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KT-88's better than EH ...

Without spending a small fortune.

I really have to say that with running all EH tubes in my Cary CAD 50MkII Monoblocks...the sound is so absolutely palpable and REAL through my Ushers. Not a trace of bothersome and fatiguing sibilance with the system tweeked from the listening seat.The bass very very good too. The EH seem to have excellent tonality, body, resolution, and great dynamics as well.

Im wondering if those who may have found a better sounding KT-88 than the EH without killing the bank account would comment on there move.

I know that I may have a nice synergistic match, and may be hard pressed to better the sonics ultimately, and I can easily live with that of course.....and have tried several NOS input 6SN7's and KT-88's....BUT..always seem to prefer the EH combo. Quite a tube!..

Would the new reissue Tung Sol KT-88 better the EH??..I hear the orig. TungSol is superb..but Im not willing to pay the frieght..and certainly the Orig. British Genelex are out.

Any info from those who have bettered the EH...please comment.

Many thanks/...Ken
kehut
cruz123
586 posts
 
My favorite KT88 is the KT88SC is from Penta Labs. This is also a Chinese tube by Shuguang, but is reportedly made to specs of the Genelex 88's. These tubes get rave reveiws over at Audio Asylum and several guys over there swear that these are comparable to their Genelex 88's. I can't speak to that claim, but they are excellent tubes in my system and the best new production tubes I have tried. In my system they better both the EH and SED KT88's. I have placed a link below (pentalabs.com), but if you decide to buy these you should call to make sure you get the the "solid plate" version. If not, you may get the KT88-98 equivalent, which is identified with three holes in the plates and, from what I've read, is considered inferior to the solid plate KT88SC. Also, you can do a search over at the asylum. Theres a lot of talk about this tube.

http://www.pentalaboratories.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=5020&pf%5Fid=KT88SC+SHUGUANG

minbean
34 posts
 
JJ KT88's are very reliable and good sounding. Their plate have additional heat sinking wing. One of my friend use them in his Harman Kardon amp operating at plate voltage of 650V and they out-lasted any tubes he ever used.
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
I thing I've learnt: one brand of tubes that works well in one amp NOT NECESSARILY works as well in another brand of amp!
Ken, if you can search the archives here or AA or elsewhere & find out which tubes best/better suit your particular amp, you would be far better off than getting our resp. opinions (UNLESS someone w/ the same amp as yours posts a reply). Your research will probably give you a short list from which you can try tubes & that list might not incl any of the tubes listed in the VTV shoot-out!!
trying various tubes can be fun (I've done that myself) when one has time but is very painful (I've experienced this too!) grading each tube's signature when one doesn't have time or wants to simply get on w/ listening to music. In all cases, whether you like auditioning tubes & have plenty of time, I've found that a shorter tube list is always better. FWIW. IMHO. YMMV.
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jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
Ken, the Penta Labs KT88SC solid-plates... http://www.pentalaboratories.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=5020&pf%5Fid=KT88SC+SHUGUANG ...are VERY highly rated by the inmates of the Tube Asylum... http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/tv.pl?forum=tubes&s=U . I suggest you SEARCH there and learn a lot.

They were selling for only $22 each recently; be sure to call them to make sure you get the closed-plate versions.
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