Newbie Biasing ARC Amplifier Queries

artoly

New Member
Jan 21, 2024
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New Zealand
I’ve owned my first valve amps for a little over a year, being an ARC Ref110 power amp and Ref3 preamp, so need to lean to bias them. I would appreciate some absolute beginner info. Apologies in advance for the simplicity of the questions to everyone here who has done it 100's of times.

1/ My understanding is that only the power amp output tubes need any attention. This understanding is due to the lack of any instructions in the manuals for the other tubes. (Meaning no biasing or maintenance required for the preamp tubes at all and none for the 4 input tubes). If I have this wrong, I would be grateful for a correction.

2/ The Ref110 manual is for ‘a nominal 65mA per 6550 tube’. Does the 65mA also apply to the installed KT120 tubes?

3/ It also states to ‘adjust the Reference110 at 120VAC’. Does a different country voltage affect the 65mA setting? I run mine at 230V.

Post edited as was too long.

4/ Any other tips for a newbie? (apart from not touching anything else and zapping myself, which goes without saying :-0 )
 
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