WDKT88 Finally Sparkling

[Stever]

Hi.

I know I've probably gotten on your nerves and bored you all rigid with how my WDKT88 has been underwhelming me. Well I finally got around to replacing the three small valves, (couldn't afford new KT88 too). As the feeling was they may have been damaged by full HT running through them. The amplifier is now singing and absolutely beautifully. I've hardly been able to drag myself away from in front of the speakers for the last 4 days. I'm a very happy bunny again!

[justin brown]

Congratulations Steve. Even if one has a spare amp (in my case a Rotel michi ss), it's never quite the same as a valve amp singing sweetly. But having said that, because of my HT Diode issue I had no choice but to retrieve it from storage. This recent event was the first time since switching over to valves 18 months ago to hear SS in my system again, so it helped me define the characteristics in sound quality of each type of technology.
Thanks for popping in to say Hello at the wigwam show. It's always good to put a face to a name.

Justin.

[bob orbell]

Hi Stever, and welldone, is your amp in XL form? if not that would be my advice to make your next move, did the full works to mine and the results are , it was the power supply upgrade that had the most efect, expensive but worth every penny. BOB

[Edwin]

Bob,
Would the XL upgrade be worthwhile no matter what speakers you are using? Mine are 25Ts with the middle-ranking treble units SEAS T29CF001; these were described in the catalogue at that time as the XL version.

I assembled the original KT88 + power supply + pre-amp kits, starting from virtually nil experience. When speaking to Chris at WD, I seem to remember that he said that shoe-horning the components of the XL version into the chassis was quite difficult. Is it?

[Stever]

Mine's not an XL Bob although the upgrade is my next plan of action. I did price it all up with Mathew but then backed off because I didn't want to throw money at an upgrade when I wasn't happy with the basic sound. My plan now is to have a go at the upgrade caps myself and then get my brother in law to do the power supply for me as I know I'm not capable of that.

I must say though with the way it sounds now I struggle to see how it could sound much better

Cheers
Steve

[bob orbell]

Originally Posted by Edwin

Bob,
Would the XL upgrade be worthwhile no matter what speakers you are using? Mine are 25Ts with the middle-ranking treble units SEAS T29CF001; these were described in the catalogue at that time as the XL version.

I assembled the original KT88 + power supply + pre-amp kits, starting from virtually nil experience. When speaking to Chris at WD, I seem to remember that he said that shoe-horning the components of the XL version into the chassis was quite difficult. Is it?

Hi Edwin, in a word ,yes, but it was the HT upgrade that gave the most, the very large capacitors are a tight fit in the amp. look at the picture and you will see that I made an aluminium mounting. I also worked on the power supply for my pre and phono with very good results. BOB

[bob orbell]

Originally Posted by Stever

Mine's not an XL Bob although the upgrade is my next plan of action. I did price it all up with Mathew but then backed off because I didn't want to throw money at an upgrade when I wasn't happy with the basic sound. My plan now is to have a go at the upgrade caps myself and then get my brother in law to do the power supply for me as I know I'm not capable of that.

I must say though with the way it sounds now I struggle to see how it could sound much better

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve, with the upgrade the sound will be more natural and relaxing. Do you have Morgan Jones book Valve Amplifiers? it is very good and will explain how the power supply can make an amplifier sound better, and more. You can borrow mine if you ask. BOB