fast and very "real" sounding. The midrange is the most beautiful I have ever experienced. The highs are ethereal, smooth and detailed. The 3-Dimensional aspect of the musical presentation is enhanced with even greater delineation between instruments, vocals, percussions, (everything). The entire soundstage is expanded as if every sound has it's own place in space like you would experience attending a live concert. In conclusion, in this hobby there are just so many variables involved and that will always translate into "Your Mileage May Vary". However, I am writing this Blog with less than 30 hours on these tubes and I can categorically state that I have never been so completely immersed in the recorded event as I have been since rolling these tubes into my system. By Michael Miguest
GENTLEMEN (original motion picture jazz tracks) Jonas Kullhammar Tobjorn Zetterberg on bass, Carl Bagge on piano, and Johan Holmegard on drums – plus tremendous work on half the record from musicians who include Swedish jazz giant Bernt Rosengren on tenor, as well as Goran Kajfes on cornet and Mattias Stahl on vibes. Kulhammar plays tenor, baritone, stritch, and saxello – and titles include "Le Boulevardier", "Montmartre", "Paris Art Ensemble", "The Bear Quartet", "So Long Henry", "Danish Blow", and "Gazell". Llyria Nik Bärtsch: piano; Sha: alto saxophone, bass clarinet; Björn Meyer: bass; Kaspar Rast: drums; Andi Pupato: percussion. Cartography Personnel: Arve Henriksen: trumpets, voice (1, 6), field recording (1); Jan Bang: live sampling (1, 5, 10), samples (2, 3, 6, 8-12), beats (2, 3, 7), programming (2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12), bass line (6), dictaphone (6, 8), arrangement (11, 12); Audun Kleive: percussion (1, 11), drums (10), organ samples (7); David Sylvian: voice (2, 11), samples (2), programming (2); Helge Sunde: string arrangements (2), programming (2); Eivind Aarset: guitars (3, 11); Lars Danielsson: double-bass (3); Erik Honore: synthesizer (3-5, 7, 10), samples (3), field recording (4, 7), choir samples (7); Arnaud Mercier: treatments (4)l Trio Mediaeval: voice sample (6); Verene Andronikof: vocals (6); Vytas Sondeckis: vocal arrangement (6), vocal performance (6); Anna Maria Friman: voice (10); Stale Storlokken: synthesizer (10), samples (10). By Michael Miguest
THE BEST OF PLAY BACH Piano Jacques Loussier Bass Vincent Charbonnier Drums Andre Arpino MOONLIGHT SERENADE Bass Ray Brown Guitar Laurindo Almelda INSIGHTS Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band |
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