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Genelex KT-88:Gold Lion/Monarch &re-issues

It appears that I have narrowed the choice of output tubes to the Genelex or one of the re-issues.
Does anyone have experience with the Gold Lion or Gold Monarch KT-88s?
Or the New Sensor re-issue Gold Lion
Or can contrast these others with the Shuguang KT-88-98?
The re-issues seem to run $190-$240 for a quad.The NOS is looking like $1600-!800 for the quad:money well spent or ??
My thanks in advance for your comments-Tom
tpsonic
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gmuffley
132 posts
 
I am not suggesting that NOS Gold Lion KT-88s are worth $1600 a quad, but the originals still sound the best and they last for years, if not decades.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
The NOS Gold Lion, Gold Monarch, and plain ole GEC's all do something I haven't found in any other KT88, new or vintage: their sound has a sparkle! If you haven't heard this, it's hard to imagine, if you have, you don't have to ask ;-)

I have a friend who is using the EAT tubes (new manufacture and $1700/quad) and likes them even better than the NOS Gold Lions. I did hear a used quad of them and was underwhelmed ;-)

As for the NOS Genalex tubes, even used (I got mine for $800/quad) they still show tranconductance (gain) values of 9000 -- 10000 mMHOs (new 12,000!). The new reissued GL are only 7500 new! As are the Shuguang/Penta KT88SC, which are excellent tubes BTW, but no sparkle ;-)
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