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01-22-06: jwong1@sfsu.edu
Hi, I had the same questions about possible KT88 replacements for my orginal stock Valve Art KT88 and my tube guru gave me the following review to read about the current EH KT88's:
www.hometheaterhifi
Additionally, he's a well respected SF Bay Area audio engineer who participated in a 2002 6550/KT88 Shoot Out that published in Vacuum Valley Tube publication. His private notes from the shoot out said the Gold Lions NOS ranked first (rare and expensive) while the EH's ranked second with the Tung Sols and JJ a discernable step behind. Consequently, I've decided to go with the EH's which are reasonably priced at $25/each at Tubedepot.com.
Also, on Ebay search "Amperex 6922", a seller has a batch of 1960's NOS for $35/each. Read the story and Feedback to evaluate his credibility. I ordered some. These are new, unused, discovered in a flood damage storage, without boxes and rubbed off lettering but test as new. Normally, these sell for $90-150. I thought it was a great opportunity and took advantage of it.
Good luck, it might be you won't do better than the EH unless you are looking for your tubes to address specific "sonic" needs.
jwong1@sfsu.edu
01-22-06: Cruz123
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
Cruz123 (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
02-03-06: Minbean
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.
Minbean (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
02-09-06: Bombaywalla
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.
Bombaywalla (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
02-09-06: Tvad
I believe Bombaywalla makes an excellent point about amps being voiced with certain KT88s.
In my recent journey, three KT88 tubes were heartily recommended by several audiophiles: Svetlana Winged "C", JJ Tesla, and Penta Labs KT88sc/Shuguang KT88-98.
Regarding the Penta Labs KT88sc, and the following comment that
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.
This is not entirely accurate. The Penta Labs KT88sc are not made to the factory specs of Genelex KT88, nor are the Penta Labs KT88sc made with the same materials or on the same equipment as the Genelex KT88. Penta Labs has a disclaimer on their website that the Penta Labs KT88sc is designed to cosmetically resemble the Genelex KT88, and Penta Labs makes no further claims to the similarity of these two brands.
Also, I think it's intriguing that one selling point of the Penta Labs KT88sc is their similarity to the Genelex KT88, including the three oval holes in the plate, and yet folks recommend purchasing the solid plate version, which is not like Genelex KT88.
I purchased a set of Penta Labs KT88sc with three oval holes, because I found a lightly used set, and they appear to exctly match the stock VAC KT88 that came installed in my VAC Phi 110/110.
Tvad (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
02-09-06: Jeffreybehr
Ken, the Penta Labs KT88SC solid-plates... www.pentalaboratories ...are VERY highly rated by the inmates of the Tube Asylum... www.audioasylum . 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.
.
Jeffreybehr (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
02-09-06: Cruz123
The Penta version with the 3 holes in the plates is the KT88-98 tube that you can buy through several online outlets. Penta advised me that they substituted this tube for the solid plate "KT88SC", when they were sold out of the solid plate version. The solid plate which is the true "KT88SC" that "I believe" is sold exclusively by Penta. There's a thread on Tube Asylum in which a Penta rep confirms much of this. In any event, you have to call Penta to ensure that you get the solid plate version, if thats what you want. I haven't compared the two, but the solid plate tube is very good.
Cruz123 (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
02-09-06: Tvad
Cruz123, what you say makes sense to me now that I did a quick web search and found a photo of Genelex KT88 Gold Lion tubes that have solid plates.
It's confusing, because the photo of the KT88SC on the Penta website used to show three oval holes, but now it shows a solid plate.
Now, I know why my Penta KT88SC quad was sold at a nice discount.
Tvad (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
02-16-06: Spelly
Recently there has been a seller on ebay with these solid plate Shuguang kt88sc. I emailed him the Penta link and inquired whether his are the same tubes. He confirmed they were. His handle is "thenidge".
His BIN price for a pair has ranged from 42.50 to 46.50.
I don't see any there currently, so to see them, goto "advanced search" and do a "completed items" search for his name "thenidge". For some reason, searching on "kt88sc" doesn't return them...even though it is in the title.
Anyways, it looks like he might have some quantity and is dripping them into the market just a few pair at a time.
Spelly (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
02-18-06: Spelly
correction....
on Ebay, if you search on "kt88sc" you will find the tubes I referenced above. It looks like he puts up 2 pair at a time, and sells with BIN only.
Spelly (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
03-26-06: Kehut
Thanks guys for all the nice info and recommendations. When I first posted this question re: KT-88's...I was using a Cary CAD 50MkII, but now using a Cayin A-88T/KT-88 tubes. From what I understand, Cayin uses the Shuguang KT-88. and they have the 3 hole plates. I may seek out the solid plate version from the links provided. Does anyone else use the Cayin amp with these tubes and switched to the solid plate tube?,,,,,Thanks.
Kehut (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-11-10: Jayb77
I love kt 88,s and I can attest that EH and jj,s are going to be hard to beat not to say it cant be done but really for the money diffrence there are no better tubes (kt88) out there.I also own a set of Tung-Sol 6550,s but they are a little to warm for my taste. And the JJ,s dont have the mids that the EH have but are comprable in highs and lows.
Jayb77 (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
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