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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?
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bjesien
1,335 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
1,335 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.
bjesien
1,335 posts
 
Seems like the GGL KT77 might be the tube of choice. Can the KT77 be used in an amp that runs in either ultralinear or triode, like the VAC Avatar or the Manley amps? I thought I saw somewhere that it is designed for ultralinear use. This confused me because I've also read it's a drop in replacement for the EL34.

Thanks so much for the help.
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