What is the best KT88 tube available?

[Cellcbern]

If the Sophia blue KT88’s are as good as their blue EL34’s and 274B’s then they are likely competitive with the EAT’s as well as the best NOS tubes.

FYI:

First Listen: The Sophia Electric Blue Glass KT88-ST in the Leben CS600X Integrated Amplifier! Updated. - Jeff's Place

Last night I installed the fresh out of the box Sophia Electric blue-glass KT88-ST long-life vacuum tubes into the new Leben CS600X, that's currently powering my vintage Altec A5 Voice of the Theatre loudspeakers in my audio-visual system. I'm running the Sophia Electric KT88-STs with cathode...

jeffsplace.positive-feedback.com

Sophia Electric EL34-ST and KT88-ST Vacuum Tubes - Page 3 of 4 - Positive Feedback

Sexy Blue Tubes, Part 2, The Sophia Electric EL34-ST and KT88-ST Vacuum Tubes!

positive-feedback.com

 

[cuntigh]

Ron,
No. Not yet. Here in France a famous and well respected tube specialist (he wrote a few well known books on tubes and electronics) is saying these Sophia are cheap modified Chinese tubes that are sold outrageously expensive and their construction is only so-so. He dislikes KR tubes also but for unknown reasons and he refuses to develop further communication about them.
Believe me this guy knows what he is talking about. Very documented about tubes history, construction mode at anytime..etc..

But he is not an audiophile. He is a technician, so…

Often people who have unknown tubes (disappeared painting etc) post a photo and he explains, technically, what it is in which factory and when it has been built.

I read a different opinion on Jeff Day’s blog, and I trust his word, so I think one day I will try them, but I was tempted by the artisanal European factory. I’m happy with the sound now. If someone has experience with the Sophia KT88 hope he will share.

 

[jadis]

Last March, I bought 12 new Psvane KT88s for the Jadis PA100 amp. They sound pretty good, though I can't see far and away better than the stock Jadis selected EH KT88s, which are quite nice too.

 

[Cellcbern]

Ron,
No. Not yet. Here in France a famous and well respected tube specialist (he wrote a few well known books on tubes and electronics) is saying these Sophia are cheap modified Chinese tubes that are sold outrageously expensive and their construction is only so-so. He dislikes KR tubes also but for unknown reasons and he refuses to develop further communication about them.
Believe me this guy knows what he is talking about. Very documented about tubes history, construction mode at anytime..etc..

But he is an audiophile. He is a technician, so…

Often people who have unknown tubes (disappeared painting etc) post a photo and he explains, technically, what it is in which factory and when it has been built. But he is an audiophile. He is a technician, so…

I read a different opinion on Jeff Day’s blog, and I trust his word, so I think one day I will try them, but I was tempted by the artisanal European factory. I’m happy with the sound now. If someone has experience with the Sophia KT88 hope he will share.

The Shuguang factory makes these tubes for Sophia based on Sophia's designs. That's never been a secret.

 

[cuntigh]

Yes, it is made by Shuguang but it’s Sophia’s design and control quality. Many people are happy with Sophia Electric.
I haven’t heard anything bad about reliability either. They are said to last long. I think it’s a good product. Not the chic artisanal European and the blue color is terrible (but that’s me).

 

[Ron Resnick]

Here in France a famous and well respected tube specialist (he wrote a few well known books on tubes and electronics) is saying these Sophia are cheap modified Chinese tubes that are sold outrageously expensive and their construction is only so-so. He dislikes KR tubes also but for unknown reasons and he refuses to develop further communication about them.

Thank you for this report. So which KT88 does he like?

 

[cuntigh]

He recommends PSVANE TII- MKII. I read some customers are not that happy with reliability of these tubes, but in general they have rather good reputation.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you. It is a little puzzling, as a lot of people seem to like KR tubes.

 

[bonzo75]

Thank you. It is a little puzzling, as a lot of people seem to like KR tubes.

KR are quite better than Sophia and Psvane or Psvane Acme. I haven’t compared 88s but the I preferred the KR kt88 integrated to the AN U.K. jinro with stock 211s, on the AN speaker

 

[unboxed]

Where are the KR88s made? And where are they on the USA website? I do not see them.

KR Audio USA - KR AUDIO TUBES

KR AUDIO Worlds Premiere Manufacturer of High-End - Class A - Award-Winning Tube Audio Amplifiers, Kronzilla Mono Blocks, Integrated Amplifiers, Pre-Amplifiers. KR AUDIO USA, Exclusive USA Distributor for KR AUDIO.

www.kraudiousa.com

 

[facten]

I use new production Gold Lions in my Ayon Spirit 2 integrated amp in my 2nd system; a nice sounding tube. I tried the Psvane T2s , the sound had somewhat more body to it with them. However, I found the tubes unreliable, 2 of 4 failed with less than 500 hours on them. I'd like to try the Sophia blue bottle KT 88s but they are rarely in stock (their blue bottle 274B is very good use one in my Modwright Elysee DAC in the same system).

 

[cuntigh]

I forgot to say the KR Audio have a 6 months warranty. We know that defective tubes often fail in the first 2 weeks of use, so if it didn’t fail rapidly there are good chances they will survive a few years.

 

[Atmasphere]

JJ makes a KT88 in blue glass that has proven a good sounding tube and reliable. I don't see them on the JJ website though, although they do turn up on the CE Distribution site and a few others.