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Shuguang Treassure Series KT88-Z vs. NOS Gold Lion KT88



First you may want to read my comments here: http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tubes/messages/22/228418.html

So. The Shuguang KT88-Z Treasure Series tubes arrived today, Monday, (shipped from China on Friday!) Two Grade A matched pair (actually a plate-current-matched quad) in two large foam-lined gift boxes, with hinged lids, serial numbers and inspection tags. Also individual test data: Ia=43mA Uf=6.3V Ua=450V Ug1=-55V. I paid $357 including DHL (practically overnight!!) airfreight and $17 PayPal fee.

One of the 3 tubes measured 7mm shorter than the other three. And while they all had matching plate current, one tube tested only 5500 micromhos (the standard Gm for a new KT88) while the other three tested at 11,000. I expect the seller will remedy both of these issues, we'll see. All the gold labels line up with the socket key, so they'll look nice in your amp (unless the socket key is pointed backwards ;--)

They are now playing in my McIntosh MC275 Mk4, driven in balanced mode by Sylvainia 5751 TMBP (12AX7) gain stages, and GEC A2900/CV6091 (12AT7) drivers. I will keep accurate burn-in time logs. They have been running for about 3 hours now. For the first hour, they sounded TERRIBLE!! As I would expect new power tubes to sound. I just wondered how long THAT was going to go on!! As it turned out, about an hour! They now sound absolutely amazing! And if their specified burn-in time is 300 hours, I'll have no problem listening to them for the next 297 hours!!

They replaced (for the time being) a MINT, MATCHED quad of vintage Genalex Gold Lions. And like those, I can already hear the shimmer and sparkle that sets vintage GL's above ANY Penta, GL reissue, S.E.D., or other dull, lifeless KT88 you want to mention! -- except with the possible exception of the EAT's which I have heard, but unfortunately a terribly thrashed old quad, so I'll reserve judgement on those. Most say EAT's are at the absolute top of the heap; as good if not better than the original Genalex Gold lions. But with these Shuggies available so (relatively) inexpensively, I think Ms. EAT (Jozefina Krahulcova) is going to have to drastically lower her prices ;--)

To be continued



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Topic - Shuguang Treassure Series KT88-Z vs. NOS Gold Lion KT88 - nsgarch 16:26:32 03/8/10 (6)

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