Are EL34 based amps more musical than KT series based ? Or it's purely a matter of design?

Larry, what speakers do you run with that 349 tube based amp ?

I’ve been listening to the EL34 tube for over 35 yrs and have compared it to many power tubes. When it comes down to which tube is more musical, the EL34 tube is simply the better tube in my opinion. I own several very expensive tube amplifiers that operate strictly on the EL34 tube.  I really am not a fan of KT tubes except the KT66.  The KT66 I like very much and highly recommend it. I find the KT66 more musical than the EL34.  The EL34 tube is sweeter and gentler with the detail than many KT tubes.  Most KT tubes sound hifi- ish. I’ve found the EL34 to have better resolution also over the KT tubes.  Even though I personally do not like many KT tubes, I’ve heard them in circuits where they sounded fine. So the design is important and can make a KT sound good to my ears but still won’t have the same inner resolution that the EL34 tube has.  I purchased an excellent $5,000 300b amplifier 2 yrs ago from someone who preferred to use EL34’s on his JBL monitor speakers. 

Larryi, I’ve heard a lot of those very low watt tubes you’re referring to and came to conclude that they sounded good when matched with the correct speakers but when not matched correctly, they didn’t sound any better than other really good tubes.  I’ve heard 300b’s out perform the 45 and 2a3 in areas of liveliness and dynamics and openness. I understand maybe it was a power issue and probably needed more efficient speakers. 

interesting thread. I recently completed an Elekit 8200R, which comes with 6L6GC output tubes but can run with EL34, KT66 and 88. It’s a sweet sound with my 95db speakers. So of course I’m wondering what other tubes sound like. But I need to switch from ultralinear to triode and listen a while first.