What is the best KT88 tube available?

Cellcbern

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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:


 
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cuntigh

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Dec 20, 2014
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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.
 
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jadis

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Apr 28, 2010
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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.

viber_image_2022-03-16_23-01-49-898.jpg 11.jpg
 

Cellcbern

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Jul 30, 2015
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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

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Dec 20, 2014
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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

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
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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

Well-Known Member
Dec 20, 2014
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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

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
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Thank you. It is a little puzzling, as a lot of people seem to like KR tubes.
 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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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

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Apr 24, 2017
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Where are the KR88s made? And where are they on the USA website? I do not see them.

 

facten

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2022
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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

Well-Known Member
Dec 20, 2014
339
90
260
FRANCE
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.
 

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