Which KT88 Brand to Buy? So many to choose from

Pez · « **Reply #20 on:** 4 Aug 2011, 06:48 pm »

You CAN go wrong with the Gold Lions. IMO they are crap. They are nothing more than standard issue ElectroHarmonix KT88s with a couple extra getters on the side. And compared to the treasures their price is not warranted at all. Get the treasures or get the Gold lion KT66s if your amp can take them they pretty good IMO, but the GL KT88s are not.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #21 on:** 4 Aug 2011, 08:14 pm »

Quote from: Pez on 4 Aug 2011, 06:48 pm

You CAN go wrong with the Gold Lions. IMO they are crap. They are nothing more than standard issue ElectroHarmonix KT88s with a couple extra getters on the side. And compared to the treasures their price is not warranted at all. Get the treasures or get the Gold lion KT66s if your amp can take them they pretty good IMO, but the GL KT88s are not.

I don't agree. But I must admit that I haven't yet heard the Treasures.

MarkM · « **Reply #22 on:** 5 Aug 2011, 02:51 am »

Quote from: Pez on 4 Aug 2011, 06:48 pm

You CAN go wrong with the Gold Lions. IMO they are crap. They are nothing more than standard issue ElectroHarmonix KT88s with a couple extra getters on the side. And compared to the treasures their price is not warranted at all. Get the treasures or get the Gold lion KT66s if your amp can take them they pretty good IMO, but the GL KT88s are not.

The GL KT88 do not sound anything like the EH KT88 in my system. Night and day difference in extension, clarity and midrange. Nothing wrong with the GL if that is the upper end of your budget. EH tubes are standard issue tubes and are good for breaking in other equipment imo.

I am due for some new tubes this fall and will have to give the KT88 Treasures a try. The reviews are consistant and continuous. Absolutely love the Black Treasure CV181-Z in my preamp and amplifer! Good to have high quality new production tubes available for the various budgets.

Pez · « **Reply #23 on:** 5 Aug 2011, 04:44 am »

I agree that they are better than the EHs, but I still prefer the sound of the KT66 GLs to the KT88s. And for the price differential it's a no brainer for me if budget is your main cosideration. But if you want the best new issue tube then Treasures without question.

srosenberg · « **Reply #24 on:** 25 Aug 2011, 09:53 pm »

have any of you guys tried the Penta Labs KT88 SC? i see that one mentioned often as a viable alternative to the Treasures, but have never heard either.

Pez · « **Reply #25 on:** 30 Aug 2011, 02:02 pm »

Yes I have used them. They are the BEST KT88 on the market.... Other than the Treasures (holding my opinion on the Psvanes until I hear them).

putz · « **Reply #26 on:** 30 Aug 2011, 03:28 pm »

Quote from: Pez on 30 Aug 2011, 02:02 pm

Yes I have used them. They are the BEST KT88 on the market.... Other than the Treasures (holding my opinion on the Psvanes until I hear them).

I hope you're right. I just bought a used (<50 hours) quad on Agon.

Pez · « **Reply #27 on:** 30 Aug 2011, 03:36 pm »

I think you'll be happy with them. I tested them against the Gold lion KT88 and KT66s as well as EH, Shugaungs etc etc etc. They sounded great.

Let us know what you think.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #28 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 10:54 pm »

Quote from: Pez on 30 Aug 2011, 03:36 pm

I think you'll be happy with them. I tested them against the Gold lion KT88 and KT66s as well as EH, Shugaungs etc etc etc. They sounded great.

Let us know what you think.

I think the Penta KT88SC tubes are made by Shugaung. And yes, they are nice, I think they are close in character to the Black Treasures. For the small difference in price, would go with the Black Treasures.

I've had the GL KT88 Re-Issue, and have had my share of problems with them. I'm gun shy to try them again, but they did sound good (when they worked).

putz · « **Reply #29 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 12:14 am »

Quote from: Freo-1 on 1 Sep 2011, 10:54 pm

I think the Penta KT88SC tubes are made by Shugaung. And yes, they are nice, I think they are close in character to the Black Treasures. For the small difference in price, would go with the Black Treasures.

I've had the GL KT88 Re-Issue, and have had my share of problems with them. I'm gun shy to try them again, but they did sound good (when they worked).

Pentas are not a small difference in price from the Treasures. If they were, I would have considered picking them up. Let me know if I missed something.

putz · « **Reply #30 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 12:19 am »

Quote from: Pez on 30 Aug 2011, 03:36 pm

I think you'll be happy with them. I tested them against the Gold lion KT88 and KT66s as well as EH, Shugaungs etc etc etc. They sounded great.

Let us know what you think.

I should have them next week.

What do you think about using Tube Dampers? I have a Jolida 502 Integrated.

Am I better off damping the 88s or the preamp & driver tubes?

twitch54 · « **Reply #31 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 12:59 am »

Quote from: Freo-1 on 1 Sep 2011, 10:54 pm

I've had the GL KT88 Re-Issue, and have had my share of problems with them. I'm gun shy to try them again, but they did sound good (when they worked).

Interesting...........I'm running them in my Rogue M-150's for two years now with zero issues, they sound great, hold their bias well.......I can't ask for more !

SteveFord · « **Reply #32 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 01:00 am »

I'm late to the party and they're out of production but when I had Ei KT88s I was really happy with them. Not to be confused with EH, I should add.

Pez · « **Reply #33 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 01:03 am »

Ya, I bet. Way back about 8-10 years ago I got my hands on some Ei EL34s i believe and Ei 6BM8s and they were both superb. Neither are easy to find if at all.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #34 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 02:31 am »

Quote from: putz on 2 Sep 2011, 12:14 am

Pentas are not a small difference in price from the Treasures. If they were, I would have considered picking them up. Let me know if I missed something.

You have missed something. The Black Treasures are 250 to 260 shipped from HK on EBay. The Pentas are 200 plus shipping. Not a big difference to me.

Steidl Guitars · « **Reply #35 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 03:03 am »

Quote from: Freo-1 on 1 Sep 2011, 10:54 pm

I think the Penta KT88SC tubes are made by Shugaung.

I ran a quad of Pentas followed by a quad of Shugaung -- not only did they look identical;y built, but I could not tell them apart sound-wise. I thought they were very good.

putz · « **Reply #36 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 04:31 am »

Quote from: Freo-1 on 2 Sep 2011, 02:31 am

You have missed something. The Black Treasures are 250 to 260 shipped from HK on EBay. The Pentas are 200 plus shipping. Not a big difference to me.

If you can believe Grant Fidelity ($480 for Grade A), the tubes from HK are a crapshoot quality wise. Maybe that's all marketing hype from GF but call me gullible.

Pez · « **Reply #37 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 05:38 am »

Quote from: Steidl Guitars on 2 Sep 2011, 03:03 am

I ran a quad of Pentas followed by a quad of Shugaung -- not only did they look identical;y built, but I could not tell them apart sound-wise. I thought they were very good.

Theres no doubt about it the Pentas ARE made by Shuguangs. And yes an identical shug branded tube can be bought, though if memory serves there is some difference whether it be matching tolerances or some other magic pixie dust.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #38 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 12:01 pm »

Quote from: putz on 2 Sep 2011, 04:31 am

If you can believe Grant Fidelity ($480 for Grade A), the tubes from HK are a crapshoot quality wise. Maybe that's all marketing hype from GF but call me gullible.

Well, I think you take it with a grain of salt. Bill from Morningstar Audio gets his for a reliable HK source, which is the one I got them from. They are fine tubes. (The Black Treasures).

The everyday China tubes do need to be screened, so it's worth the coin to pay to have them sorted.

jriggy · « **Reply #39 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 12:33 pm »

Quote from: Freo-1 on 2 Sep 2011, 12:01 pm

Well, I think you take it with a grain of salt. Bill from Morningstar Audio gets his for a reliable HK source, which is the one I got them from. They are fine tubes. (The Black Treasures).

The everyday China tubes do need to be screened, so it's worth the coin to pay to have them sorted.

Yep. and The fact that Ayon Audio US has a box of 500 dead BT KT88's speaks to the 'crapshoot quality' of them and that it might be worth the premium to have them sorted and tested...