Best kt88 for VAC Avatar Super

Shuguang makes the following KT88 tubes:

KT88-Z (Black Treasure)
KT88-98
KT88-SC (Penta)

BTW, the 'SC' is the only KT88 tube currently made (by anybody!) that is an EXACT replica of the original M.O.V. (Marconi Osram Valve) Company later known as GEC or Genalex (the British name of the US General Electric Co. ;--) who bought MOV and made the original Gold Lion, Gold Monarch and Blue Label GEC (all the same tube, BTW) The Penta/SC is an excellent tube, but nothing like the original performancewise.

The "Gold Lion" tubes currently made by New Sensor (in the old Russian Sovtek factory) bear no resemblence to the original design -- a statement that can be made for most of the tubes New Sensor manufactures under all the vintage brand names they managed to acquire (Mullard, Tung Sol, Svetlana, et.)

As for Kevin's recommendations, with due respect, equipment manufacturers use tubes which represent a reliable supply for them (followed by reasonable cost) but are not always the 'best' tube of that type. Sometimes their OEM tubes cause problems, as with McIntosh's use of the New Sensor "Electo Harmonix" brand (which kept blowing up ;--) McIntosh finally switched to the S.E.D. Winged "C" KT88 (the original Svetlana tube, not the New Sensor brand "Svetlana" tube ;--) which is another excellent KT88 tube.

Bottom line is that if you want to do a little research, you can almost always find better tubes for your equipment than the OEM tubes supplied by the manufacturer.

As for Kevin's recommendations, with due respect, equipment manufacturers use tubes which represent a reliable supply for them (followed by reasonable cost) but are not always the 'best' tube of that type.

I would tend to agree with this statement as it relates to most manufacturers out there. However, my conversations with Kevin regarding use of output tubes in both the Avatar and Auricle Musicblocs lead me to the conclusion that VAC is the exception. Kevin supplied me with quite a bit of information on tube comparisons of output tubes, all of them leading me to believe the VAC selected and tested were the best all around choice. As for signal tubes Kevin always recommended that I try various NOS tubes on the market.

For those interested in trying the new production Gold Lion KT-88 tubes, Roger Modjeski at RAM has quite a supply. IMO he is one of the best at matching tubes to ensure quiet performance and reliability. He and Andy at Vintage Tube Services are my primary tube suppliers.

Clio, all I can say is it might be instructive for you to talk with other VAC owners who have tried other tubes in their amps ;--)
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I use the Genelex KT88's in my VAC Auricle Musicblocs and they sound great. I've tried the VAC branded tubes, the Shuaguang Pentas and the SED's and they're all good, but I keep coming back to the Gold Lions. I buy mine from Jim McShane (see Audio Asylum) and they've been very durable tubes.

Been there done that bought the T-shirt. For the record I even did comparisons of three different types of EL-34 output tubes, including NOS Siemens, in my Avatar. Stayed with the VAC tested Shuguang tubes. I used NOS Mullards for the signal and phono stage tubes. With my Auricle Musicblocs I used a combination of RCA cleartop and Telefunken for the signal tubes and the VAC premium KT-88 tubes.

Kind of a moot point now anyway as I now longer own either of these pieces.