Does anybody have experience with Genalex Gold Lion KT-88 reissues?

zybar · « **on:** 22 Jun 2007, 08:17 pm »

If you have tried them, please let me know the following:

What are you using them in?

What do they sound like?

What did they replace?

Thanks,

George

Beatlebum · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Jun 2007, 08:24 pm »

Hey George,

I have the GL reissues in my Music Reference RM-200 (which I am selling BTW). They replaced the Shuguang KT88's. While the Shuggie's are a very good tube, the GL's bettered them in every way. Better , more extended and delicate highs, even more midrange magic and especially in the bass dept. Deep, rich bass. Definately a worthwhile upgrade IMHO. I bought mine from Jim McShane (no affiliation).

zybar · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Jun 2007, 08:27 pm »

Quote from: Beatlebum on 22 Jun 2007, 08:24 pm

Hey George,

I have the GL reissues in my Music Reference RM-200 (which I am selling BTW). They replaced the Shuguang KT88's. While the Shuggie's are a very good tube, the GL's bettered them in every way. Better , more extended and delicate highs, even more midrange magic and especially in the bass dept. Deep, rich bass. Definately a worthwhile upgrade IMHO. I bought mine from Jim McShane (no affiliation).

I was just checking his site and thinking of trying them with my Bella Extreme 100's (they would replace Valve Art KT-88's).

Thanks for your reply.

George

toobluvr · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Jun 2007, 11:05 pm »

George...

FWIW, in my ASL AQ1001 DT I replaced the stock Valve Art KT88 with Shuguang KT88sc solid plates. I thought the improvement was worthwhile. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that Bill at Response likes these tubes as well.

If you check the Penta Labs website, they sell the identical tubes, but I got mine from a cheaper source.

Check this link for an informative thread on them:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1137889853&openusid&zzSpelly&4&5#Spelly

No experience with the Gold Lion reissues...I don't believe they were available when I had the kt-88 amp.

PS: I have also dealt with Jim McShane. He is a good guy and his prices are reasonable.

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Jun 2007, 11:27 pm »

Quote from: toobluvr on 22 Jun 2007, 11:05 pm

George...

FWIW, in my ASL AQ1001 DT I replaced the stock Valve Art KT88 with Shuguang KT88sc solid plates. I thought the improvement was worthwhile. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that Bill at Response likes these tubes as well.

If you check the Penta Labs website, they sell the identical tubes, but I got mine from a cheaper source.

Check this link for an informative thread on them:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1137889853&openusid&zzSpelly&4&5#Spelly

No experience with the Gold Lion reissues...I don't believe they were available when I had the kt-88 amp.

PS: I have also dealt with Jim McShane. He is a good guy and his prices are reasonable.

Thanks John.

George

TONEPUB · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Jun 2007, 04:27 pm »

These are the ones that are about 400 bucks each and you get them from Western Electric?
Or am I confused?

thanks!

zybar · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Jun 2007, 04:45 pm »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 25 Jun 2007, 04:27 pm

These are the ones that are about 400 bucks each and you get them from Western Electric?
Or am I confused?

thanks!

These are actually re-issues done by New Sensor Corp. out of Russia.

Here is some info on the tubes:

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AGNLXGLKT88

The re-issue tubes go for about $100/pair. Not cheap, but certainly well under the costs of NOS Genalex Gold Lions.

George

EthanH · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 Jun 2007, 06:00 pm »

I'm running the GL reissues in a Cayin TA-30 amplifier. I can't compare these to any other KT88s, but I've previously used the Cayin with various EL34 power tubes (Cryo'd ValveArts, EH 6CA7, New Sensor Svetlanas).

I really like the New Sensor Gold Lions. IMO, they have a very natural, slightly warm midrange and excellent bass. They have a much bigger sound than any EL34 I've tried, and the high frequencies are smooth but extended. In my system the two qualities I notice most with these tubes is an excellent sense of space and a very robust and defined low end.

I have a modest system and limited experience with tubes, but that's the short of what I'm hearing. Hope it helps a bit.

zybar · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 Jun 2007, 06:07 pm »

Quote from: EthanH on 26 Jun 2007, 06:00 pm

I'm running the GL reissues in a Cayin TA-30 amplifier. I can't compare these to any other KT88s, but I've previously used the Cayin with various EL34 power tubes (Cryo'd ValveArts, EH 6CA7, New Sensor Svetlanas).

I really like the New Sensor Gold Lions. IMO, they have a very natural, slightly warm midrange and excellent bass. They have a much bigger sound than any EL34 I've tried, and the high frequencies are smooth but extended. In my system the two qualities I notice most with these tubes is an excellent sense of space and a very robust and defined low end.

I have a modest system and limited experience with tubes, but that's the short of what I'm hearing. Hope it helps a bit.

Thanks for your reply.

I hope the KT-88's provide exactly what you describe.

George

Joey B · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Jun 2007, 06:44 pm »

There has been a lot of debate on these tubes at tube asylum . Mcshane is really high on them .

Joe

zybar · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Jul 2007, 04:00 am »

The tubes have arrived (thanks to Jim McShane) and I will be trying them out tomorrow.

George

ZLS · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Jul 2007, 11:57 am »

I was also turned on to KT 88's by Jin McShane. What I can say is that I prefer them to the sound of Cyro'ed EH KT90's. Running a rebuilt Harmon Kardon Citation II.

carusoracer · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Jul 2007, 04:18 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 25 Jul 2007, 04:00 am

The tubes have arrived (thanks to Jim McShane) and I will be trying them out tomorrow.

George

Nice to see a affordable authorized re issue...Please share your findings

EthanH · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Jul 2007, 05:39 pm »

They needed about 60 hours to start sounding their best in my system. At first the treble was a bit disconnected sounding, but after about a week that went away and I've been really enjoying them since. Hope you like 'em.

zybar · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Jul 2007, 11:18 am »

Quote from: tvad4 on 29 Jul 2007, 05:11 am

So, zybar, what do you think?

I recently installed some cryo'd Valve Art KT88 in the Leben CS600, and they are very nice and liquid. Extended highs without etch. Bass is very deep...almost too deep with the Sonata III, though. Wondering how the Gold Lion re-issues stack up in your application.

Thinking I might have to go to EL34 to tone down the bass some.

Tvad,

If you are looking to tone down the bass, you should look elsewhere. aa

The new Gold Lion re-issues are indeed an improvement over the Valve Art KT-88's I was using.

There is more texture and air with the GL's. By comparison, the VA's sound a little flat and compressed.

Voices are more palpable and real sounding. I especially like the added seductiveness and weight.

There is also better attack and decay with the GL's. I really like the way the first strike of a drum or bongo...it sounds fast, tight, and impactful.

Soundstage is slightly bigger with the GL's as well.

These are just my initial impressions using a few of my normal test tracks:

Rusted Root - When I Woke: Drump Trip, Cat Turned Blue, Laugh As the Sun

Natalie Merchant - Tigerlily: Carnival, The Letter, Cowboy Romance

Harry Connick Jr. - She: She, Trouble, The Party, Booker

Ben Harper - Fight For Your Life: Gold to Me, Burn One Down, God fearing Man

George

zybar · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Jul 2007, 03:01 pm »

Quote from: tvad4 on 29 Jul 2007, 02:25 pm

Hmm...everything you describe I'm getting with the Valve Art KT88. Too bad tubes can't be auditioned. It gets silly expensive spending hundreds on tubes just to hear them in a system.

IMO.

I have a hunch the Sonata III are going to change substantially during the next 450 hours. Perhaps the bass will not be an issue at the end of the break-in process.

I agree that the Valve Art are quite good.

I just think the GL's do everything a little better.

Whether that is worth the extra cash is hard to say.

George

macrojack · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Jul 2007, 03:33 pm »

Good idea you have there for a tube lending library. And you're just the guy to start it. You've done the research, you have the connections, you have inventory, and it was your idea.

Maybe you've been planning such a thing for a while and that's why you are encouraging me to get into tubes. Is Zybar going to run the East Coast Office?

macrojack · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 Jul 2007, 04:25 pm »

Nice to know you can be dumb. If I were smart, I'd keep that in mind.

What prevents somebody from borrowing a strong tube and returning a weak one?

macrojack · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Jul 2007, 04:30 pm »

So, getting away with it would require dumb luck?

jrebman · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Jul 2007, 07:18 pm »

I'll have a new amp in about 2 weeks that comes with the GL KT-88s and a local friend has a new matched quad of Sophias (which appear to be hand-picked Shuguangs), so one of these days I'll be able to compare these two brands.

George, you don't happen to have a pair of Bendix 6900s lying around taking up space and looking for a new home, do you?

-- Jim