Sophia (blue) EL-34-ST Tubes

Designsfx · Dec 21, 2023

To All-
Just an update as the Sophia’s have been scarce lately- I received this email early today and thought I’d post in case others have been trying to source these. FYI- they may only be available from the Sophia website, not sure if they are making these available to dealers.

Happy holidays!

Good news! Blue glass EL34, KT88 and 5U4G tubes are available now. Blue glass 6SN7 and 6SL7 are expected to be available in about 4 weeks,

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!

Sue and the Sophia Electric family

sparkie · Dec 23, 2023

Ron Resnick said:
Any more Sophia EL34-ST direct comparisons to NOS Mullards?

Speaking of NOS Mullards, 6ca7 RCA red letters on the base and the grey plates sounded excellent and was made by Mullard

bajaed · Jan 12, 2024

Any opinions on the two Sophia KT88 versions? I'm going to upgrade my Cronus Magnum to the Cronus Dark and am considering the Sophia's.

Dogberry · Jan 12, 2024

I'm using 4 Sophia KT88-ST (blue coke bottle) in Quad II/forty monoblocks. Compared to the stock Quad re-branded tubes, and the EH tubes I have also used, they have been a great improvement. Currently at ~18 months of daily use.
When my stash of NOS Winged C 5?3C black plates runs out (they seem to last about six months before arcing) I think I'll try the Sophia 5U4Gs.

retired farmer · Mar 23, 2024

DaveC said:
Sure, the Siemens is pretty neutral in character, so less warmth than the Sophia. The Sophia's tone is more like a 300B, warmer than typical for an EL34. Siemens is pretty resolving, clear and overall would be my preference between the two. I've been using the GL KT77s, I got 8 of them a few years ago and have been using them since then without trying anything else, and it's been quite a while since I tried Siemens EL34s.

Interesting I tried gold lion kt77 s in my canary mono blocks and really didn't like them in that amp. It seemed hard snd brittle. Bright as well. I have a cheap set of electro harmonix el34s in there no it is far better In my ca 160s I also have s set of ps vane el34 s that I have not tried yet. At some point when I let the moths out if my wallet I will buy the set of 16 el34 tubes I really have wanted a set of sohpias for that amp. In snother amp I have a set of blue bottle kt88s from sohpia electric and a pair of 6sn7 and another pair of 6sl7 s in that amp. Lll another smo I put in s set of 274b rectifier tubes also from Sophia electric. Lol I am kind of a fan boy of there tubes so far. I have really like the ones I have bought. Likely not the best I could buy more money than the cheap ones but not over the moon for price either.

All that being said I like a fat snd full midrange but I also like air but not bright. They have all fit into this style of presentation which I like. I bought a set of odeon speakers the other day and they are breaking in and the midrange fullness and beauty have really held me to ghe stereo even as they are changing as they breaking. They represent they sound style I like.

Regards

Salectric · Mar 23, 2024

retired farmer said:
Interesting I tried gold lion kt77 s in my canary mono blocks and really didn't like them in that amp. It seemed hard snd brittle. Bright as well. I have a cheap set of electro harmonix el34s in there no it is far better In my ca 160s I also have s set of ps vane el34 s that I have not tried yet. At some point when I let the moths out if my wallet I will buy the set of 16 el34 tubes I really have wanted a set of sohpias for that amp. In snother amp I have a set of blue bottle kt88s from sohpia electric and a pair of 6sn7 and another pair of 6sl7 s in that amp. Lll another smo I put in s set of 274b rectifier tubes also from Sophia electric. Lol I am kind of a fan boy of there tubes so far. I have really like the ones I have bought. Likely not the best I could buy more money than the cheap ones but not over the moon for price either.

All that being said I like a fat snd full midrange but I also like air but not bright. They have all fit into this style of presentation which I like. I bought a set of odeon speakers the other day and they are breaking in and the midrange fullness and beauty have really held me to ghe stereo even as they are changing as they breaking. They represent they sound style I like.

Regards

The gold lion KT-77 change rather dramatically after a long break in, more so than any other output tubes I’ve tried. If you didn’t use yours for at least 50 hours, I suggest you try them again.

retired farmer · Mar 23, 2024

Salectric said:
The gold lion KT-77 change rather dramatically after a long break in, more so than any other output tubes I’ve tried. If you didn’t use yours for at least 50 hours, I suggest you try them again.

Well I did run them quote a bunch not sire if it was that long or not. Worth a try before I give them away.

Thank you

Salectric · Mar 23, 2024

retired farmer said:
Well I did run them quote a bunch not sire if it was that long or not. Worth a try before I give them away.

Thank you

Your description of “hard, brittle and bright” just sounds so different from my experience. I would describe the GL KT-77, once fully broken in, as a warm tonal balance with a rich lower midrange and slightly soft treble, with excellent dynamics and excellent midrange detail. Of course your amp may behave differently from mine.

Kingrex · Mar 23, 2024

Im using a KT88 in a PP configuration.
JJ are by far the most quiet. Can't measure over room noise. Very solid. Don't do anything wrong. Maybe don't do anything special.

Gold Lion. Noise issues. Hum. 50db or more with all 4.
More body that JJ. Good punch and drive. Well fleshed out.

Black Treasure. 3 very quiet, 1 noisy. 40 db. Trying to get a quiet one.
Most lush of the 3. Best soundstage. Really good harmonics. I have never heard the secondary shimmer of a crash cymbal after the initial hit as good as with the Black Treasure. Snare is really good too. So while its fast and organic/naural it does not have quiet the muscle and punch of the Gold Lion.

retired farmer · Mar 23, 2024

Salectric said:
Your description of “hard, brittle and bright” just sounds so different from my experience. I would describe the GL KT-77, once fully broken in, as a warm tonal balance with a rich lower midrange and slightly soft treble, with excellent dynamics and excellent midrange detail. Of course your amp may behave differently from mine.

The one fellow who I buy stuff from loves gold lion kt77s I always wondered why. Perhaps I know now. His audio store is his hobby he also writes for Hong Kong audio magazines. There are no budget limits there. Lol

DaveC · Mar 23, 2024

retired farmer said:
Well I did run them quote a bunch not sire if it was that long or not. Worth a try before I give them away.

Thank you

I agree they probably need more burn-in but the Sophias are certainly fuller and warmer sounding.

retired farmer · Mar 23, 2024

DaveC said:
I agree they probably need more burn-in but the Sophias are certainly fuller and warmer sounding.

Would you say the same about there 6922 tubes as well? Extended break in time?

retired farmer · Mar 23, 2024

retired farmer said:
Would you say the same about there 6922 tubes as well? Extended break in time?

I mean the gold lion ones?

DaveC · Mar 24, 2024

retired farmer said:
Would you say the same about there 6922 tubes as well? Extended break in time?

Not sure on those, but ime everything requires some burn-in if there's power or signal going through it. 100 hours is a minimum for anything, although things often change quite a bit right up front in the first few hours. Some stuff, like teflon insulated wire, often improves for hundreds of hours.

Kingrex · Mar 24, 2024

I have played with a few E88cc which is direct 6922 variant
The Telefunken $380 per tube, Siemens $200 a tube, Amprex BB White $120 are all very different.

I wouldn't get spun up on break in on these tubes when assessing the general character. Its going to immediately tell you what they do. The break in while generally allow them to settle a little and become a little less strident

retired farmer · Mar 24, 2024

I was rather excited about all I read about the gold lions and read a few places that they were the best currently made tubes. So I bought a set of KT77s a quad od 6922 and a pair of ecc88 s as well. I tried all these in a number of places and everyone is sitting in a box. I thought I had given them enough time but it is always worth giving something another chance and giving them some more break in time perhaps I did give them enough time I would be very happy if that is all it takes.

Kingrex · Mar 25, 2024

Well, I could see hard. That would be the punch I mentioned. We all have taste. Maybe you want lush and full. Nothing wrong with that. If the EH works, enjoy it. I don't know the Sophie to comment. But if you like the KT88, I bet there will be a family sound.

retired farmer · Mar 27, 2024

Kingrex said:
Well, I could see hard. That would be the punch I mentioned. We all have taste. Maybe you want lush and full. Nothing wrong with that. If the EH works, enjoy it. I don't know the Sophie to comment. But if you like the KT88, I bet there will be a family sound.

I tend to agree about the family sound. I have a pair of the 6sn7 and 6sn7 as well as the kt88s all sohpia s, in one integrated amplifier. As I put each set in it got better at each step.

I have three sets of reflector 6922 equivalents I like them as well on a personal level I don't find the lush I find them with a great sense of tonal balance and detail.

I first bought KT77s for an integrated amplifier I had in a home theatre system I have in my bathroom! Lol. I have a walk in tub with a heater and a two hour soak makes my poor back feel better. The break and the rods in there are sore around the clock. Anyhow I have the amplifier and blu-ray in the hallway and a set of inwall kefs in a box built in to the ceiling. It was a melody sp3. I bought that because of its size it physically fit the space I had. I had this other melody h88 the one that I put the sohpia tubes in. Also modified with oilers in it a very wonderful amplifier. The sp3 was a mistake it was bad and each set of gold lions gave it more resolution which it was lacking. I gave up on that amp it just wasn't my cup of tea. Very mid fi at best. I tried the gold lion 6922s in numerous other pieces two different cd players and a preamplifier and a power amplifier. This thread has me thinking I may not have given them a fair chance I am into a breakin period with a set of odeon speakers at the moment so for all the time it takes I may as well put the gold lion 6922s in give them a bunch of time while the speakers are doing there thing. No critical listening going on there at the moment anyhow.

Thank you for opening my mind all of you.

Regards

retired farmer · Apr 1, 2024

Anyhow I put a pair of the gold lion 6922s into the player last night so I will give them a couple weeks and see if I was just to hasty. Thank you all for the advice.

Regards

sparkie · Apr 1, 2024

retired farmer said:
I have three sets of reflector 6922 equivalents I like them as well on a personal level I don't find the lush I find them with a great sense of tonal balance and detail.

That one is on my list for dissection. Because they bought most of the 9a base plate dies when Telefunken closed their doors. So the plates are the same, but not the metallurgy, I want to compare and contrast the cathode and the grid winding to a Telefunken.

What shoots the new current tubes for a lot of people is the use of copper in the metallurgy. Which the electromagnetism effect changes how well the harmonics propagate in the tube. Granted some are made for things like guitar amps that most of these side harmonics are intentionally cancelled out, Some EE that are not specialized in audio will tell you any modulated distortion should be cancelled out. But they say other crazy things like there is no difference with resistors or capacitors either.

Sophia (blue) EL-34-ST Tubes

Active Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Industry Expert

Active Member

Active Member

Industry Expert

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Member