Hi all,
Just offer an update I did finally choose the Golden Lion kt77 tubes. My initial impression is I made the right choice is they sound pretty good right out of the gate. Everything I read about the tubes say they need to break in for a while to sound their best so I can only imagine them getting better from this point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your help! It was very helpful and is much appreciated!
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I have used them. They are a good source for either KT88 or KT77.
I have a pair of V-12 monos. Am quite happy running EH KT88s in them.
so while not answering your Q, gave you another option to consider.
good luck |
Just bought a NOS Mullard 6201/12AT7 from Upscale for a pre I just picked up . I selected "Kevin's Stash" and it was worth it. Matched triodes , super quiet and big open sound .
Bought a few NOS from Brent Jessee in the past and they were the premium tubes described...
I think its wise to buy power tubes from a place that burns them in and matches. I did this with the KT88 Gold Lions in my mono amps. I can't even tell you how old they are.... they were in use a few years, then became the "back up" set . I had a matched quad of EL 34 where one failed, the KT 88 back in, eventually got KT 77 quad , one red plated . Then the KT went back in... have been in a few months and still sound great, match pretty tight still. The 34 and 77 were "matched" at time of mfg.
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wpc1896 on eBay is vacuumtubevalue.com… if that is the case, I would trust him. He lives in my city, in a very nice section/house near the Lake. I’m very familiar. I purchased my Gold Lion 12AX7’s from him. Asked if I could come pick them up, but he went ahead and shipped them literally across town anyway. I can understand his need for privacy, but bottom line, a good guy, fast response, and received what I ordered. I would not hesitate to buy from him again. |
I have not bought vacuum tubes from them, but I did just purchase two capacitors to upgrade my speaker crossover. They arrived as described in excellent condition. I am very pleased with the transaction. And the price was excellent. |
wpc1896 on eBay is vacuumtubevalue.com… |
I've bought some small signal tubes from Vivatubes and the pair was not matched and test measurements were off. The Gm and Ip of a single 12AX7 did not match the stated values.
I know Viva is a popular dealer, but that's my experience.
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I am not a shill for Vivatubes.com , but they have always done me well when I have bought matched tubes.
C |
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I love the Genalex KT77 tube but I will say when I first discovered them I was buying them wherever it was cheapest and had a lot of early tube failures. I started buying them from Upscale Audio paying a bit more and no more early tube failures.
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Also, yes I have checked with Doug's Tubes. That's where I used to get them before the factory in China burned down. They are supposedly rebuilding and should start manufacturing next year sometime. |
I just noticed I had the wrong number on the tube in the original post. I'm looking at Golden Lion KT-77 tubes. Sorry about that. Does that change any opinions? |
RAM tubes without a doubt….grading, screening, matching system , computerized curve tracing setup by a tube amp genius, the late Roger Modjeski ( yes I have 16 of his KT88 ) |
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I have three Cary V-12 amps. One stereo and two mono blocks. They power Aerial 10T speakers. The stereo amp powers the heads and the monoblocks power the bottom cabinets. |
Sounds like a ripoff skip it. |
I just looked up cost on this which is always a wonderful reminder of how dreadful margins are on tubes. I am not going to tell you my cost but will say that $1400 or below would suggest to me these are not new or there is something off.
$1600 is a very fair price. You best bet is buying from someone like Tube Depot. |
Sounds like the OP is buying tubes for audio research 610t monoblocks. |
I'm more interested in your need for 36 KT-88's! Do tell.... |
