Genalex KT88 Gold Lion tubes availability & price

how much does a pair of kt88 genalex gold lion cost?
is there a local dealer in bolehland? or will have to order overseas?
how much improvement can be achieved compared to others kt88 after installation & running in?

tq in advance

Can try Octave in PJ, near Amcorp Mall.

If u r talking reissues, should be around RM200 plus.

It is selling at RM240 per pc at Octave. I bought mine on the net from USA, USD99.95 per pair + USD30 postage (Fedex). Still a bit cheaper than local dealer here.

I find the Gold Lion reissues to be quite good compared to the stock KT88s in my Mac amp.

Some say you gotta run it in at least 50hrs plus but I thought mine sounded good immediately compared to the stock tubes. And it actually got better as the hours go by. Real sweet sounding.

Although I have heard of reliability problems, I have had none for the last 1.5 years.

Yes, it sounds more detailing & more forward for my system even when it is new from box.

I think any power tubes can last as long as 2-3 thousands hours before it give ways but depend on amp's biasing too, lah.

Anyone with experience to compare KT88 vs KT90 vs 6550? It's confusing this valve thing though I've been using a Jadis Defy 30 for ten years now. Only been through 6550 valves of various makes, even then there's variation in sound. Appreciate some useful insight.

Cheers.

Of course la, local retailers have to make small money ma. You in a hurry buy from them, if can wait order from internet.
Mind you there are loads of rebranded valves out there, MIC but rebranded as American or European makes which add to the confusion. That's because valves are making a big comeback of late esp in guitar amplification and general concert/studio/auditorium application. Therefore American and European manufacturers turn to China for for immediate supplies and have their brands on them.
So it's hard to compare say between cousins 6550 to KT88 when you aren't even sure if your valves are genuine article of the same make in the first place.
Good thing about valves they last quite a bit, so if you bought some and pleased with the sound they'll stay on your amp for a while until you get itchy again.
That's my bit of advice.

whats the diff between all these kt88s & SETs tube amp?
how does a SET amp which comprises same tubes like a pair of kt88
still having low output compares to bewitch?
i do read somewhere for SET u must make sure speaker connections are intact otherwise you will burn the output, is this true?
can this genelex be use in SETs amp?

if you are keen i have an unused new pair with box selling for RM400. add RM 20 for postal fees.

Wan Azami Hamzah wrote:Anyone with experience to compare KT88 vs KT90 vs 6550? It's confusing this valve thing though I've been using a Jadis Defy 30 for ten years now. Only been through 6550 valves of various makes, even then there's variation in sound. Appreciate some useful insight.

Cheers.

KT valves meaning ( Kinkless Tetrodes) 6 plates have a slower sounding bass in comparison to the 6550 Pentodes ( 5 plates). Both are interchangeble because the pentodes are a newer derivative of the tetrodes in its history of valve refinement thus their electrical characteristics are almost similar. An american refinement in pentode tube design over the years thus the 6l6 over the EL34 as well.

IMHO I have liked the 6550's better in general, they seem to be more dynamic and punchy in the low end compared to the KT's which tend to be strong but slow in their lower frequency reproduction.

Matter or taste actually.

I bought Tung-sol 6550 re-issues to replace the KT88 in my Cayin amp and find them a great improvement - better resolution, faster and more dynamic!

So guys, reading this discussion thread it seems to suggest to me that in general, 6550 is preferable to KT88, is that right ?

Just curious, are there any other industrial applications for KT88 and 6550 tubes outside of the audio industry still ?

Or were they (6550, KT88, etc) designed specifically for audio applications right from the very beginning?

No in fact most of these tubes were designed for radio transmission or in matter of fact military radars and equipment back in the 40's onwards. Small noval tubes even made their way as guidance line transmission tubes used inside each ICBM ( Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles) warheads back then such as the super Bendix 6900!

Even the infamous 300B tubes were made by Western Electric for long telecommunication transmission lines and were rated to have a lifespan of up to 36000 hours! They were once used in deep sea telecom lines due to their extensive long life and yes there were switched on 24 hrs/day!

Of course some tubes were made for audio use but I know for a fact that the 6550's were for military since I have bought some GE JAN' s from a retired US army officer that served the US Army his entire life and these stock were from excessive thousands of military surplas! They virtually auctioned the whole lot off cheaply while used ones were thrown away, they were only like today's 25W light bulbs!

Tubes are known to be EMP proof, resistive to nuclear powered shockwaves back in the nuke era!

Of course having said that with the emergence of transistor circuits in the 80's, uses for tubes have long diminished for industrial application and now only find their way in audio applications today.

wan to ask the military use the tube for wat?coz i m new in tube world..i just now tube for audio since 60's till now..n i always heard military tube..wat mean??

dixchen wrote:No in fact most of these tubes were designed for radio transmission or in matter of fact military radars and equipment back in the 40's onwards. Small noval tubes even made their way as guidance line transmission tubes used inside each ICBM ( Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles) warheads back then such as the super Bendix 6900!

Even the infamous 300B tubes were made by Western Electric for long telecommunication transmission lines and were rated to have a lifespan of up to 36000 hours! They were once used in deep sea telecom lines due to their extensive long life and yes there were switched on 24 hrs/day!

Of course some tubes were made for audio use but I know for a fact that the 6550's were for military since I have bought some GE JAN' s from a retired US army officer that served the US Army his entire life and these stock were from excessive thousands of military surplas! They virtually auctioned the whole lot off cheaply while used ones were thrown away, they were only like today's 25W light bulbs!

Tubes are known to be EMP proof, resistive to nuclear powered shockwaves back in the nuke era!

Of course having said that with the emergence of transistor circuits in the 80's, uses for tubes have long diminished for industrial application and now only find their way in audio applications today.

wow..garantee better sound ?

royroy wrote:wan to ask the military use the tube for wat?coz i m new in tube world..i just now tube for audio since 60's till now..n i always heard military tube..wat mean??

coz last time before the transistor was invented, they all got to use vacuum tubes to perform the function of signal amplification and control.

All the WW2 era radios and radar systems then all used tubes.


Military tube means the tubes were designed for military use, so had to meet certain specs for consistency, reliability and ruggedness.... i guess.

But i dont think the miliraty still use tubes today...
And while tubes are EMP resistant, there are various methods today to make solid state and embedded circuits EMP resistance via various shielding designs (ie. Eurocopter Tiger).

Hi,

I have just listen to the ei kt90, ge 6550 and gold lion re-issue kt88.
You can have a look here,
http://h1f1.blogspot.com/2009/12/which-power-tube.html



Klau
www.h1f1.blogspot.com

Wan Azami Hamzah wrote:Anyone with experience to compare KT88 vs KT90 vs 6550? It's confusing this valve thing though I've been using a Jadis Defy 30 for ten years now. Only been through 6550 valves of various makes, even then there's variation in sound. Appreciate some useful insight.

Cheers.

Thanks for the opinions. I was right to stick to 6550s then. Which brand is best in your opinion/s.? Appreciate advice. Cheers

Hi,

I have to be specific here. i listen to Nos GE 6550

KLau
www.h1f1.blogspot.com

Wan Azami Hamzah wrote:Thanks for the opinions. I was right to stick to 6550s then. Which brand is best in your opinion/s.? Appreciate advice. Cheers