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Better than KT-88s?

The KT-88 has always been my favorite octal output tube, 6550s being too harsh and EL-34s being too soft at the frequency extremes. However I just re-tubed one of set of amps with Sovtek's new 6550WE (RAM-tested) and have been most impressed. They seem to have the magical midrange of the EL-34 but with much better frequency extension and much tighter bass. I was completely unaware of this tube until recently but to my ears the KT-88 has some serious competition. Anyone else have experience with this tube?
khrys
7 responses Add your response
budrew
467 posts
 
The recent Vacuum Tube Valley magazine compared several KT88 and 6550 tubes. The top tube was a KT88, but the 6550s were very close.
lafish
151 posts
 
I tend to like sound from EL34. The best sound I ever heard is VAC EL34 int amp driving Sonus Faber Amati. Even I cannot get such level or sonic feel when I drive Amati with different types of equipments.
ladderlake's avatar
ladderlake
21 posts
 
Lafish...........what specific VAC amp are you refering to? Was in running the 34's in triode mode?

Thanks
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Budrew: For both 6550 and KT88, what were the preferred tubes in that test and why?
budrew
467 posts
 
I no longer have the issue, but the preferred KT88 was one of those rare old Gold Lion versions that now go for something like $125 a pop. The truth hurts.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Ouch. Thanks - you don't happen to recall what they liked best of the new production, do you?
kevziek
323 posts
 
I tried Sovtek KT88 in several amps, and did not like the sound of that tube, period. The Svetlana KT88 sounds far better, and the EH KT88 is very good also, though not as romantic as the Svetlana. I believe the Vacuum Tube Valley KT88 shootout is about 2 years old. The JJ-Telsa KT88 was one of their top tube choices. It's a great tube & very powerful, but it was a little analytical in my VT100, which needs the warming up of the Svet KT-88.
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