Top shelf KT-88 - I needed a set for a client's McIntosh amp. Awesome sounding - I ordered late afternoon and had them in hand the next morning. Many thanks for the prompt attention, Antiques!

I have a Black Ice 3502 by Jolida. Had this unit about 2 years and a Jolida 502B for 10 years prior. Wonderful, well built American tube amps at great prices. I have been running SED EL34 Winged C’s. A classic, spacious, lush sounding tube to my ears. Can listen for hours and never fatigued. I ran KT150’s prior to that but not so happy with them for this particular amp, anyway. That’s another story. After some research I decided to try these Gold Lion KT88’s and am very impressed. I know there is some controversy about breaking tubes in and how long and if they should break in with music or does it matter and so on. My feelings is that you get 90% of a tubes ‘sound’ the minuet you install them. Over the next 20-50 hours of play they alter some. A bit better soundstage, maybe. Tighter bass perhaps. But I think the real break in is your own ears. The more you listen to a given power tube set the more nuance you pick up. The more music details you learn and recognize. This is especially true if you are swapping out tubes you’ve had for a while and are familiar with. You are the one that needs the break in. These KT88’s seem more dynamic to me. Cymbals sound a bit brighter. Like the EL34’s the soundstage remains wide and deep. (Important to me because my rig is a near-field setup with about a six foot triangulation between my Celestion A Series speakers and myself.) That amazing crystal clear definition of instruments and voices seems even a little more so with the KT’s. One can effortlessly follow a given instrument throughout a track. The fading out of a note on piano goes on forever....nothing rolls off. I’m guessing these will improve with use but, like I said, to a more subtle degree rather than dramatic. Already like these better than the KT150’s in this amp. Amp and speakers make such a difference that reviews like this must always be taken with a grain of salt. That being said, I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed with these tubes and especially with the great price and service Antique Electronic Supply offers! Great packing and very quick delivery. I’ll play these for 6 months or so and then put the EL34’s back in for their 6 month stint! Keeps it interesting. Now if only someone would create a nice display rack for tubes......I’d be content!