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In Reply to: Genalex KT77 Gold Lion posted by Alex on February 22, 2007 at 12:49:59:
what you need to watch out for is that some of the early production KT&& had small pins that would or would not make good contact with the socket causing shorts and other bad things to happen to the amp. I understand that the newer production has corrected the pin problem.I've heard that the KT77 is supposedly a great sounding tube. No first hand knowledge though.
Follow Ups:
...Alex is asking about the real thing not JJ's repro. Mechanically the Genelex will work just fine.The real question here is whether they'll work OK electrically and sonically in Alex's equipment. The KT77 is a beam tetrode (similar to GE 6CA7) compared to the EL34 which is a "true" penthode. Each has it's own sound and what one prefers is personal. Although there is a mystique assoc with the real KT77, my experience is that it is totally unwarranted. It's a decent sounding tube in the equipmwnt I've heard them in but not worth the price. I think they sound very much like the much less expensive US mfg beam tetrode 6CA7s.
The other issue to watch out for here is equipment compatibility. I remember years ago reading a Stereophile review of some tirode strapped Airtight amp where the smug reviewer (Tom Gillet IIRC) subbed a quad of GL KT77s for the EL34s it came with. The amp could only make about 1/3 of rated power. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time. He put the EL34s back in and all was well. Lesson: Tube rolling doesn't always work out as planned.
If I was Alex I'd try the GL KT77s but I'd also be prepared to flip'em quick if they don't work out. I might also be inclined to try the GE or Sylvania/Phillips 6CA7s too...but hurry, guitar players love these things and burn them up quick.
My new amp came with KT-77's. It worked for one day just fine.
Two days later I started up the rig again to listen to tunes. After power up I was looking at the tubes when I heard a loud POP! Along with that came a very scary, bright flash from tube V! I called the manufacturer and they said they will send along another quad.
I nearly fell over when that tube flashed out.
"I understand that the newer production has corrected the pin problem."It has corrected the pin diameter problem - there's lots of other pin problems left. Very sharp edges, blunt tips, crooked, poorly soldered, etc.
nt
I don't believe in supporting a maker's product when that maker ships tubes out in the condition I've seen many KT-77s. Especially when that maker's track record for quality is spotty at best, and rarely if ever improves the build quality.There's a reason that I don't carry them, Kevin Deal doesn't carry them, Mike Kropotkin (KCA) doesn't carry them, Triode doesn't carry them, and so on...
You might find a few "good" ones around, I'm sure you've seen the posts here.
nt
I could have saved some money as well, and NOT had the absolutey fine experience of buying and enjoying a quad of the JJ KT-77 from this fine dealer at the link. No association with said dealer other than I'm a VERY PLEASED customer.They are a HELL of a lot less expensive than the Genelex, which is a different story...
"I always play jazz records backwards, they sound better that way"
-Thomas Edison
I'm glad you've had a good experience with the tubes but for the time being I'll stick with the 6550 or 6CA7 that my amp can use. The 6CA7 is reported (manufacturer recommends) to be a close match for the KT77(both are beam tetrodes) w/o the reliability issues.
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