While i wait for my TS tubes from GF i thought that i would give an update on the sound during the last three days before the one KT120 went south.
When i received the new Psvane KT120 i decided to get down to some serious listening. Once again the sound stage was all over the place and the overall sound was thin and stringent. Then and there i knew some tube rolling was needed, i have been tube rolling since the late 1960`s so i have quite the collection and am very familiar with all 6SN7 tubes, so i decided what this amp needed were Ken-Rad VT 231`s dark bottles. Chinese tubes can be dark or on the hypertension side of things, the dark being too smooth and delivering unrealistic music reproduction yet can produce individual sounds nicely, notice i said sounds, while the hypertension tubes loose focus and imaging. The Ken-Rads combine the best of both worlds and they did not disappoint.
Right from the first note there was an immediate difference, male voices had natural authority, some Chinese tubes are so dark that it sounds like singers are singing thru a bass sub-woofer, not the Ken-Rads, deep but natural. A soundstage finally and where it belongs with 3D imaging. One of the biggest improvements was instrument focus and placement with control. I could now hear instruments behind other instruments which the Chinese 6SN7`s would not allow because of their hypertensive display and presentation, i`m now hearing music that was absent with the stock tubes, really quite a revelation.
The Ken-Rads were the only tubes that i was able to roll before the Psvane tube gave up. I think this amp would sound maybe even better with some 1952 bad boy`s or 1578`s.
The Ken-Rads showed me that the TC5 is can deliver some good music, to the extent that it surprised me. It really is a shame that as delivered it comes with the tubes it does, it`s like buying a sports car with bald tires. Some of the other high end Chinese manufactures now offer their premium products with NOS American tubes, something Psvane should consider. Sure Psvane makes some cool looking tubes but longevity and quality of both sound and product should come first over looks, but as the old saying go`s, people buy a paint job.
Anyway when i get the TS`s i will continue my impressions.