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karma67
18-02-2019, 19:09
im after some advice from anyone who has tried rolling the kt88,i have sovteks and obviously the holy grail is the gec kt88,has anyone taken this leap of faith? current prices are £1000+ for a quad set so id like some info,did you get a lovely warm smile on your face after shelling out those bucks and think money well spent?

whos tried the new genalex gold lions and gone the brand new route? a more safer option at around £180 for 4.
Wakefield Turntables
18-02-2019, 19:35
+1 for the Genelex gold lions. I have a quad powering my Sondex. I'm probably wrong, but arn't the gold lions a modern day copy of old GEC jobbies?
Audio Al
18-02-2019, 19:39
Hello fellow audio jumbler:)

I have the Genalex gold lions , can't comment on comparisons as they have been the only valves I have used so far :eyebrows:

If you buy the GEC KT88's and send them down I will do a comparison for you :D
karma67
18-02-2019, 19:49
+1 for the Genelex gold lions. I have a quad powering my Sondex. I'm probably wrong, but arn't the gold lions a modern day copy of old GEC jobbies?

apparently so mate.
Wakefield Turntables
18-02-2019, 19:54
I've had Sovtek, TAD, Electroharmonix (which are good), and the Genelex, the Genelex are to my ears the best of what I've tried.
karma67
18-02-2019, 19:55
Hello fellow audio jumbler:)

I have the Genalex gold lions , can't comment on comparisons as they have been the only valves I have used so far :eyebrows:

If you buy the GEC KT88's and send them down I will do a comparison for you :D


or you could come here with the lions ......:)
karma67
18-02-2019, 19:56
I've had Sovtek, TAD, Electroharmonix (which are good), and the Genelex, the Genelex are to my ears the best of what I've tried.

by much or was it subtle?
Wakefield Turntables
18-02-2019, 19:59
by much or was it subtle?

Depends on which brand your comparing them against. I knew that the Genelex outperformed all the others I tried within about 30 seconds of listening to Miles Davis. I wouldn't say it was massive but certainly enough to make me happy to keep them. There are new American '88s out there but at a cost.
User211
18-02-2019, 20:16
The best KT88 modern production on the planet is probably the EAT.

I cannot recommend them.

The Tesla Vrsovice KT88 it is based on was astonishing and unreliable at the same time.

It sounded fantastic. For a KT88.

Otherwise dunno these days. So many choices.
karma67
18-02-2019, 20:20
Depends on which brand your comparing them against. I knew that the Genelex outperformed all the others I tried within about 30 seconds of listening to Miles Davis. I wouldn't say it was massive but certainly enough to make me happy to keep them. There are new American '88s out there but at a cost.

ive only heard the sovteks ,and have no issue with them but thats all ive heard.
User211
18-02-2019, 20:23
ive only heard the sovteks ,and have no issue with them but thats all ive heard.I had them they are way below the best.

JJ are OKish. That said I couldn't live with them but better than quite a few.

NOS Tung-Sol 6550 is definitely good. Repros I cannot speak for. I could listen to the Tungs for extended periods without hatred;)
karma67
18-02-2019, 20:35
I had them they are way below the best.

)

oh i may be in for a nice surprise then :)
Wakefield Turntables
18-02-2019, 22:00
Yeah you could try 6550's lots of lovely American stuff to try. I've a huge soft spot for Tung Sol, I tube rolled about a dozen different 6sl7GT's Tung Sol ruled the roost for ages until I got the RCA red bases. You buggers! You've now got me wondering about old 6550's, ahhhh!!!!!! :eek: