ENTER TO TRY GOLD LION KT77'S IN YOUR AMP FOR FREE!!!

[Ventura]

I think it has a LOT to do with the amp itself... I know my only goal with the GL-KT77's is to be IN my 20thA XTC, a combination I've heard only good things about - and consequentially - not good things about when anything BUT Gold Lions were used.

So JJ's may sound great in some amps, I just know they're not the bees knees in the XTC.

Peace - and great idea, Gary, to get these out and start sharing the tonequest while also saving money!!

Avagoodone,
V.

 

[glip22]

I think it has a LOT to do with the amp itself... I know my only goal with the GL-KT77's is to be IN my 20thA XTC, a combination I've heard only good things about - and consequentially - not good things about when anything BUT Gold Lions were used.

So JJ's may sound great in some amps, I just know they're not the bees knees in the XTC.

Peace - and great idea, Gary, to get these out and start sharing the tonequest while also saving money!!

Avagoodone,
V.

They are in my 20th X and are not going anywhere. It can be a win/win for anyone wanting to try without getting stuck for full price and losing huge on a resale. It's a win for Tyler even he if he only gets a couple of new customers. I prefer to do business with smaller companies. He and his Wife Chelsea are it and they do it full time. The have a bigger Audiphile following.

 

[Laura]

I 'd like to hear about these because I have heard from a very reputable tube dealer that they are not worth the extra coin over the JJs. I have used the JJs in the past and have had very good results with them.

It would be really cool to have some sort of base to judge against. It would be too much trouble probably but it would killer if a set of JJ KT77s went out as well to hear actual differences.

I have played both in the same amp (tried a bunch of EL34's and JJ KT77's and Gold Lion KT77's in my Rocca recently). The Gold Lions did sound great. I don't know if it was a huge improvement over the JJ's but they are great sounding tubes. SED EL34's and the Gold Lion KT77's were my 2 favorite tubes that day.

 

[Ventura]

I 'd like to hear about these because I have heard from a very reputable tube dealer that they are not worth the extra coin over the JJs. I have used the JJs in the past and have had very good results with them.

It would be really cool to have some sort of base to judge against. It would be too much trouble probably but it would killer if a set of JJ KT77s went out as well to hear actual differences.

I have played both in the same amp (tried a bunch of EL34's and JJ KT77's and Gold Lion KT77's in my Rocca recently). The Gold Lions did sound great. I don't know if it was a huge improvement over the JJ's but they are great sounding tubes. SED EL34's and the Gold Lion KT77's were my 2 favorite tubes that day.

Words of wisdom from another very reputable and awesome Forumite!! Nice to read from you VQ!!

V.

 

[glip22]

I 'd like to hear about these because I have heard from a very reputable tube dealer that they are not worth the extra coin over the JJs. I have used the JJs in the past and have had very good results with them.

It would be really cool to have some sort of base to judge against. It would be too much trouble probably but it would killer if a set of JJ KT77s went out as well to hear actual differences.

I have a new quad of JJ's and I should be getting the test set of Gold Lions next week. I will make a few video clip showcasing the difference. I will bias them the same etc.

That would be awesome. Do you like the JJ's?

The JJ's were okay... a little too tight and dark. If they had more treble, I would have liked them a lot.

The GL's have a beautifull top end. Not dark at all imo. Very articulate and clear. The mids are very unique. A little on the harder side but very textured and growly.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

I 'd like to hear about these because I have heard from a very reputable tube dealer that they are not worth the extra coin over the JJs. I have used the JJs in the past and have had very good results with them.

It would be really cool to have some sort of base to judge against. It would be too much trouble probably but it would killer if a set of JJ KT77s went out as well to hear actual differences.

I have a new quad of JJ's and I should be getting the test set of Gold Lions next week. I will make a few video clip showcasing the difference. I will bias them the same etc.

That would be awesome. Do you like the JJ's?

The JJ's were okay... a little too tight and dark. If they had more treble, I would have liked them a lot.

I feel the same about the JJ. Too dark. The Gold lion KT77 is not dark at all. It really depends on the amp IMO. The Gold Lion worked wonders in my Peters, Engl and Framus. It did not do wonders in the Diezel. My favorite tube in the Diezel so far is the SED =C= EL34 and a pair of Gold Lion KT88's (they sound like SED to my ears).

The KT77 in the above mentioned amps brought a tighter more focused sound all around. Great for the metal. I feel they need to be pushed just as any other tube to get the "good stuff" from them. The other thing I noticed is the headroom of the clean channel as well as a fatter more rounded sound while playing clean. They are a great fucking tube in the right amp...pushed hard. YMMV as with anything else.

 

[glip22]

I 'd like to hear about these because I have heard from a very reputable tube dealer that they are not worth the extra coin over the JJs. I have used the JJs in the past and have had very good results with them.

It would be really cool to have some sort of base to judge against. It would be too much trouble probably but it would killer if a set of JJ KT77s went out as well to hear actual differences.

I have a new quad of JJ's and I should be getting the test set of Gold Lions next week. I will make a few video clip showcasing the difference. I will bias them the same etc.

That would be awesome. Do you like the JJ's?

The JJ's were okay... a little too tight and dark. If they had more treble, I would have liked them a lot.

I feel the same about the JJ. Too dark. The Gold lion KT77 is not dark at all. It really depends on the amp IMO. The Gold Lion worked wonders in my Peters, Engl and Framus. It did not do wonders in the Diezel. My favorite tube in the Diezel so far is the SED =C= EL34 and a pair of Gold Lion KT88's (they sound like SED to my ears).

The KT77 in the above mentioned amps brought a tighter more focused sound all around. Great for the metal. I feel they need to be pushed just as any other tube to get the "good stuff" from them. The other thing I noticed is the headroom of the clean channel as well as a fatter more rounded sound while playing clean. They are a great fucking tube in the right amp...pushed hard. YMMV as with anything else.

They can take it when you push them. In the two heads I have them in the single notes jump out like no other. Definitely better cleans. I know allot of guys play harder edged mucic around here. They are a great go between between if you still want vintage tones although you won't get as much squish. I find them to be a nice replacement for the EL34's. Not so much for 6550's or 88's. After all the greatest EL34 ever made was the Genelex Gold Lion KT77. They fetch about a grand+ per quad now. I never had them but I did have some very early Bugle Boys, Mullards, and other NOS.

 

[Ventura]

Tubes... Like little cylindrical gems of glass goodness

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, new tubes...

V.

 

[glip22]

The hardness makes me wonder... The CCV can be a hard amp when the gain is rolled back a bit.

The KT88 to me is much harder for comparison reasons. They are also glassy which may be great for cleans but I do not prefer them for drive. The 6550 is more forgiving and not anywhere near as glassy. Leaning a little bit more toward the EL34 side. The KT66 was more of a super 6L6 to my ears. The KT77 is still a kinkless tetrode but leans much further toward the EL34 tone. It can be compared to others but it really has it's own sound. Punchy, more chunk, and the mids are more complex(There are more layers to the mids)They have a big sound that has allot of soundstage. More of a rolling mountain as compared to much flatter.3d versus 2d. The tones jump out more creating more dimension in the room. They may not be for everyone but I am not Gassing for NOS anymore. My favorite EL34 was the Amperex Bugle Boy Double D Getters. Second was the Mullard XF2 coded(Must be single getters) The Double getters are too hiFi and rule for Audiophiles but not guitar. Third is the Original Tesla brown bases. I also like the RFT EL34 but every quad I had fell apart under high gain and power. I would not use them with high PV, although many have with no issues. A little risky to me. Once a tube arcs and cooks things, I think a little bit more about using them. Again, you may not like the GL KT77 tone. Chocolate is not for everyone. A good tested and matched quad or pair can withstand much higher voltage and screen current than an EL34. They can take what you throw at them. . There are so many threads on amps, cabs, speakers etc., but not many on tubes which are very important bringing out the best per each persons tastes in their amps.

 

[JTyson]

I agree, but its also a rabbithole that can drive you insane

 

[glip22]

I agree, but its also a rabbithole that can drive you insane

Cheaper than a Gopher hole

 

[leib10]

I'm the first one!

Your opinion will set the tone. What amp are you installing in?

Bogner Uberschall.

 

[glip22]

I'm the first one!

Your opinion will set the tone. What amp are you installing in?

Bogner Uberschall.

That's a great one to try them in. I love them in my Twin Jet. They compliment what the amp was intended for. What's your plate voltage. Mine is 523. I biased the hottest tube in the quad to 30.5 MA.

 

[FourT6and2]

Sadly, these will not fit in my Super Lead. The output transformer is huge and the glass would hit it.

 

[glip22]

Sadly, these will not fit in my Super Lead. The output transformer is huge and the glass would hit it.

I don't think so. These are actually no bigger than an EL34.

 

[FourT6and2]

Sadly, these will not fit in my Super Lead. The output transformer is huge and the glass would hit it.

I don't think so. These are actually no bigger than an EL34.

Oh snap, you're right! I thought they were bigger for some reason.

 

[glip22]

Sadly, these will not fit in my Super Lead. The output transformer is huge and the glass would hit it.

I don't think so. These are actually no bigger than an EL34.

Oh snap, you're right! I thought they were bigger for some reason.

They are quite a bit bigger. Just not in size Get in line for the quad

 

[killertone]

I liked the JJ KT77 in my JVM and had no problem with it being dark. It was really tight and I thought overall it sounded great. However, I went back to my NOS SIeimens EL34s and was happier.

I guess I'll have to get in line for the great GL KT77 tryout!

Side note: I kind of have a bad attitude about New Sensor buying all the old names and branding tubes with them. They are all made in the Reflektor plant and I think the names are just marketing bullshit. Just my own opinion, though.

 

[killertone]

I 'd like to hear about these because I have heard from a very reputable tube dealer that they are not worth the extra coin over the JJs. I have used the JJs in the past and have had very good results with them.

It would be really cool to have some sort of base to judge against. It would be too much trouble probably but it would killer if a set of JJ KT77s went out as well to hear actual differences.

I have a new quad of JJ's and I should be getting the test set of Gold Lions next week. I will make a few video clip showcasing the difference. I will bias them the same etc.

Cool.

I did the same thing when I got some JJ KT77s a couple years ago. I did it with JJ Kt77s and NOS Siemens XF2 clones in my JVM 410H. Check it out here:

Siemens EL34

JJ KT77

 

[glip22]

I liked the JJ KT77 in my JVM and had no problem with it being dark. It was really tight and I thought overall it sounded great. However, I went back to my NOS SIeimens EL34s and was happier.

I guess I'll have to get in line for the great GL KT77 tryout!

Side note: I kind of have a bad attitude about New Sensor buying all the old names and branding tubes with them. They are all made in the Reflektor plant and I think the names are just marketing bullshit. Just my own opinion, though.

The Gold Lion brands are made with higher qaulity components. The Genalex RI tubes use gold plated grids - and speaking of grids, the '77 grid must be wound slightly differently than the EL34s, since they bias slightly cooler. They all use carbonized plates as well, and in the case of the KT66 it uses the proper sized brown base. They sound much more refined that the less expensive Saratov made tubes.The bottom line is that the Genalex reissues get the best construction materials and techniques, and it shows. It is more expensive though, which has been aggravated by the weak US dollar (in the USA obviously), the increasing cost of raw materials, and the increase in labor costs in Russia.
I think the Siemens RFT made EL34's sound excellent, but I would not use them at a pv of higher than 450. Some have no issues. I did. It has been my experience that they lose their great tone when pushed hard. They can't handle high gain and power. They do have that old school desireable vibe though. The JJKT77 sounded better in your clips to my ears. More articulate and cleaner.