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EL34 SED, Black Sable or Genelex Gold Lion?

I am currently using the new production EL34 SED, bought from tubedepot.com, and are very pleased with the result in my Manley Snappers. However, I am curious and still searching after new constellations of tubes in my amps. It is part of the fun. And here is my question:

Have anyone compared the EL34 SED with the Black Sable edition of the same tube?

And, how is EL34 Black Sable compared to the Genalex Gold Lion KT77? (almost the same price)

Any experience with these tubes?
128x128musicophile
tommy583
73 posts
 
Bjesien,
I have spent the better part of a year trying different EL34's in my amp. SED nice midrange, but a little too rolled off in the highs for my taste. Siemens better highs and bass, maybe a little dry sounding though. Gold Lion KT-77's wow. I 've been using these for about a month now. The midrange is as good as the SED tubes, the highs are somewhere between the SED and Siemens. But the bass is on another level. This is by far the best EL-34 tube i've heard that I can afford.
bjesien
1,308 posts
 
Tommy, thanks for your description. I read your post and did some more reading on the KT77 and it sounds like a great tube.
You mention the highs on the KT77 being between the SED and the Siemens. Does this mean the Siemens had more detailed highs? I get what you say about dry, but IME that is sometimes an amp/speaker match.

Can you pick a winner based on clarity and detail? Lets just say that I'm not at all worried about brightness, but don't want totally clinical either. Would you still go for the GL KT77?

Thanks so much for your input.
bjesien
1,308 posts
 
Also, which has a deeper 3 dimensional soundstage, the Siemens or the Golden Lion?

Thanks.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I think the Siemens will give you what ever 3D is in the recording, no more no less - if you are after that quality. Since you can't really control the recordings, I would focus more on your speakers and placement than relying on a tube to give you that - tube "3d" would be marginal compared with these other factors. The Siemens happens to be my favourite tube, and is very long-lasting and reliable, especially if you buy from Roger Modjeski at RAM Labs - he also has competitive pricing on that tube. But, I have no problems whatsoever, enjoying the SED EL34s I bought from Jim McShane. In other words, they are both good tubes that should work well in most amps using EL34s.
tommy583
73 posts
 
Bjesien,
I would say if you want clarity and detail go with the Siemens or the Gold Lions. I feel that the SED gives a softer overall sound than the other two. Between the other two in my system, i've found the Gold lions to have touch softer sound in the high end. But the bass seems to go a little lower, with better weight. They are both nice tubes and I could be happy with either one. For now i'm keeping the Gold Lions in my amp.
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