Gold Lion KT88 No Cryo Reviews

4.9 Rating 159 Reviews

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Phone:

909.931.9686

Email:

joel.m@upscaleaudio.com

Location:

2058 Wright Avenue,
2058 Wright Avenue
California
91750

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“Amazing valve but this is not any news regarding this tube. Kevin with Upscale Audio does a great job of summing up the sound of this tube: see his review. Used in my Cary CAD 280 SA V12r, this is the best tube I have heard in this amp. Compared with EH Kt88 has more midrange clarity and "magic" while being more dynamic. Treble offers even more detail. Sound stage and center images are placed a little more forward but far from being "in your face". I replaced previous EL 34s (EHs, JJs, and my favorite Mullards) with these and found they closely rivaled the magic of the EL 34s midrange but with more detail, wider/deeper soundstage, clarity, and an overall "refined/high end sound". I highly recommend giving these a try. I purchased mine from Upscale Audio and I am very pleased with the selection process they offer to yield overall higher quality compared to other other sources for vacuum tunes. My only regret... Wish I had tried them sooner!”

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Posted 8 years ago

“IMO Very few Russian tubes live up to the hype...that being said if you read a review stating these KT-88 tubes have very tight and solid bass clear and smooth mid upper range you can believe it with out a doubt........”

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Posted 10 years ago

“They don't call them Gold Lion tubes for nothing :) Replaced Svetlanas 6550c in my VTL ST-150. It's not that I did not like Svetlana 6550c; I like Golden Lion KT88s much better. And I have to mention the great service: I wanted to go with Winged C, but was advised of potential inferior compatibility with my amp. I am glad I followed that great advice.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“I have what you'd call a limited type of amp made in great Britain (Audion). Your experts knew the amp and also knew what I thought was good tube would not last long do to the load from the amp.They then asked what I like to do giving me some other choices.I chose from the selection (golden lions) and just the love sound. Thanks you so much your forever customer!!”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Very happy with the quality of the tubes I received from upscale audio. You need to be careful from whom you buy from, I bought the same product from another vender and it was not the same quality. They had a very flat sound stage and an noise that you could not hear but could sense, hard to describe. Anyways 5 stars for Upscale Audio.”

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Posted 10 years ago

Olivier Closse

Unverified Reviewer

“I heard immediately the basses that where lacking with the original chineese tubes. But the whole register sounds more musical.”

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Posted 10 years ago

Francois Roberge

Unverified Reviewer

“As I'm writing, the tubes have only about fifty hours of use. But uncle Kevin wants an opinion so "voici mon opinion". They are now starting to flourish with smoother bass, very good detail and imaging with a more enjoyable mid range that is not bright, and it's quite noticeable. Very musical. I'm getting the sound I want from these. They are cryogenically treated and have replaced aged Electro Harmonix KT88 in Rogue M-150 monos, so a comparison would be unjust. However, I can say this...I've read some internet blogs from so called experts that say the GLs are the same as the EHs. Well maybe up to a point, except that the EH KT88 does not have side getters, only at the top while the GL has two on opposite sides and one on top. There's one reason why they cost more. I was apprehensive before making this purchase (especially with devalued Canadian $), however, with so many favourable reviews I put in my order for an octet (two matched quads). Once installed bias was slowly brought up to 40ma after 45 minutes of war up. It' been five days and no drift. So if you want nice sounding KT88 tubes that don't cost $750 a pair this is the way to go. Don't be shy and don't be cheap, get them. I'm very happy with the purchase from Upscale Audio. F.Y.I. Preamp is ARC SP16 with ARC's own tubes and speakers are Vandersteen 2Ce paired with 2WQs.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 10 years ago

“I replaced 4 Tung Sol 6550's with these Gold Lion KT-88's in my Jolida 502. I use a passive set up with no tone controls as a pre-amp. Basically just a volume pot from the components to the amp. Pure as I can get. The difference in sound was not subtle at all. It was immediate. These KT-88's have a tighter, bigger bass sound. And the sound field is out of this word. The stereo imaging is almost visual. Very impressed with these tubes. I had read a few negative comments about their reliability though. So I bought them from Upscale Audio because of their unique tube testing procedures. Hopefully the great sound will last the tubes lifetime.”

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Posted 11 years ago