Vacuum Tube s, or valves, are used in the power sections of Tube Amplifier s. The KT88 is a Beam (kinkless) Tetrode tube, fitting a standard eight-pin (or '' Octal '') socket, with similar pin out and functions as the more familiar 6L6 and EL34 . It was manufactured in the U.K. by G.E.C , also labelled as IEC/Mullard, and, in the U.S., Genelex ''Gold Lion''. It is a larger variant of the KT66 . It is specifically designed for audio amplification and, while it has a similar ratings, it is quite different in perceived characteristics from the American 6550 tube, which was designed for use as a servo amplifier. Being one of the largest tubes in its class, it can handle signficantly higher plate Voltage s than similar tubes, up to 800 V. Current production of the KT88 is limited to Shuguang, China , JJ, Slovakia and SED/Svetlana in Russia and of varying quality, while NOS examples in good condition are extremely rare and quite expensive. Given its limited availability, the KT88 is rarely used in current production amplifiers, whether for guitar or Hi-fi reproduction. Historically it has been far more popular with hi-fi manufacturers than Guitar amplifier builders given its high-power, low-distortion characteristics.
|
