If you're willing to open your wallet, get the REAL DEAL
British Gold Lion.
KR Audio KT88 Vacuum Tubes
Does anyone have experience with these power tubes? I understand they are well made and likely last longer than their Russia or Chinese counterparts. But, they are much more expensive. My real question has to do with the KR Tubes sound quality. Would you replace good sounding Gold Lion KT88s with the KR Audio tubes for a sound quality benefit? I've also read they make the similarly expensive EAT brand tubes that some prefer.
- ...
- 17 posts total
VerdantAudio... just looked at your site. Very impressive offering. And thank you for the perfect answer. Which begs the question... Other than blue, how is the SQ of the Sophia Electric KT88s vs the Gold Lion. Moon Audio folks are nice folks and honest. If made in the USA is on their site it’s an honest error on their part. Czechoslovakia is correct for KR. Still higher cost for manufacturing than Russia and they are likely a much smaller company. |
@coppy777 you've got some serious CJ gear! I think you'd really like the KR KT-88. Per verdantaudio the sound signature of the KT-88 sounds (pardon the pun) similar to the 300B XLS, very tight, controlled yet full bass, with clear, crisp, articulate treble. The mid-range of the 300B XLS is very lush, but not mushy, i.e., it's no so warm it muffles everything. More like sublime ++. I wouldn't call the 300B "bright," but as verdantaudio notes, depending on your speakers, the KR's could brighten up a brighter speaker. My Cary with the KR 300B XLS is driving a pair of Focal 716S and Vienna Acoustics Haydn's with a vintage Klipsch sub. Not my #1 setup, but the amp and KR tubes sound wonderful even with the modest speaker set up. I did run the Cary for a bit with my #1 speaker grouping, Klipsch Forte IIIs and Focal Aria 926 before I moved the Cary to system #2. and didn't consider it too bright. My guess is you have some fantastic speakers given the level of CJ tube gear you've got. I think the KR's would definitely be an upgrade in your system. If you go there, I found the 300B XLS needed about 100 hours to break-in and really begin to show their stuff. Cheers, enjoy the music!
|
I agree. I don’t think Moon Audio would fib about that. Eunice told them that or it was some confusion based on conversation over other tubes and the Abyss collaboration. I like the Sophia’s a lot. They are sort of a Goldilocks tube being a touch brighter than the Gold Lions but not as bright as the KRs. I like them as an alternative to the KT120s plus I love the Blue Glass. |
- 17 posts total