KT88 Genalex Gold VS JJ VS ???

[Dizzie]

Looking for new tubes for my VAC Sigma 170i. I now have the stock Genalex Gold Lion and Tungsol KT150s. I am thinking about the JJ KT88s with the blue glass. Supposedly the same guts as the clear but I think the blue would be wicked pretty. Not sure since there is not much "glow" from KT88s.

The KT150s were a major disappointment. They rocked in my ARC Ref75 but were a step backward in my VAC. Kevin Hayes is very serious when he matches parts.

I don't need new tubes at this time. I just want to experiment if suggestions indicate potential benefits in my VAC Sigma 170i. I appreciate any experience. No more Russian tubes please.

 

[mulveling]

Similar bad experience with KT150 here - they were awful in my 200iQ's. I do like the Tung-Sol KT120 quite a lot, though. Of course Gold Lion KT88 are very good (more airy than KT120). And even the Electro Harmonix KT88 were very nice - a bit more of a brash, rockin' tilt to them versus the more reserved and refined Gold Lions. So if you swap to JJ KT88 (though I haven't tried them), you'll definitely hear a different presentation. It's unlikely any properly operating KT88 will sound bad in these amps. Worth a shot if you're curious! And they're definitely not Russian

These VAC amps sound SO good!