That Moment When…

your tube is too big for its clip! It dwarfs the EL34 next to it!

I’m trying out a pair of KT120s. I wanted to evaluate these monsters for a 100 watt amplifier I had in mind. I figured 450V and fixed grid bias would get me just shy of 110 watts. But I only managed 80 watts from a pair.

It looks like they want more voltage. But with higher voltages also comes more expensive parts. I cannot justify their $90/pair price. Especially when I can get 78 watts from a pair of 6L6s at similar voltages. I strive to give my customers the most bang for their buck.

I am sure they are good tubes in their own right, but I don’t think I will be using them for my amplifiers. It’s a shame really, because they look so awesome!