LampizatOr Horizon - Tube Rolling Paradise

Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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I’m very confident that Norm based his advice on the performance of GEC KT66 in TRP. GEC KT88 is different animal…
 

plasmod3

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Aug 28, 2020
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I did not like the Gold Lion KT88s in my amp. Granted, this is a different application.
Hi David

I am using gold lion kt88s in my wavac 833v2 amps and they sound fantastic Iin those amps
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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Hi David

I am using gold lion kt88s in my wavac 833v2 amps and they sound fantastic Iin those amps

There are a lot of people who like them. I just didn't. The old GECs just sound better to me. I would have preferred liking the Gold Lions given the big price difference.
 
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plasmod3

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There are a lot of people who like them. I just didn't. The old GECs just sound better to me. I would have preferred liking the Gold Lions given the big price difference.
I think the gecs and gold lions are pretty much the same tube. One for industrial use and the other packaged nicely for retail sales but pretty much the same. I think Golum sidestepped my question above as well haha:)

Gold lions only came in later though I understand so the earlier kt88s remain gec branded rather than gold lion or gold monarch
 

dminches

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I think the gecs and gold lions are pretty much the same tube. One for industrial use and the other packaged nicely for retail sales but pretty much the same. I think Golum sidestepped my question above as well haha:)

Gold lions only came in later though I understand so the earlier kt88s remain gec branded rather than gold lion or gold monarch

I think we are talking about different tubes. I was referring to the reissues. I have never tried the OS Gold Lions.
 

plasmod3

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Aug 28, 2020
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I think we are talking about different tubes. I was referring to the reissues. I have never tried the OS Gold Lions.
Ahhh I see. The reissues cannot compare to the originals for sure. The new sensor ones are unfortunately a pale imitation. You have to try the nos!
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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I rolled in a quad of 807s to compare to the GEC KT88. I am hearing a little less weight to the sound and a little too much high end. They don’t seem to have the midrange magic that the GECs do.

For reference, I am using an Acme 274B and a pair of Tung Sol 6SN7s, black glass, round plates.

I will listen for another day or so and then conclude.
 
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Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I rolled in a quad of 807s to compare to the GEC KT88. I am hearing a little less weight to the sound and a little too much high end. They don’t seem to have the midrange magic that the GECs do.

For reference, I am using an Acme 274B and a pair of Tung Sol 6SN7s, black glass, round plates.

I will listen for another day or so and then conclude.
go ahead and beat your self up :p . Do you have a preferred tube set as of now?
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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go ahead and beat your self up :p . Do you have a preferred tube set as of now?

GEC KT88s / Tung Sol 6SN7s

I haven’t put my Tak 274B in yet but I assume I will end up there.

I haven’t tried any other signal tubes such as 5687s, CV181s, 6N1P, 6N6P, VT-99s.

It’ll take a while to settle on the 4 power tubes and then I will roll the signal tubes. I am in no rush since everything sounds better than the Pacific.
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
GEC KT88s / Tung Sol 6SN7s

I haven’t put my Tak 274B in yet but I assume I will end up there.

I haven’t tried any other signal tubes such as 5687s, CV181s, 6N1P, 6N6P, VT-99s.

It’ll take a while to settle on the 4 power tubes and then I will roll the signal tubes. I am in no rush since everything sounds better than the Pacific.
as Lukasz said at the very beginning there are no bad tubes. For my ears I was finding small variations of the same until I settled on my tube set. I have back up sets for all of them so I'm very happy now and yes as good as the Pacific is the Horizon is an end game changer...for me at least
 
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dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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as Lukasz said at the very beginning there are no bad tubes. For my ears I was finding small variations of the same until I settled on my tube set. I have back up sets for all of them so I'm very happy now and yes as good as the Pacific is the Horizon is an end game changer...for me at least

Ironically, I though the stock KR KT88s were “bad.” Just not to my liking.
 

rau

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Aug 6, 2015
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GEC KT88s / Tung Sol 6SN7s

I haven’t put my Tak 274B in yet but I assume I will end up there.

I haven’t tried any other signal tubes such as 5687s, CV181s, 6N1P, 6N6P, VT-99s.

It’ll take a while to settle on the 4 power tubes and then I will roll the signal tubes. I am in no rush since everything sounds better than the Pacific.
GEC KT88s is a big power tube investment:)
 
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Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Ironically, I though the stock KR KT88s were “bad.” Just not to my liking.
Have you tried the TungSol KT 170. A huge uptick from the KR KT 88

Out of curiosity do you have any thoughts about the Gold Lion KT77
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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dminches

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
3,477
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Have you tried the TungSol KT 170. A huge uptick from the KR KT 88

Out of curiosity do you have any thoughts about the Gold Lion KT77

I did try the KT170s and preferred the GEC KT88s. I will put them back in at the end to listen again.

I have not tried the Gold Lion KT77s.
 

Steve Rowan

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Feb 12, 2012
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There are many versions of the 5687 tubes. Of course not the CSF version but has anyone tried some of the others? Maybe more or less captivating?
 

Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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There are many versions of the 5687 tubes. Of course not the CSF version but has anyone tried some of the others? Maybe more or less captivating?
I have quite a few 5687 ready to be tried (all as top contenders from Gunter Tobian) but of course no H yet on my horizon (seems like Yoda took my comment on liking the 69 number seriously). But I'm hoarding some other pentode options which may be top of the crop as well.
 

Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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I did try the KT170s and preferred the GEC KT88s. I will put them back in at the end to listen again.

I have not tried the Gold Lion KT77s.
D did you get those adapters for the big bottles?
 

Steve Rowan

Well-Known Member
Feb 12, 2012
81
110
955
St. Peters, MO
I have quite a few 5687 ready to be tried (all as top contenders from Gunter Tobian) but of course no H yet on my horizon (seems like Yoda took my comment on liking the 69 number seriously). But I'm hoarding some other pentode options which may be top of the crop as well.
How does one look or read about the tube and know what features could make a difference? Bras plates, genders, etc?
 

Steve Rowan

Well-Known Member
Feb 12, 2012
81
110
955
St. Peters, MO
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