I agree with your assessment of the Sovtek KT88's. While they have been discontinued they are still available on line. I've been using them for about 20 years quite happily, although I'd be careful using them in amps which pushed the tubes too hard. Tonally they have a beautifully clear mid range, highs, and an unemphasized but extant bass. I much prefer them to any EL 34 type I have used. FWIW.
General Initial Impressions--Genalex Gold Lion KT88 Reissue
I've been on a tear of tube rolling with no end other than to try things out and see how I like them.
I am trying out the Genalex Gold Lion KT88 reissues--8 of them--in a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated. I mated them with 4 Cifte 12AU7s and 2 Baldwin (likely early 60s) 12AU7s.
I made the mistake of not changing my selector switch from EL34 to KT88 during the first 20 hours of listening to the Gold Lion KT88s. Regardless, I thought they sounded pretty great out of the box with the EL34 setting.
It's still early in the process so I'm not 100% certain of everything. My initial impression is that these offer the sweetness of EL34 midrange while extending most of the sound spectrum. There's a good bit of air on the top and mid to upper level detail is superb. Compared to the EL34 reissues, I think the bass is a touch softer yet more defined--yet this is early and I need to compare with recordings that are tattooed on my aural memory before making final conclusions.
Overall, I'd say this reissue is a damn fine tube. I'm not finding any noticeable shortcomings or faults. Everything is musical and enjoyable. Smooth is the order of the day with this tube, yet it's not sleepy or droopy. It's a nice mix, in my mind's eye, of vintage and modern. I really like them.
I bought a matched octet from Upscale, but I didn't have these cryoed like most others I've bought.
I'm super curious to hear about other users' experiences.
I am trying out the Genalex Gold Lion KT88 reissues--8 of them--in a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated. I mated them with 4 Cifte 12AU7s and 2 Baldwin (likely early 60s) 12AU7s.
I made the mistake of not changing my selector switch from EL34 to KT88 during the first 20 hours of listening to the Gold Lion KT88s. Regardless, I thought they sounded pretty great out of the box with the EL34 setting.
It's still early in the process so I'm not 100% certain of everything. My initial impression is that these offer the sweetness of EL34 midrange while extending most of the sound spectrum. There's a good bit of air on the top and mid to upper level detail is superb. Compared to the EL34 reissues, I think the bass is a touch softer yet more defined--yet this is early and I need to compare with recordings that are tattooed on my aural memory before making final conclusions.
Overall, I'd say this reissue is a damn fine tube. I'm not finding any noticeable shortcomings or faults. Everything is musical and enjoyable. Smooth is the order of the day with this tube, yet it's not sleepy or droopy. It's a nice mix, in my mind's eye, of vintage and modern. I really like them.
I bought a matched octet from Upscale, but I didn't have these cryoed like most others I've bought.
I'm super curious to hear about other users' experiences.
- ...
- 31 posts total
- 31 posts total