KT88 talk

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SpiderWars

SpiderWars

Well-known member
Trying to get my head wrapped around reasonably priced KT88s for a new amp. So just to identify the players first:

Sovtek KT88 - Russian made, cheap
EH KT88 - same as Sovtek AFAIK
Gold Lion RI - Russian-made but different than Sovtek
JJ KT88 - Czech-made, cheap and failure issues with some but allegedly good tone
JJ Blue Glass KT88 - allegedly same as regular JJ but with blue glass
Mullard KT88 RI - Russian-made, don't know if same as Sovtek/EH
Telefunken KT88 RI - made by JJ, don't know if same as JJ KT88
SED/Winged C KT88 - Russian-made in old Svetlana factory, well liked similar to other SEDs, no longer made and getting $$$

The Shuguangs are where it gets interesting:
Shuguang KT88-98 - three-hole plates, no side getters, allegedly pretty good, lots of rebrands
Penta Labs KT88SC - Chinese-made, solid plates, triple (dual-side) getters, allegedly better than KT88-98, also some rebrands
KT88-Z Black Treasures - Look very similar to KT88-98 but with a coating on the glass (looks smoked), allegedly awesome but ~$110 ea.
TAD KT88-STR - Allegedly China-made, 3-hole plates like KT88-98 but different. Base looks different, looks like there's at least one side getter.

Jolida KT88-98 - Same as Shug KT88-98
Valve Arts KT88 - Same as KT88-98
Ruby KT88STR - Same as KT88-98
Ruby KT88VSTR - Same as Penta Labs SC
Tubestore Preferred Series KT88 - Same as Penta Labs SC

Then there's KT90s and others (KT120 and KT150) but some amps might not be able to run them.

I should be able to provide a review of the JJs/Gold Lion RIs/Penta Labs SC when I finish building the amp. Any nugget of KT88 wisdom/advice you can drop would be appreciated.
 
I also interested. I use them in several of my amps.
 
I tried EH and JJ. I like JJ better.

They seem to be more filled out thru the freq spectrum and more detailed. I get them from Eurotubes; nothing but good things to say about their operation. I even bought the T-Shirt..


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i ask Laura what i should get,and then pay her. but i am not a tube snob...and have too many amps with kt88s.
 
Been looking at these: KT88-STR TAD

Are these strictly for bass amps?
 
MetalHeadMike":5g3kmowd said:
Been looking at these: KT88-STR TAD

Are these strictly for bass amps?
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They are used in some guitar amps and HiFi. The TADs are apparently Chinese-made and look similar to the KT88-98 (three hole plates, no side getters, tell-tale shape) but are allegedly different. The base def looks different. I'll add this to the OP.
 
-GOLD LION KT88's-

-nothing NP comes close, if money was no object, N.O.S. GOLD LION KT88's, KT88's want high via rates to match there high plate voltage, I've tried most of the name brands in your list, I don't like any of the Chinese variants, once you get the LIONS in there sweet spot, you won't want anything else, if your amp was designed around KT88's, then don't sell yourself short,

-a distant second would be SOVTEC
 
Not goin to happen. ever.. How many are left, and why would I take the eBay challenge when they're probably fake Chinese, or New Sensor in repro boxes??
 
sg guy":2lz0nfvj said:
-GOLD LION KT88's-

-nothing NP comes close, if money was no object, N.O.S. GOLD LION KT88's, KT88's want high via rates to match there high plate voltage, I've tried most of the name brands in your list, I don't like any of the Chinese variants, once you get the LIONS in there sweet spot, you won't want anything else, if your amp was designed around KT88's, then don't sell yourself short,

-a distant second would be SOVTEC
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Thanks for the input. Did you try the Black Treasures or Telefunken RIs? I'd be willing to go that high if needed but I just can't spend the coin for the NOS Gold Lion's/EATs/etc.
 
I go with either what Laura propose. Or if I'm stuck and need something and can't wait, then I would go with Mesa kt88.
 
hstlaurent":2dbs75hw said:
I go with either what Laura propose. Or if I'm stuck and need something and can't wait, then I would go with Mesa kt88.
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From the pics I could find the current Mesa KT88 looks like it is the Shuguang KT88-98.

Valve Queen offers Sovtek, Ruby-tested JJs, another Ruby KT88 that doesn't have a pic or any description (doesn't say STR or VSTR), and the Gold Lion RIs which are out-of-stock. So if you rule out Sovteks that leaves JJs or the mystery Ruby.
 
The good thing with Mesa is that they rigorously test the tube they are selling. So the chance of getting crappy ones are fairly low.
 
sg guy":so4xq6y2 said:
-GOLD LION KT88's-

-nothing NP comes close, if money was no object, N.O.S. GOLD LION KT88's, KT88's want high via rates to match there high plate voltage, I've tried most of the name brands in your list, I don't like any of the Chinese variants, once you get the LIONS in there sweet spot, you won't want anything else, if your amp was designed around KT88's, then don't sell yourself short,

-a distant second would be SOVTEC
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What about the new production Gold Lions , is that what we are talking about ?
 
hstlaurent":2xeoofdh said:
The good thing with Mesa is that they rigorously test the tube they are selling. So the chance of getting crappy ones are fairly low.
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Agreed. I just always like to know the origin.

I wasn't talking about NOS Gold Lions just because they are so expensive. They do have 'legendary' status though. I'm trying to find our best alternative to the NOS Lions or EATS/ etc.
 
I tried Gold Lion RI, JJ and Ruby....

The Lion ReIssues were head and shoulders above both in clarity, detail and punch.....toss up on whether I'd choose JJ or Ruby as second place...they sounded the same.

I had no idea there were so many options in '88s to be honest.
 
jkdsteve":1b4v1vwk said:
I tried Gold Lion RI, JJ and Ruby....

The Lion ReIssues were head and shoulders above both in clarity, detail and punch.....toss up on whether I'd choose JJ or Ruby as second place...they sounded the same.

I had no idea there were so many options in '88s to be honest.
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Do you know which Ruby? I think the the Ruby JJs still have the JJ badge so you'd have known if it was them, but there are also (at least) 2 others. The Ruby KT88STR (Shuguang KT88-98) and the Ruby KT88VSTR (Shuguang/Penta KT88SC). Easy to tell, the KT88-98 have 3 holes in the plates, the Penta SC have solid plates.
 
I believe the Bogner Shiva 20th comes with Sovtek KT 88's. Sounds great to me.
 
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