EL 34 vs. KT 88 ---- What's the difference?

One thing about the KT88 which has not been mentioned is it's affinity with transients without having to add feedback. Although I love the Manley Stingray, it is less pure (bad "opinion-type" term) than my Cary Rocket. I find the Rocket almost sounds like a single ended amp - something many people have noted. The purity is because feedback has not been added to the design - the Manley has some feedback in it. The Manley's still a great rock n' roll amp - especially if you like that Sun Studios sound, which I for one, can't get enough of. I conjecture however that plate size (bigger on the KT88 than the EL34 - more electrons, more information, this is why 845's and such sound so great despite their attrocious power curves - of course, they are also very simple circuits - see the 2A3 discussions for more - interesting though) effects transient response. Also the overall power curve is flatter with KT88's than EL34's - again the "euphony", or nice sound, depending on your take between the two. However, on something like the Stingray which uses the 34's and has the same power ration 20w triode/40w UL the transients are highlighted and the mids to me are slightly euphonic (another "opinion-type" term because of the feedback). For me the wider or more accurate beefier bandwidth of the Rocket is more relaxed and less forced, but by this I don't mean Cary-mushy which I'm sure someone will jump on me about. Actually I mean open and easy with the full spectrum. I think the EL34 can be more fun to listen to, though it's less honest. Depends on your needs. I listen to more rock n' roll and watch a lot of movies, so I need something that can get behind the music and push in a way I don't find too tubey, though I like the air, extension and decay of tubes. I happen to be familiar with these two peices, so there you go if you are designing a listening session to buy, you have some things to look for, so maybe I have helped.

Yes - I agree with the statement KT88's are less polite. I listen to a lot of rock. The point I was making is about the Manley being based on EL34 - however, it is a good rocking out amp. I was just saying that it is a more polite tube by construction, though it can certainly find it's way through any kind of job depending on how the amp is engineered overall. My understanding is the KT88 just has a bigger plate and uses power more efficiently so it has a flatter response. But look at triode sounding great - efficiency isn't everything. Plus, what kind of tube, what kind of capacitor, plus point to point wiring versus boards, plus linearity of layout... there are a host of factors other than just tubes. Everyone is so gung ho about the KT88 here - I am too, I use them, but I thought it might be good to illustrate the other side by finding an amp that wasn't quite so warm and fuzzy with the EL34, while still being hyper ... "musical" for lack of a better term.

Another plus for EL34, I think, is the Mullard reproductions that can go with them - not overpriced and sound great.

Yeah 84, not 34 ...duh on my part...