Tubes Asylum: REVIEW: Genalex Gold Monarch Tubes by Bosh

Model:	Gold Monarch
Category:	Tubes
Suggested Retail Price:	$500./pair
Description:	NOS KT88s
Manufacturer URL:	Genalex
Model Picture:	View

Review by Bosh ( A ) on March 22, 2003 at 23:13:20
IP Address: 24.44.146.121

Add Your Review
for the Gold Monarch

"Closed road, professional driver".
That's what you'll see in the small print on your lower screen of every car commerical featuring yet another over-hyped sedan slicing its way down a stylishly wet Highway '1' in California.
Take your chances on eBay and baby, your milage WILL vary. This time, Bosh is happy to report, we got lucky. Enter the Genalex Gold Monarch KT88s.
I grilled the seller for details (with the aid of fellow Inmates--Newbies: MAKE USE OF THIS RESOURSE). And as a reply said seller sent me mathematical read-outs of the tubes' performance.
Yawn.
It all looked good, for an English major that is. But then again, Highway 1 always looks good when they wet it down before shooting the movie, doesn't it?
Your favorite Inmate "wins" and The Tubes arive.
They are as advertised: About as "new" as anything "old" can be. Pins are clean, shiny and free of any discoloration. Glass is perfect; other than the "GOLD MONARCH" lettering which, silk-screened in gold some 30 (?) years ago, has faded a bit. But just a bit.
I plug 'em in. Get ready to do the usual a 30-minite warm up. Wait a sec...
Bias is reading WAY high. So I have to back off, by a lot. The fact that these tubes tested "strong" no longer in doubt, I relax just a little. After the cooking...
Whoa Nelly.
The Valve Art tubes my amp arrived with as stock ain't no slumps, by any means or measure. But these Genalex bottles just ROCK. More detail. A LOT more bass. More air and separation. Ye godz. I've outspent the amp with the tubes...
And it's worth it.
Does that makes sense? Hell yes. Anybody out there shelled out more for their cartridge than for their..?...
You get it.
These tubes, however, you may or may not get. And rest assured; I am a professional driver on a closed road.
And my Gold Monarchs are NOT for sale.

Product Weakness: Rare. Expensive. English.
Product Strengths: Robust, defined bass. Great separation. ALL the details.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	ASL MG-Si15 integrated
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	-
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI Scout/JMW 9
Speakers:	Omega TS1-R Grandes'
Cables/Interconnects:	Mapleshade Double Helix 'speaker cable: Kimber Hero for digital and VPI (Discovery) for analog,
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	You Name It
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Rare. Expensive. English.
Product Strengths:	Robust, defined bass. Great separation. ALL the details.