Feliks-Audio EUFORIA - A Wolf in "Sheep's" Clothing...
Nov 29, 2019 at 12:46 PM Post #7,396 of 11,413
I have to admit that I've made some searches for amps designed for KT88/KT66 and I found one in UK here:
https://www.analogueseduction.net/i...tereo-25-mkii-integrated-valve-amplifier.html

ST25MKII.jpeg


There is another one, with KT66 in Canada here:
http://www.charismaaudio.com/?page_id=1012

AS_3i_KT66.jpg


I have no idea how these sound but for sure, at least the second one, look very nice.
 
Nov 29, 2019 at 3:46 PM Post #7,397 of 11,413
Just sent in my order for another pair of KT88's so I have 4 Genelex KT66 with just over 100 hours I will be selling as well as the 4 Tunsol 7581A's. Going to consentrate on the KT88's and if these work for me as well as the others have will keep Euforia and the KT88's, if not will move to another amp that uses the KT 88's, I guess I should have gone with my first thought and got the KT88's first!

Ah cf...hindsight is indeed a wonderful thing lol! :wink: Who'd have ever thought the legendary KT tubes could even be contemplated for our amps...miraculous indeed!! :L3000:

ps. Am still liking what's coming out of the channel with just one 88 as driver, and a 66 in the other...feverishly anticipating the arrival of a couple more next week!! :ksc75smile:

pps. For those 'hummers', swapping over these drivers did confirm far less coming from the 88 than the 66, with 2x 88 powers...:smile_phones:...
 
Nov 29, 2019 at 3:49 PM Post #7,398 of 11,413
Hindsight is a great thing, except next time you make a decision, remember your past mistakes, and go ahead with your first gut reaction, and then it turns out wrong! Life is weird that way. Your adapters should be here today or tomorrow, looking forward to those, and the new KT 88's will be here next week, so tube rolling will be done then. Hope all is well.
 
Nov 29, 2019 at 3:58 PM Post #7,399 of 11,413
O, I am familiar with the manufactuer of the first amp, Icon. They have been around for awhile and put out very good products in the past. These amps are power stereo amps, not headphone amps, but have headphone output circuits. The Icon Stereo 60 also uses 4 of KT150, and four 6sn7's. Sounds like a nice amp. https://www.analogueseduction.net/integrated-amplifiers/IAST60MKIV.html
 
Nov 30, 2019 at 12:54 AM Post #7,400 of 11,413
Interesting thread about KT88's to be aware of ......KT-88's better than EH ... | Audiogon Discussion Forum
[Search domain forum.audiogon.com/discussions/kt-88-s-better-than-eh] https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/kt-88-s-better-than-eh
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.

Hi CF, the Penta Labs KT88SC are no longer available, but It looks like the same tube as the very nice Shuguang GEKT88, (GE for Genalex) a faithful reproduction of the British tube with solid plates and triple getters...and reviews say they sound great. The Tube Store sells the same version as its “Preferred Series” KT88...

D1363195-D516-478F-B47C-7A6DD4DF5993.jpeg
D224D502-AF6B-4228-828C-0764857F557C.png
 
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Nov 30, 2019 at 5:00 AM Post #7,401 of 11,413
O, I am familiar with the manufactuer of the first amp, Icon. They have been around for awhile and put out very good products in the past. These amps are power stereo amps, not headphone amps, but have headphone output circuits. The Icon Stereo 60 also uses 4 of KT150, and four 6sn7's. Sounds like a nice amp. https://www.analogueseduction.net/integrated-amplifiers/IAST60MKIV.html

I've read a lot about them, unfortunately they have only one dedicated headphone amp (the HP8). The problem is that the KT66/KT88 are all the time used in speakers amps and not in headphone ones. I am really curious how these would sound in a headphone amp designed for them. All I could find where those.
 
Nov 30, 2019 at 7:16 AM Post #7,402 of 11,413
Hello O, and Johnnysound I had looked at the tubestore. I bought my 7581a's from the tubestore, and have been happy with them. But I bought the KT66's and the KT88's from Upscale Audio. They do a more through job of tube testing and matching. Plus on the power tubes they offer a 72 hour burn in for a few dollars, and that also gives me a little more confidence that the tubes will work correctly. This is now the distributor of Feliks amps in the US, and I had been in contact with them about the anniversary amp, nice folks to deal with. On the next link, scroll down past the tube info to below the video and the owner explains how they handle their tubes. Video is informative. https://www.upscaleaudio.com/collections/power-tubes/products/gold-lion-kt88
 
Nov 30, 2019 at 9:46 AM Post #7,403 of 11,413
I've read a lot about them, unfortunately they have only one dedicated headphone amp (the HP8). The problem is that the KT66/KT88 are all the time used in speakers amps and not in headphone ones. I am really curious how these would sound in a headphone amp designed for them. All I could find where those.
Virtus-01 ($1400) from polish White Bird Amplification is a dedicated headphone amp which uses KT88.

Aside from the two integrated mentioned already the following integrated with headphone output accept KT88: Musical Paradise MP-301 MK3, Elekit TU-8200 DX, ROGERS 65V-1, Cary Audio SLI-80, OCTAVE V16 Single Ended
 
Nov 30, 2019 at 11:31 AM Post #7,404 of 11,413
Hi CF, the Penta Labs KT88SC are no longer available, but It looks like the same tube as the very nice Shuguang GEKT88, (GE for Genalex) a faithful reproduction of the British tube with solid plates and triple getters...and reviews say they sound great. The Tube Store sells the same version as its “Preferred Series” KT88...



Hi J....must admit that I personally would have/trust Russian made tubes most times over Chinese ones...materials/construction/quality control etc. lol :wink:. And I really do advise spending just a bit more for the Russian reissue Genalex Gold Lions...the performance from my Russian KT66s and 88s - in my system - far outweighs any previous favourite combo of mine, continuing to surprise me more each day even after all this time :L3000::L3000:....CHEERS!...CJ
 
Nov 30, 2019 at 11:44 AM Post #7,405 of 11,413
I've read a lot about them, unfortunately they have only one dedicated headphone amp (the HP8). The problem is that the KT66/KT88 are all the time used in speakers amps and not in headphone ones. I am really curious how these would sound in a headphone amp designed for them. All I could find where those.

Yo OH...as @connieflyer said, the headphone circuit in combined amps is usually a separate one and therefore of a compromised standard, unfortunately...:triportsad:.
Also, I had a chance to compare the HP8 with Elise and although very good wasn't in the same league.

Virtus-01 ($1400) from polish White Bird Amplification is a dedicated headphone amp which uses KT88.

Aside from the two integrated mentioned already the following integrated with headphone output accept KT88: Musical Paradise MP-301 MK3, Elekit TU-8200 DX, ROGERS 65V-1, Cary Audio SLI-80, OCTAVE V16 Single Ended

Hi kvik...now, a dedicated hp amp with the KT88 sounds much more interesting IMHO lol! :) And that price looks very reasonable indeed...but I bet it doesn't have KTs also as drivers...I doubt anyone has ever even thought about such a combo!! (and is certainly doing wonders for my Euforia/Empyrean system :ksc75smile:).
 
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Nov 30, 2019 at 1:12 PM Post #7,406 of 11,413
I have to admit that I've made some searches for amps designed for KT88/KT66 and I found one in UK here:
https://www.analogueseduction.net/i...tereo-25-mkii-integrated-valve-amplifier.html

ST25MKII.jpeg


There is another one, with KT66 in Canada here:
http://www.charismaaudio.com/?page_id=1012

AS_3i_KT66.jpg


I have no idea how these sound but for sure, at least the second one, look very nice.

@OctavianH - perhaps: https://www.zmfheadphones.com/ampsanddacs/mogwai-se
  • KT66/77/88 or EL34/6l6GC type Power tubes, 6sl7 inout tube and 5u4g rectification
 
Nov 30, 2019 at 1:22 PM Post #7,407 of 11,413
I did not knew that ZMF is making tube amps, but it seems they do. What worries me about Mogwai-SE is the max 300 Ohm headphone recommendation, my Beyers have 600 Ohms.

Anyway, very interesting links and info. Thanks all!

I would be very curious to try this baby:
https://www.wbamp.com/product/virtus-01-headphones-otl-tube-amplifier/

Virtus-01v2-front-top-700x467.jpg


Anyway on Facebook I've seen some pictures from inside, it seems they use a hand made PCB in it:

40081429_1051054295069764_2354547203910926336_o.jpg


40029550_1051054235069770_7083432597694447616_o.jpg


As far as I know, others are avoiding PCBs use point to point wiring. Anyway, very interesting stuff.
 
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Dec 1, 2019 at 8:14 AM Post #7,410 of 11,413
Just a little something to get you moving this morning, the genius of this playing looks almost like a video game, talent is not something I possess after looking at this, I am going to avoid going near a piano top 10most difficult piano pieces
 

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