KT-88's better than EH ...

I own a VTL S-400 Reference amp. I went back and forth with Gold Lion KT-88s and Penta KT-88sc. The Pentas clearly are better. The GL were thinner and the highs were too bright. The sound in general was to thin and not enjoyable. I put the Pentas back in and I was happy again. Curious about the EHs

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

No your right! EH KT-88,s are by far better than many tubes costing many times the price! I have heard many many tubes and Ive learned that no matter what equipment you are using they have the same signature sound. They are the blank slate or the proverbial "White canvas" as far as I am concerned. STIPULATION as long as the bias is right,but that being said these tubes are very forgiving if biased incorrectly. They are tough tubes to beat. I like a forward, dark tube in the pre like the New production JJ ECC803/12AX7 gold pin and the same tube sounds great in the phase splitter (ONLY IF it has a Phase splitter) I hate phase splitters! I didnt pay $20,000 for a pair of speakers with no crossovers to avoid unnecessary phase issues (crossoverless design, EX-Vandersteen,s) then buy an amp that does! Thats one of the best things about SET amps. Never buy a SET amp if it has a phase splitter! There are some great amps that have splitters but....Audiophiles...I / WE are picky! Why do phase splitters even exist? Why would anyone think that taking the signal then tearing it into two halves seperating the signal then putting the signal back together as one is a good idea? How do you do this and not lose something in translation??? I lose something from RCA cables so I can only imagine what Phase splitters do to signal! I have never understood this! WAIT!..Now for solid state it may be a necessary evil for power. Good ear! Happy listening!

Audioquest4life,
How has the JJ burn-in gone? I am also at a crossroads. (I will be strapping KT88 rertomodded Dynaco MKIIIs into triode or maybe tetrode.)

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