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As you may have noticed, I am a NOS tube guy. I like valves from the 1950s and 1960s and have spent decades collecting NOS and OS tubes. I rarely have much good to say about modern production. Not that I have anything against them per say; I understand the need for modern tubes. I have just found that NOS and OS tubes generally sound better and last longer.
About a year ago, I purchased a set of Psvane Treasure KT88 from Parts connextion for my Rogue amp as they were on sale to make room for the mark 2 grey glass version. Mine are the original black glass tubes. I finally got around to trying them and they have been in my amp for the last 3 or 4 months.
These are by far the best KT88s type I have heard in this amp. In KT88 I have tried the GL reissues, the EH KT88, Penta Labs KT88SC, EI KT90s and KT120s. I still love the EI KT90s, they are more dynamic, ballsy and extended than the Psvanes, but in the midrange the Psvanes have a warmth and musicality that the EIs don't quite match. And the upper bass/lower midrange is controlled better than other KT88, similar to the way the EIs handle this range. Sound staging and imaging are as good as I have heard with the amp. A very musical sound overall, what I expect from good NOS.
So far, after a few hundred hours, no problems and very stable bias (hope I haven't cursed them).
I have not tried the mark 2 version with the grey glass that replaced these. Obviously, have not had them in long enough to judge the lifespan of these tubes. But the sound is so magical I felt I had to comment on them. Using them in the Rouge to power Acoustat Spectra 22 speakers that are notoriously power thirsty in Ultralinear mode for more power. The amp usually sounds better in triode (especially with EI KT90s) but these things sing in UL mode. Finally found a KT88 I like.
Follow Ups:
I have received a quad of the newer Pisvane KT88 mark 2 with the grey glass. I will install them this weekend in the Rogue and will report on the sound quality.
Enjoying the roll!
Mendel,
Any thoughts on the grey glass version yet?
Also, where did you source them as well as the original versions?
Hi Eire51
Have had the grey glass tubes in for a week. They are still not fully broken in I think, but they are sounding very nice indeed. I intend to listen to them for another couple of weeks, then switch in the original black glass and maybe even some EI Kt90s before I come to a definitive opinion. It may take a few months to get the full measure of these but I can say at this point that they seem to do everything the black glass did with a little more extension at both frequency ends. They are very sweet sounding through the mids while still avoiding the Kt88 mid bass bloat that I so despise. No one will ever mistake these for a KT66, but they are very linear sounding for a KT88. Great sounding tubes, the only real negative is that they (almost) cost like good NOS.
Since you asked, both sets of tubes were purchased from Chris at PartsConnexion. He made me an offer on the grey glass I couldn't refuse. I've bought a lot of tubes from Chris and he and his staff have always treated me great and the tubes have always tested top notch and never given me any problems. Thanks Chris!
Mendel,
Thanks for the update. Burning in some KT66's now, but am interested in the KT88's as well.
Enjoy the new tubes.
Just wanted to update this old post.
I have been spending a lot of time recently with KT88/KT90/KT120 tubes in my Rogue Stereo 90 as I can use the extra watts over my prefered KT66/6L6 for my Acoustat Spectras. Recently went through EI KT90, Tung Sol KT120 and the grey glass Pisvanes KT88.
In my amp, the grey glass Pisvanes rule this tube type. They absolutely destroy the KT120s in IMO. I still like the EI KT90s, they are a little more dynamic and ballsy, but the grey glass are so musical its hard to go back. What do I mean by musical? They just have less of an electronic signature compared to the others. I get more into the music. The sense of music radiating from the panels is less, the sense of the musical venue, of musicians playing real instruments in space is increased.
I only have a few hundred hours on them so far so cannot comment on longevity. The bias has been rock steady so far and they still test strong. Very strong. Better than any other new production tubes I have tried on my Stark 2122 for GM, even stronger than my EI KT90s. Given the reports of highly variable quality tubes being exported out of China (you know, that grade A, grade B BS) I obviously got a good quad (two quads actually, I doubled down on these tubes, I like them that much, and the second quad measures as good as the first).
The only negative is the cost, which is high. But so is the performance. If you do decide to try them, go with a dealer that does good testing to insure you get good ones. Highly recommended!
Last I looked Grant Fidelity had been bringing back in Shuguang Treasure KT-88's in response to demand for the black glass tubes.
Prices seem quite good as well this time around.
Nice summary Mendel. Ivan303 believes the gray glass version is even better.
i run the Psvane Mk II version in my Atlas Magnum and can confirm Mendel`s impressions completely. the Psvane currently has become my favourite KT88 and i like them over the Penta SC and the Pentas over the black Treasure Z in that special gear.
i can also confirm the Ei KT90 experience. seems to be a fantastic tube but obviously needs itīs own special amp to start singing...
Nunki
The times, they are changing...
Yes, the times are a changing. Gone are the days of affordable NOS. We are entering an new era.
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