Has anyone ever used a company called vacuum tube values to purchase vacuum tubes?

I'm more interested in your need for 36 KT-88's! Do tell....

Sounds like the OP is buying tubes for audio research 610t  monoblocks.

I just looked up cost on this which is always a wonderful reminder of how dreadful margins are on tubes.  I am not going to tell you my cost but will say that $1400 or below would suggest to me these are not new or there is something off.  

$1600 is a very fair price.  You best bet is buying from someone like Tube Depot.  

Sounds like a ripoff skip it.

I have three Cary V-12 amps. One stereo and two mono blocks. They power Aerial 10T speakers. The stereo amp powers the heads and the monoblocks power the bottom cabinets.

Have you checked out Dougs Tubes for the previous EL34's you liked?

https://dougs-tubes.myshopify.com/products/ruby-el34-bht?variant=22138220249206

DeKay

RAM tubes without a doubt….grading, screening, matching system , computerized curve tracing setup by a tube amp genius, the late Roger Modjeski ( yes I have 16 of his KT88 )

I just noticed I had the wrong number on the tube in the original post. I'm looking at Golden Lion KT-77 tubes. Sorry about that. Does that change any opinions? 

Also, yes I have checked with Doug's Tubes. That's where I used to get them before the factory in China burned down. They are supposedly rebuilding and should start manufacturing next year sometime.

I love the Genalex KT77 tube but I will say when I first discovered them I was buying them wherever it was cheapest and had a lot of early tube failures. I started buying them from Upscale Audio paying a bit more and no more early tube failures.

I've made several purchases from an Ohio-based eBay seller, wpc1896 - - mostly a couple quads of Gold Lion KT88's, but also some smaller signal tubes. I've been happy with each purchase.

Here's a link to his current listing of a quad of KT77's:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/311774831480?hash=item48973a6378:g:7PYAAOSwNSxVeO~s

I am not a shill for Vivatubes.com , but they have always done me well when I have bought matched tubes. 

C 

I've bought some small signal tubes from Vivatubes and the pair was not matched and test measurements were off. The Gm and Ip of a single 12AX7 did not match the stated values.
I know Viva is a popular dealer, but that's my experience.

wpc1896 on eBay is vacuumtubevalue.com…

I have not bought vacuum tubes from them, but I did just purchase two capacitors to upgrade my speaker crossover. They arrived as described in excellent condition. I am very pleased with the transaction. And the price was excellent.

wpc1896 on eBay is vacuumtubevalue.com…

if that is the case, I would trust him. He lives in my city, in a very nice section/house near the Lake. I’m very familiar. I purchased my Gold Lion 12AX7’s from him. Asked if I could come pick them up, but he went ahead and shipped them literally across town anyway. I can understand his need for privacy, but bottom line, a good guy, fast response, and received what I ordered. I would not hesitate to buy from him again.

Just bought a NOS Mullard  6201/12AT7 from Upscale for a pre I just picked up .   I selected "Kevin's Stash"  and it was worth it. Matched triodes , super quiet and big open sound .   

Bought a few NOS from Brent Jessee in the past and they were the premium tubes described...   

I think its wise to buy power tubes from a place that burns them in and matches.    I did this with the KT88 Gold Lions in my mono amps.  I can't even tell you how old they are.... they were in use a few years, then became the "back up" set .  I had a matched quad of EL 34 where one failed, the KT 88 back in,  eventually got KT 77 quad , one red plated . Then the KT went back in... have been in a few months and still sound great, match pretty tight still.   The 34 and 77 were "matched" at time of mfg. 

I have used them. They are a good source for either KT88 or KT77.

I have a pair of V-12 monos. Am quite happy running EH KT88s in them.

so while not answering your Q, gave you another option to consider. 

good luck 

Hi all,

Just offer an update I did finally choose the Golden Lion kt77 tubes. My initial impression is I made the right choice is they sound pretty good right out of the gate. Everything I read about the tubes say they need to break in for a while to sound their best so I can only imagine them getting better from this point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your help! It was very helpful and is much appreciated!