KT 94 (KT 100)

Looking for something "different" for the ST120 ... any experience with these? I imagine you could get similar power in this amp (70+ WPC) using them, and maybe that "special" flavor we're all looking for ...

PS - from what I gather the KT94 is mechanically identical to the KT100 except for minor differences  in the shape of the bottle. Looks like the only mfg is Shuguang?



PS - price is in line with the KT120's and better KT88's at around $190 for a matched quad ...

Isn't Shuguang's KT100 already a KT88 with a slightly-different glass bottle? Which would make the KT94... a KT88 with a more-slightly-different glass bottle?

... and I suppose bringing up the KT88-98 would just confuse matters more ...

What's interesting is that the KT88 actually has higher plate power rating of 50w vs the 42/45w that either the KT94 or KT100 produces. That in itself probably doesn't mean much for an amp that drives these tubes conservatively. 20% or 30% headroom fully pushed don't make a whole lot of difference in the end.

Wish I could find more info comparing these, and finding out WHY they even exist. Gotta be a better reason than they were just bored one day and decided to pull our collective chains by changing the bottle shape and calling it a new tube ...

PS - price out the EI KT90's lately? I saw a quad of used go on da bay for $400 ...

Oh - just found these ... not yer daddy's KT90's - only $600 a quad!

Just had these recommended to me ...



Now we're talking $800 for a matched quad ... owch!!

The tube maker EI is gone. All you see on the market is old stuff ( possibly rejected ) or
rebranded something else.
The last part of EI was bombed during the kosovo war.

?

These are KRON Audio, apparently a recent start up (1992) out of the Czech Republic. They're also apparently making 300 and 845 tubes ...

New one on me - betcha I'd be the first on the block, right? Low production, hence the cost, and availability is low as you might expect, seeing as they're hand crafted by fairies only under a gibbous moon ...

Color Me Cynical.

a) there are few tube makers today. Far too few.
b) there is a basic investment in making any tube, after which incremental costs are small.
c) relative to pre-blight days, the manufacturing output of all audio tube facilities worldwide today, annually, is probably 3-5 days worth of a moderately large pre-blight manufacturer.
d) accordingly, present-day makers will concentrate on exotics and high-profit tubes.

Coming Soon: KT XXX-1/2.............

You want exotic? How about this bad boy!

Drumroll please ... the KRT-1610 !



Only around $4K for a matched pair. Please allow a month or so lead time as they're made on demand ... wonder if they make an adapter so it'd fit one of our amps?

I never really took the time to listen to music with the Sovtek KT88's I bought with my amp but....I want to bet as I keep saying that in reality the differences in sonic quality is probably really quite small between the least expensive tubes and the most expensive. That being said I'd like to try a more expensive or more exotic set of tubes but to me a tube set that's as well built as can be these days that's going to last a respectable amount of time are the factors that will satisfy me the most. I think once it's time for me to change tubes I'll try the Sovteks again. I imagine Bob Latino chose to offer the Sovteks because the provide a decent sound quality for the money along with the fact that Bob probably got a good deal on them when he bought them in bulk.

My VTA ST-120 kit came with Sovtek KT88 tubes. Since then I've tried Tong Sol KT120's, Gold Lion reissue KT88's, and Black Treasure KT88's. I didn't care for the KT120's and sold them, one of the Black Treasures failed, and the Gold Lions are serving as spares. I'm now back to the Sovtek's and to me they sound great so I agree that Bob's choice was a good one.

I also hear a lot of good things about the relatively new Psvane KT88-T Mark II's.



Too bad about those butt ugly gray bottles, butt ... Supposed to be a major improvement sonically over their earlier offerings, and those weren't half bad. My only issue with those was durability - I had one flat line at about three months here.

There again, you pay for the privilege ... the "reference" series Mark II's will set you back about $500 a quad.

PS - just to confirm - the ST120 iron is strong enough to drive a quad of KT90's AND bias up properly? My ... er ... what's the word I'm looking for here ... uh ... oh, yeah ... MEMORY isn't what it used to be, and it never was all that great.

sKiZo wrote:My ... er ... what's the word I'm looking for here ... uh ... oh, yeah ... MEMORY isn't what it used to be, and it never was all that great.

They say the memory is the first thing to go and I forgot what the second thing is....

My second set of tubes were TungSol KT-120's. Of which one red plated. I had a quad of Genelex Gold Lion KT-88's and a Gold Lion rectifier. The rectifier red plated and it was replaced because it occurred within a week of getting it. And so far the Gold Lions have worked flawlessly. I thought I preferred the KT-120's but to be honest I don't remember what they really sounded like since its been a few years so I'm not sure I'll get another quad of KT-120's. I would like to try something different...but at this time I'm ok with what I have.

Highly recommend the TAD KT88str's ... the KT120's definitely have more grunt on the bottom, but the TAD's win when it comes to detail all across the spectrum. Had my doubts at first, but they're really come alive now that I've got a couple hundred hours on them. The KT120's are now relegated to backup service.

PS - if you're not familiar with the TADs, they're custom made based on the old British MOV design, heavy glass and evarthang ...



http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/shop_TAD_Premium_Tubes_TAD_Power_Tubes_SELECTED/KT88_STR_TAD_Premium_Matched_2823