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KT-88's better than EH ...

Without spending a small fortune.

I really have to say that with running all EH tubes in my Cary CAD 50MkII Monoblocks...the sound is so absolutely palpable and REAL through my Ushers. Not a trace of bothersome and fatiguing sibilance with the system tweeked from the listening seat.The bass very very good too. The EH seem to have excellent tonality, body, resolution, and great dynamics as well.

Im wondering if those who may have found a better sounding KT-88 than the EH without killing the bank account would comment on there move.

I know that I may have a nice synergistic match, and may be hard pressed to better the sonics ultimately, and I can easily live with that of course.....and have tried several NOS input 6SN7's and KT-88's....BUT..always seem to prefer the EH combo. Quite a tube!..

Would the new reissue Tung Sol KT-88 better the EH??..I hear the orig. TungSol is superb..but Im not willing to pay the frieght..and certainly the Orig. British Genelex are out.

Any info from those who have bettered the EH...please comment.

Many thanks/...Ken
128x128kehut

Showing 3 responses by audioquest4life

audioquest4life
727 posts
 
I have used several KT88's over the years. It seems as if every time, I go back to the EH or the Svetlana Winged C's as my defaults. The GLKT88's, though highly praised, and a costlier alternative to the EH's, seem middle of the road in my system, that is, they do not add or subtract from the musical experience and seem bland at times. Because the GL's don't do much but balance the frequency and musical spectrum so to speak, I feel that my system lacks some get up and go. With the EH or Winged C's, they each bring back the get up and go and make you want to listen more. I am not saying the GL's are bad tubes, because, many people like them, and in my Octave MRE 130 mono tube amp, they do bass well and they seem to do the midrange real well, but the highs fizzle, whereas, the EH's and Winged C's add more midrange and extended highs. It is a pronounced difference.

I am testing an octet of JJKT88's and they seem a little dry right now, but with very wide separation. I need to give them a few more hours to burn in. I was skeptical of the JJ's as the build quality seems a few notches below par of the EH, Winged C's, and GL's. The price is below market for other KT88's, and I wanted to experiment. I am also testing the Tung Sol KT120's, but that is for another story.

Has anyone tried the Sovtek KT88's?

In the end, I believe the EH's are one fine tube that equally benefit many tube amp owners in the same way as the GL's do for others. The sound is perceived differently on different equipment.

I guess I could say now, that having been there and done that, I prefer the EH’s and Winged C’s over many other tubes I have tried so far. The story is still unfolding in regards to the JJ’s, but if history repeats itself, I might be going back to the EH’s as my default, again.
Ciao,
Audioquest4life
audioquest4life
727 posts
 
I have boxed the JJ's and probably will sell them. My amps simply did harmonize with them. Straight out of the box, the JJ's were closed in and sounded like they were nasal sounding. I gave them a chance and about 75 hours. That was enough. I ordered another set of the EH KT88's and all was rigth again. I now know that the EH KT88's are the ebst choice for my amps and my listening. If you want the JJ's send me a private e-mail. I will never use them in the these amps.

Ciao,
Audioquest4life
audioquest4life
727 posts
 
I meant to say that The JJ's did not harmonize with my amps at all. I noticed some spelling errors. It was early in the morning and I was half awake. I wish spell check was enabled in Explorer like it is in Google.

Bottom line, the JJ's sucked when I tried them in my Octave amps.

Ciao,
Audioquest4life
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