“I have the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP Integrated that were delivered with the stock EL-34's as well as some cryoed KT-120's. I started off with the KT-120's as I just assumed that they were the better tube due to the "size". They did indeed sound wonderful to my ears. But then after over a year of listening I decided to try my stock 34's on a whim which had never even been inserted into my amp sockets by me. Jesus! What a killer tube! I now knew that this amp was a special beast as it sounded fan-tab-u-lous with either one of those tubes. We have this wonderful amplifier that became an entirely new machine just by changing the power tubes - so why stop? I invested in the KT-88's and BLAMMO! I have a serious mind-meld of the beefy 120's and the esoteric midrange love of the 34's. This makes me extremely happy about my initial purchase of this amp. My next tube complement will be the Svetlana SED "Winged C" EL34's or the Gold Lion KT-77's - Just for the fun and love of tube rolling. Anyhow, I highly recommend these 88's as they are incredible as far as I am concerned. Much thanks to Kevin and Jared whom both put up with crazy mo-fo's such as myself!”

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Posted 7 years ago

Oliver (EL8ED)

Unverified Reviewer

“The Gold Lion KT-88's never fail to deliver. I am on the 3rd set in my McIntosh MA 2275 which sometimes tends to eat tubes for lunch - I get 2-3 years of use out of a set. Upscale Audio's service is impeccable!”

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Posted 7 years ago

Obsessed Music Lover

Unverified Reviewer

“Great tube for my McIntosh MC275 and C2300. And they look cool! Warning: I bought two previous sets from other large tube dealers and they didn't last 9 months. The power tubes went soft and the 12AX7's were never that quiet. This set from Upscale was so much more quiet, and at is 2.5 years they are still perfect. I can tell they were actually tested and graded. It's the best sound I've ever had thanks to Upscale. I've had tube gear for 40 years now and will never buy anywhere else.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Made my Cary amp sound way better then my stock kt88. Sound is neutral and open. Great upgrade. Be sure to get these cryoed. Sounds more open.”

Helpful Report

Posted 7 years ago

“Gold Lion KT88 The more I listen to these, the more I love'm but this pair I just purchased may be a waste of money! An explanation is in order... Some time ago, I purchased a matched set of 12 of these for my Cary V12R stereo amplifier after years of being a die hard EL34 fan, which I still am. I LOVE the EL34 midrange but wanted more detail out of my amplifier. Back to Cary my amp went for any upgrades including power transformers and Cardas caps. Next, out went the 12BZ7's and Mullard EL84's (still a Mullard fan too) but instead I used NOS West German Telefunken 12AX7's and EL84's. Great sound with more detail especially with an upgrade of the output tubes to Mullard EL34 reissues. For years I was happy, however, eventually boredom set in and I decided to roll in Electroharmonix KT88's which would prove to give the detail I wanted with an even larger and deeper sound stage. Just one problem: I lost my glorious EL34 midrange magic. I wanted to have my cake and eat it too so I contacted Upscale Audio and asked if they have that perfect tube with the detail, staging, and extended frequency range of the KT88s but with all of the midrange glory of the 34's. Their response was as disappointing as expected, honest but helpful... No such tube. Not what I wanted to hear but honesty and expertise prevailed. They inform me of what they thought would be a good compromise: the reissue Gold Lion KT88's, but certainly didn't lead me down the primrose path. A matched set of 12 of these tubes was a financial leap of faith but I took the plunge... Well needless to say, these tubes EXCEEDED my expectations. Yes they have midrange glory but to my ears about 1-2 octaves above what I feel I hear from the EL34's. Not quite the same but I don't find myself missing anything given the clear advantages in overall imaging, depth/width of soundstage, and micro-detail, not to mention that overall refined sound. My biggest regret is that I did not try these tubes years ago. Yes, I still have my Mullard EL34's (shelved yet still respected) which are hands down my favorite of that group but I never find myself wanting to switch out the Gold Lions, even months later as I am still listening to these late into the night. I like these tubes so much that I purchased a spare pair matched to the first 12 just in case one went bad; couldn't fathom separation from audio nirvana waiting for replacements to arrive if ever needed. This brings me back to my point: the original 12 purchased from Upscale have been steady as a rock! Usually by this time, I have had to make adjustments to the bias of my output tubes from other suppliers/brands but not so here! Still running with no significant changes in bias over time since plugging 'em in; just steady reliable performance in terms of function. It's entirely likely I'll not need the back-up pair before my set eventually wears out overall, years from now. Guess I'll just need a set of 10 matched to my spares when that inevitable day arrives. Regarding break in, over the months, the Gold Lions have done nothing other than improve with age. The more I listen, the more I love them; I simply cannot think of an output tube I would rather have in my amp nor a dealer from whom I would rather purchase them from. Thank you upscale for your honesty when consulting tube options and not just trying to sell a product. Your pricing is far more competitive than I expected and the selection/quality control is greatly appreciated.”

Helpful Report

Posted 7 years ago

“Recently re-tubed my MFA 120 mono-block amps with matched quad sets from Upscale. Love the glorious sound of the Gold Lions, and especially the testing, burn in, and reliability Upscale provides. This set like the previous one from Upscale three years ago maintain very stable bias.”

Helpful Report

Posted 7 years ago

“I bought these with the cryogenic treatment option (one of multiple purchases made with Upscale Audio) & am so glad that I did. In my Unison Research Peludio integrated amplifier, this choice of tubes excells in every way imaginable. They are open sounding, with warm but neutral characteristics. They just sound right & I appreciate the fact that a place like Upscale Audio exists with knowledgeable staff, great service & an enthusiasm for high end audio. I highly recommend this tube & dealer. With 30 years of experience in this industry, I know not to take them for granted.”

Helpful Report

Posted 7 years ago

“Amazing valve but this is not any news regarding this tube. Kevin with Upscale Audio does a great job of summing up the sound of this tube: see his review. Used in my Cary CAD 280 SA V12r, this is the best tube I have heard in this amp. Compared with EH Kt88 has more midrange clarity and "magic" while being more dynamic. Treble offers even more detail. Sound stage and center images are placed a little more forward but far from being "in your face". I replaced previous EL 34s (EHs, JJs, and my favorite Mullards) with these and found they closely rivaled the magic of the EL 34s midrange but with more detail, wider/deeper soundstage, clarity, and an overall "refined/high end sound". I highly recommend giving these a try. I purchased mine from Upscale Audio and I am very pleased with the selection process they offer to yield overall higher quality compared to other other sources for vacuum tunes. My only regret... Wish I had tried them sooner!”

Helpful Report

Posted 7 years ago

Gold Lion KT88 No Cryo Reviews