KT-88's better than EH ...

Hi, I had the same questions about possible KT88 replacements for my orginal stock Valve Art KT88 and my tube guru gave me the following review to read about the current EH KT88's:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_2/power-tube-comparison-6-2002.html

Additionally, he's a well respected SF Bay Area audio engineer who participated in a 2002 6550/KT88 Shoot Out that published in Vacuum Valley Tube publication. His private notes from the shoot out said the Gold Lions NOS ranked first (rare and expensive) while the EH's ranked second with the Tung Sols and JJ a discernable step behind. Consequently, I've decided to go with the EH's which are reasonably priced at $25/each at Tubedepot.com.

Also, on Ebay search "Amperex 6922", a seller has a batch of 1960's NOS for $35/each. Read the story and Feedback to evaluate his credibility. I ordered some. These are new, unused, discovered in a flood damage storage, without boxes and rubbed off lettering but test as new. Normally, these sell for $90-150. I thought it was a great opportunity and took advantage of it.

Good luck, it might be you won't do better than the EH unless you are looking for your tubes to address specific "sonic" needs.

My favorite KT88 is the KT88SC is from Penta Labs. This is also a Chinese tube by Shuguang, but is reportedly made to specs of the Genelex 88's. These tubes get rave reveiws over at Audio Asylum and several guys over there swear that these are comparable to their Genelex 88's. I can't speak to that claim, but they are excellent tubes in my system and the best new production tubes I have tried. In my system they better both the EH and SED KT88's. I have placed a link below (pentalabs.com), but if you decide to buy these you should call to make sure you get the the "solid plate" version. If not, you may get the KT88-98 equivalent, which is identified with three holes in the plates and, from what I've read, is considered inferior to the solid plate KT88SC. Also, you can do a search over at the asylum. Theres a lot of talk about this tube.

http://www.pentalaboratories.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=5020&pf%5Fid=KT88SC+SHUGUANG

JJ KT88's are very reliable and good sounding. Their plate have additional heat sinking wing. One of my friend use them in his Harman Kardon amp operating at plate voltage of 650V and they out-lasted any tubes he ever used.

I thing I've learnt: one brand of tubes that works well in one amp NOT NECESSARILY works as well in another brand of amp!
Ken, if you can search the archives here or AA or elsewhere & find out which tubes best/better suit your particular amp, you would be far better off than getting our resp. opinions (UNLESS someone w/ the same amp as yours posts a reply). Your research will probably give you a short list from which you can try tubes & that list might not incl any of the tubes listed in the VTV shoot-out!!
trying various tubes can be fun (I've done that myself) when one has time but is very painful (I've experienced this too!) grading each tube's signature when one doesn't have time or wants to simply get on w/ listening to music. In all cases, whether you like auditioning tubes & have plenty of time, I've found that a shorter tube list is always better. FWIW. IMHO. YMMV.

I believe Bombaywalla makes an excellent point about amps being voiced with certain KT88s.

In my recent journey, three KT88 tubes were heartily recommended by several audiophiles: Svetlana Winged "C", JJ Tesla, and Penta Labs KT88sc/Shuguang KT88-98.

Regarding the Penta Labs KT88sc, and the following comment that

My favorite KT88 is the KT88SC is from Penta Labs. This is also a Chinese tube by Shuguang, but is reportedly made to specs of the Genelex 88's.

This is not entirely accurate. The Penta Labs KT88sc are not made to the factory specs of Genelex KT88, nor are the Penta Labs KT88sc made with the same materials or on the same equipment as the Genelex KT88. Penta Labs has a disclaimer on their website that the Penta Labs KT88sc is designed to cosmetically resemble the Genelex KT88, and Penta Labs makes no further claims to the similarity of these two brands.

Also, I think it's intriguing that one selling point of the Penta Labs KT88sc is their similarity to the Genelex KT88, including the three oval holes in the plate, and yet folks recommend purchasing the solid plate version, which is not like Genelex KT88.

I purchased a set of Penta Labs KT88sc with three oval holes, because I found a lightly used set, and they appear to exctly match the stock VAC KT88 that came installed in my VAC Phi 110/110.