Gold Lion KT77

[FourT6and2]

Got these from Laura @ Valve Queen. Came boxed better than any other place I've ordered from. lol like 3 feet of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and a box large enough for a bowling ball. Okay, maybe not that big. But it wasn't the typical small USPS flat-rate shipping box. If that's her norm, then your tubes will definitely get there in one piece. Thanks, Laura!

EL34s dissipate 25 watts, whereas the KT77 dissipates 32. EL34s in my Einstein bias up to 60-70 ma, but the KT77 should bias to 70-80 ma (I think?). But I read the two should bias up the same. If anybody can confirm, that'd rock. I biased to about 68 ma. That may be too cold given the higher dissipation. But sounds pretty awesome!

The difference was pretty night & day. Basically everything I like about Winged Cs, but fixed the stuff I didn't like. Less compression/sizzle than the =C=. Clearer top-end (akin to flipping a bright switch on the amp, but not harsh—very pleasant and clear). Tighter low-end, but less pronounced. But that's not an issue. Diezel's have some serious low-end to begin with. Same mid-range growl and snarl of EL34s. Looks like I found a new fav!

With SED tubes no longer being made, these are great alternative. But they're expensive.

 

[steve_k]

Got these from Laura @ Valve Queen. Came boxed better than any other place I've ordered from. lol like 3 feet of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and a box large enough for a bowling ball. Okay, maybe not that big. But it wasn't the typical small USPS flat-rate shipping box. If that's her norm, then your tubes will definitely get there in one piece. Thanks, Laura!

EL34s dissipate 25 watts, whereas the KT77 dissipates 32. EL34s in my Einstein bias up to 60-70 ma, but the KT77 should bias to 70-80 ma (I think?). But I read the two should bias up the same. If anybody can confirm, that'd rock. I biased to about 68 ma. That may be too cold given the higher dissipation. But sounds pretty awesome!

The difference was pretty night & day. Basically everything I like about Winged Cs, but fixed the stuff I didn't like. Less compression/sizzle than the =C=. Clearer top-end (akin to flipping a bright switch on the amp, but not harsh—very pleasant and clear). Tighter low-end, but less pronounced. But that's not an issue. Diezel's have some serious low-end to begin with. Same mid-range growl and snarl of EL34s. Looks like I found a new fav!

With SED tubes no longer being made, these are great alternative. But they're expensive.

I see it (and hear it) as a tube you can have some confidence in. Tonally, you and I are in the same wheelhouse with the subtle difference between this tube and the Winged C. A bit more headroom in the 77 will allow for a bit more top end/mid range articulation, especially at higher gain where the 34's may loose a little luster. Plus, they retain the balls and crunch character of the 34. Construction wise, they look much like the Winged C and are small bottle, which I prefer. Some tout them as a cross between a 34 and a 6L6, which is probably a good description. I am running them in my Rhodes and are definitely a good match for those amps and in the Diezel's. Tried them in Marshall's before, but they may be a little too stiff for that circuit. At $10 more per tube than an SED, I don't have a problem with that. But, yeah---damn expensive and have never had a failure.

 

[FourT6and2]

Got these from Laura @ Valve Queen. Came boxed better than any other place I've ordered from. lol like 3 feet of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and a box large enough for a bowling ball. Okay, maybe not that big. But it wasn't the typical small USPS flat-rate shipping box. If that's her norm, then your tubes will definitely get there in one piece. Thanks, Laura!

EL34s dissipate 25 watts, whereas the KT77 dissipates 32. EL34s in my Einstein bias up to 60-70 ma, but the KT77 should bias to 70-80 ma (I think?). But I read the two should bias up the same. If anybody can confirm, that'd rock. I biased to about 68 ma. That may be too cold given the higher dissipation. But sounds pretty awesome!

The difference was pretty night & day. Basically everything I like about Winged Cs, but fixed the stuff I didn't like. Less compression/sizzle than the =C=. Clearer top-end (akin to flipping a bright switch on the amp, but not harsh—very pleasant and clear). Tighter low-end, but less pronounced. But that's not an issue. Diezel's have some serious low-end to begin with. Same mid-range growl and snarl of EL34s. Looks like I found a new fav!

With SED tubes no longer being made, these are great alternative. But they're expensive.

I see it (and hear it) as a tube you can have some confidence in. Tonally, you and I are in the same wheelhouse with the subtle difference between this tube and the Winged C. A bit more headroom in the 77 will allow for a bit more top end/mid range articulation, especially at higher gain where the 34's may loose a little luster. Plus, they retain the balls and crunch character of the 34. Construction wise, they look much like the Winged C and are small bottle, which I prefer. Some tout them as a cross between a 34 and a 6L6, which is probably a good description. I am running them in my Rhodes and are definitely a good match for those amps and in the Diezel's. Tried them in Marshall's before, but they may be a little too stiff for that circuit. At $10 more per tube than an SED, I don't have a problem with that. But, yeah---damn expensive and have never had a failure.

I always thought 6L6s had a thin top-end. But maybe because they have less of a mid-range emphasis. I hate 6L6s with a passion. So I was hesitant to try these after reading that it's like a 6L6/EL34 mix. But they are anything but thin. Definitely a "best of both worlds" tube.

I've also tried Ruby EL34 BHT tubes before. They have a similar thing going on in the high-end as these. They have a larger bottle, though. And still have the mushy low-end and EL34 compression. But I'd say those are closer to a 6L6 in terms of sound.

One thing that should be mentioned is the lack of blue glow in the Gold Lions. There is a very hard vacuum inside these things, which I think helps in the tightness department. SEDs have a soft vacuum.

 

[Ventura]

Said it before, they're awesome bottles.

I have a member here at RT for recommending them...STRONGLY...quite some time ago for my 20thX. Since then? They've found homes in several of my EL34 based amps.

Great tubes - beautiful character and richness

 

[se7en]

I thought they sounded better than the stock Jj EL34's in the 20th Ann. XTC. Tighter, more open and more top end articulation. I can see how they could be too stiff in a Marshall circuit.

 

[FourT6and2]

Just found this on a vender's site. But I did instantly notice the lack of low-end in these tubes. It's a tighter low-end, though. And like I said, not an issue with Diezels. Just turn that bass knob up a bit. No more flubby low-end! It's tight and articulate.

A quick note on this tube: These tubes seem to take a bit longer to break in than some other power tubes, so if they sound a little lightweight in the bass, you have to give them time.

 

[se7en]

True. ...meant to mention that.

 

[steve_k]

Got these from Laura @ Valve Queen. Came boxed better than any other place I've ordered from. lol like 3 feet of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and a box large enough for a bowling ball. Okay, maybe not that big. But it wasn't the typical small USPS flat-rate shipping box. If that's her norm, then your tubes will definitely get there in one piece. Thanks, Laura!

EL34s dissipate 25 watts, whereas the KT77 dissipates 32. EL34s in my Einstein bias up to 60-70 ma, but the KT77 should bias to 70-80 ma (I think?). But I read the two should bias up the same. If anybody can confirm, that'd rock. I biased to about 68 ma. That may be too cold given the higher dissipation. But sounds pretty awesome!

The difference was pretty night & day. Basically everything I like about Winged Cs, but fixed the stuff I didn't like. Less compression/sizzle than the =C=. Clearer top-end (akin to flipping a bright switch on the amp, but not harsh—very pleasant and clear). Tighter low-end, but less pronounced. But that's not an issue. Diezel's have some serious low-end to begin with. Same mid-range growl and snarl of EL34s. Looks like I found a new fav!

With SED tubes no longer being made, these are great alternative. But they're expensive.

I see it (and hear it) as a tube you can have some confidence in. Tonally, you and I are in the same wheelhouse with the subtle difference between this tube and the Winged C. A bit more headroom in the 77 will allow for a bit more top end/mid range articulation, especially at higher gain where the 34's may loose a little luster. Plus, they retain the balls and crunch character of the 34. Construction wise, they look much like the Winged C and are small bottle, which I prefer. Some tout them as a cross between a 34 and a 6L6, which is probably a good description. I am running them in my Rhodes and are definitely a good match for those amps and in the Diezel's. Tried them in Marshall's before, but they may be a little too stiff for that circuit. At $10 more per tube than an SED, I don't have a problem with that. But, yeah---damn expensive and have never had a failure.

I always thought 6L6s had a thin top-end. But maybe because they have less of a mid-range emphasis. I hate 6L6s with a passion. So I was hesitant to try these after reading that it's like a 6L6/EL34 mix. But they are anything but thin. Definitely a "best of both worlds" tube.

I've also tried Ruby EL34 BHT tubes before. They have a similar thing going on in the high-end as these. They have a larger bottle, though. And still have the mushy low-end and EL34 compression. But I'd say those are closer to a 6L6 in terms of sound.

One thing that should be mentioned is the lack of blue glow in the Gold Lions. There is a very hard vacuum inside these things, which I think helps in the tightness department. SEDs have a soft vacuum.

I like 6L6 gain, just not where they fall to pieces on the top end sometimes. Combined with the grunt/growl and tight lows of the Winged C.....the KT77 is about perfect. Funny you bring this up, just ordered another quad from Laura last night.