Big John
pfm Member
The 4 KT120's in my poweramp died, I took them out as I did so I noticed the output capacitors appeared to have overheated. I phoned my go-to valve/tube expert Mark Manwaring White aka Mark the Ming. Subsequently I drove the 120 miles to Mark's place in Malvern Worcestershire T 07831 197019.
As I watched Mark took the cover off the amp, he agreed that the caps had suffered, his suggestion was to replace all four with 4 Audyn Reference capacitors of suitable value he also changed the appropriate resistors to maintain the 0.8hz cutoff frequency.
Using my spare set of KT90's it was immediately apparent when driving a pair of giant horns in Marks enormous listening lounge that the Audyn Reference were a vast improvement over the previous caps. Best of all Mark's fee was surprisingly reasonable.
On arriving home I connected up to my OTA Quad 57's I found deeper but less tubby bass it was tighter with more apparent definition with more natural smoother mids & treble.
I listened for a week or 2 then my thoughts turned to new KT120's. I phoned Hot Rox UK Nottingham. T 0115 987 3163 the least expensive supplier of KT120's I could find.
I spoke to another Mark? who knew his valves inside out, he told me when ordered a quad of KT120's would be burnt in and matched on their specialised equipment. I ordered on line paid by paypal at 1815 on Tuesday night they arrived this morning (Thursday) at 0810 with stickers with the matching details, I understand the valves are heated for some time then they are tested.
Everything I had found with the KT90's was enhanced with the KT120's I have been listening for several hours now whilst the KT120's are an improvement the biggest improvement is from the Audyn Reference capacitors.
I have no financial interest in either company other than as a satisfied customer
As I watched Mark took the cover off the amp, he agreed that the caps had suffered, his suggestion was to replace all four with 4 Audyn Reference capacitors of suitable value he also changed the appropriate resistors to maintain the 0.8hz cutoff frequency.
Using my spare set of KT90's it was immediately apparent when driving a pair of giant horns in Marks enormous listening lounge that the Audyn Reference were a vast improvement over the previous caps. Best of all Mark's fee was surprisingly reasonable.
On arriving home I connected up to my OTA Quad 57's I found deeper but less tubby bass it was tighter with more apparent definition with more natural smoother mids & treble.
I listened for a week or 2 then my thoughts turned to new KT120's. I phoned Hot Rox UK Nottingham. T 0115 987 3163 the least expensive supplier of KT120's I could find.
I spoke to another Mark? who knew his valves inside out, he told me when ordered a quad of KT120's would be burnt in and matched on their specialised equipment. I ordered on line paid by paypal at 1815 on Tuesday night they arrived this morning (Thursday) at 0810 with stickers with the matching details, I understand the valves are heated for some time then they are tested.
Everything I had found with the KT90's was enhanced with the KT120's I have been listening for several hours now whilst the KT120's are an improvement the biggest improvement is from the Audyn Reference capacitors.
I have no financial interest in either company other than as a satisfied customer