Are EL34 based amps more musical than KT series based ? Or it's purely a matter of design?

interesting thread. I recently completed an Elekit 8200R, which comes with 6L6GC output tubes but can run with EL34, KT66 and 88. It’s a sweet sound with my 95db speakers. So of course I’m wondering what other tubes sound like. But I need to switch from ultralinear to triode and listen a while first.

Last year I purchased an Aric Audio "Push Pull" amplifier with upgraded caps, EL34 and 6SN7 tubes. This is my first Push Pull, and it is brilliant like all of Aric's gear. The amp will accept KT88s, KT120s, and KT150s as well; but have kept the EL34s in right now.....but I do have a pair of KT88s and KT120s around, I'll give them a try once I get my system back together

Larry, I see.

So, as important as it is, design is not everything. Tube types have intrinsic qualities.

The EL34 tube is sweeter and gentler with the detail than many KT tubes.  Most KT tubes sound hifi- ish. I’ve found the EL34 to have better resolution also over the KT tubes.

@lowtubes In this statement the thing you are not taking into account is the effect of the output transformer. For that reason you can't draw a conclusion since that is such an enormous variable! 

I don't doubt the EL34 can sound better because the output transformer typically doesn't have to handle as much power. For that same reason the EL84 sounds better than the EL34 (probably also because the EL84 is so much easier to drive...).