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Question on Chinese Tubes Shuguang KT-88-T (Nature series)

I bought an amp with the Shuguang KT88-T  tubes. One month after I bought it, a tube failed. So now I have 3 very good tubes which I cannot find anywhere but China. Just perusing through posts about this tube I have discovered that these tubes have had reliability issues. In my case, it took out a channel in my amp which had to be sent back to the builder to be repaired. I don’t want anymore of that. Considering the past problems of poor reliability & my own situation which was expensive, I wonder if its wise to even buy one more of these Shuguangs and take the chance on tearing up my amp with it again. BTW the amp had built in protection but it didn’t work. Don said he had put in more safety measures when it was repaired. . But I’m concerned. . What’s your thoughts. Abandon the Shuguang? Try another one?
128x128artemus_5
8 responses Add your response
axpert's avatar
axpert
124 posts
 

Just a NOTE:

Whatever you do, do not do any tube business with "CHINA-HI-FI" I ordered a matched quad of KT88Z's a few months ago. When tested, I found that all four were defective. It has taken months to get this resolved. Now YOUN LEE claims to have issued a refund, but did not state through who. I checked all of my credit cards and PAYPAL. No record of any refund credit issued. This is either just a scam or a "delay and evade" tactic   BEWARE of this company

AXPERT

artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,928 posts
 
@facten 

Thanks . This is the kind of reports I have seen spread across the internet BB's. Great tubes with little reliability. In my case it was an expensive catastrophic tube failure from the Shuguang. I'm told that the Psvane T2 is a great tube. But your experience shows the same problem with it as the Shuguangs. It appears that in most cases, they fail at about the same time they are just getting broken in. This was my case. Though the amp was used, I could tell the amp had not really been broke in before I got it. (The owner said it had low hours on it). Tough the Gold Lion's sound good, I would still love to hear a set of tubes that was not as rolled off in the high end, like the 2 previously mentioned. But I am not yet comfortable with trying either of those yet, thus my question here. 
facten
2,878 posts
 
I swapped Shuguang Black Treasures into my Ayon Spirit 2 , enjoyed the sound but 2 failed and I went back to Gold Lions rather than trying the Treasures again. I subsequently tried Psvane T2s , again liked the sound but one failed 3 months in. I could have purchased another Psvane but went back with Gold Lions. Although I know that any tube can/will fail I didn’t want to run the risk with the Treasures or the T2s but that’s me; only you can decide what’s best for you.



artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,928 posts
 
Guys, I know there are other good tubes out there. But Thats not the question. I have 3 tubes which sound very good and I need one more. Do I abandon the 3 I have or take a chance on these questionable Shuguang tubes?

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
JJ's made in Slovakia are an excellent alternative to Ch*nese and Russian tubes!
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
The Rubys used by Cary were some great sounding valves.. They were Shuguangs (I'm pretty sure).  They were better than GL. BUT the GL now, don't suffer the failure rate like they use to either.. For a few years everyone had quality issues.. Factories were being sold everywhere and new factories were being built..

Tube equipment came back with a fury.. It's everywhere CHEAP too..

NOW Valve plants, are in actual competition again (less the covid crap),
for price, quality and market share.  Like it should be..

Regards
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,928 posts
 
@russ69 Indeed, they are good. I've run their  KT66 also with great results  As good as they are, the Shuguangs are a better tube. I ran those for a month prior with very nice results and they weren't even broke in yet
(EDIT) 
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,504 posts
 
Gold Lyon KT-88s. A very nice tube in my Prima Luna.
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