Valve Matching ?

Discussion in 'Hi-Fi and General Audio' started by Chris Davies, Jun 30, 2009.

  1. Chris Davies

    Chris Davies

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2009
    Messages:
    218
    Likes Received:
    1
    I have just put 4 kt88 EH tubes in as a replacement for the China made KT88s that were in my amp.

    I ordered a matched quad set but got 2 matched pairs.

    1 set were measured at 70 the other set at 88.

    So would i be right in putting a 70 and an 88 in each channel to balance the channels out ? or does it not really matter ?

    Chris
     
    Chris Davies, Jun 30, 2009
    #1
  2. Chris Davies

    lbr monkey boy

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2004
    Messages:
    837
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    In a happy place
    if you paid for a matched set, l would be Sending them back and asking for what you paid for !
     
    lbr, Jun 30, 2009
    #2
  3. Chris Davies

    la toilette Downright stupid

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2005
    Messages:
    1,213
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Somerset
    Me too!
     
    la toilette, Jun 30, 2009
    #3
  4. Chris Davies

    zanash

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2003
    Messages:
    3,826
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Notts.
    yes send them back ..or at least contact the dealer to send you either another pair of either rating ...then send the spare pair back ....

    if you asked for a quad set thats what you should get !

    use a more reliable source ....like hotroxuk.com

    they have always been very helpful to me in over fifteen years service ...and competatively priced too ...


    [I have no connection with them other than being a customer]
     
    zanash, Jul 1, 2009
    #4
  5. Chris Davies

    Chris Davies

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2009
    Messages:
    218
    Likes Received:
    1
    That's who i used as it goes.

    But still my question stands i guess as in - will the channels balance if i used them as originally posted ?

    As long as the valves are tested found to be in good working order does matching matter so much ?

    Newbie here so forgive the lack of understanding
     
    Chris Davies, Jul 1, 2009
    #5
  6. Chris Davies

    zanash

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2003
    Messages:
    3,826
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Notts.
    yes ......matching matters otherwise why bother ?

    its best to have all as close as possible ...

    you go to the trouble of getting someone to design the amp so signal paths are the same length ,component tolerances are measured in parts per million ... cable runs are identical ..etc

    then fit mismatched valves ?

    I'd get straight on the phone to him and ask him to swap on pair to match the other pair .....

    as to fitting you need the matched pairs for each channel ..

    on channel may sound slightly different from the other if you can manually bias this may offer some compensation but woyld be far more effort than getting the wrong pair swapped ! imo
     
    zanash, Jul 1, 2009
    #6
  7. Chris Davies

    Chris Davies

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2009
    Messages:
    218
    Likes Received:
    1
    Ok phoned em

    That was all they had in the shop they could not match a set of quads and don't know about availability for another set. So i guess for the mo i'm stuck.
     
    Chris Davies, Jul 1, 2009
    #7
  8. Chris Davies

    bottleneck talks a load of rubbish

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Messages:
    6,766
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    bucks
    Try:

    CVC (chelmer valve company)
    Langrex Supplies
    Watford Valves

    .. if you can get them elsewhere you could send all 4 back.
     
    bottleneck, Jul 1, 2009
    #8
  9. Chris Davies

    Arg

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2009
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Adelaide, Australia
    use a matched pair in each channel
     
    Arg, Jul 3, 2009
    #9
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.