Ray Tubes
Ray Tubes SELECT KT88 Vacuum Tube
$119.00 - $579.00
Free CA Shipping
In Stock
Ray Tubes RESERVE KT88 Vacuum Tube
$299.00 - $1,449.00
Canadian Shipping Details
We offer free shipping in Canada on most items when an order totals $99 or more before tax. Some exceptions apply; click here for our full shipping policy.
Estimated free shipping transit time:
- Greater Toronto Area: 1-2 business days
- Rest of Ontario: 1-3 business days
- Quebec: 2-3 business days
- Maritimes, Manitoba: 3-4 business days
- Alberta & Saskatchewan: 3-5 business days
- British Columbia: 4-6 business days
- Territories: 6-10 business days
Express options available at checkout. Orders dispatch next business day. Delivery times may be extended for remote areas.
Toronto Store Pickup
Select in-store pickup at checkout and collect your order from our store in Toronto.
Find our entrance on Bay Street, near Charles Street West. We also have a pickup area in the Manulife Centre parking garage. Click here for directions. Before coming to the store, please wait for a confirmation email indicating your order is ready for pickup.
Price Protection, Returns & Exchanges
Buy with confidence, backed by Price Protection: if our advertised price goes down within 30 days of your purchase, contact us and we'll refund the difference.
Most stock items may be returned within 14 days, or exchanged within 30 days. Some exceptions apply; click here for our full return policy.
Description
RESERVE KT88
The Ray Tubes RESERVE KT88 is the distillation of decades of experience. With a bespoke design, small-batch production, and meticulous selection, the Ray Tubes RESERVE Collection reveals audio details you never knew were there.
Hand selected and tested, the Ray Tubes RESERVE KT88 is designed specifically for hi-fi audio applications. Featuring gold-plated pins and our monocrystalline carbon Magic Coating, the RESERVE Collection easily outperforms New Old Stock and new production alike. Fewer than 5% of production meets our standards.
The KT88 is a beam tetrode introduced in 1956 as a variant of its smaller cousin, the KT66. Its name is derived from kinkless tetrode, an earlier name for the beam tetrode, and it’s been popular in high-fidelity stereo systems since its introduction. Since New Old Stock of the KT88 is especially rare, Ray Tubes is proud to offer brand-new KT88 vacuum tubes.
Sound Characteristics
RESERVE KT88 is a vacuum tube that combines power and resolution, making it ideal for listeners who appreciate strong dynamics, a spacious soundstage, and well-controlled bass.
Bass Performance
Solid and powerful with deep, well-controlled low frequencies. Ideal for music with large dynamics and complex arrangements, such as symphonies or rock music.
Midrange Performance
Full-bodied and rich, reproducing vocals and instruments with excellent texture for a detailed and layered sound.
Treble Performance
Clear and transparent without being overly aggressive. A key strength is its high resolution, ensuring clarity without sounding muddy.
Dynamics and Soundstage
Outstanding dynamic range, well-suited for music with strong contrasts between soft and loud passages. Soundstage is large and well-defined with excellent spatial separation.
The RESERVE Collection
The Ray Tubes RESERVE Collection isn't for everyone. It’s the distillation of decades of experience. With a bespoke design, small-batch production, and meticulous selection, RESERVE reveals audio details you never knew were there.
Engineered Exclusively for High Fidelity Audio
We took everything we learned from developing our CORE and SELECT lines and asked ourselves a simple question: what’s missing from the tube marketplace? Our answer is the RESERVE Collection—tubes designed from start to finish with hi-fi audio in mind. No shortcuts, no cut corners, no expense spared.
Product development is an iterative process. The best way to meet the needs of our partners and customers is to engage with them and learn from them. Our RESERVE tubes are the pinnacle of that process.
Bespoke Design and Small-Batch Production
We’ve pulled out all the stops for the RESERVE Collection. Every step of the production process is fine-tuned to ensure the highest quality possible. It’s tricky, painstaking work, which is why we can only make RESERVE tubes in small quantities—but it’s worth it.
First we optimize the design of each tube’s glass bulb to improve heat dissipation and longevity. Next, we use only high-purity metals in the tube’s construction, which minimizes the likelihood of flaws that could impact sound quality or even cause tube failure. When it’s time to put the "vacuum" in vacuum tube, we take our time removing the air. For most tubes, this step is very quick, and that’s good enough — but RESERVE isn’t about good enough. We take our time.
Finally, we apply our Magic Coating. This is a layer of monocrystalline carbon that improves electron flow, helps with heat dissipation, and blocks out noise. The end result? Tubes that sound better, longer.
Unparalleled Quality Control
We put our RESERVE tubes through the wringer to ensure quality and consistency. That’s why we offer the Ray Tubes One Year Warranty against any and all manufacturing defects, and why you can enjoy total peace of mind.
The quality control process for our RESERVE tubes is as meticulous as every other aspect of their production. Each tube is assigned a unique identifier that allows us to track it through a series of tests. If the tube fails a single test, it doesn’t make the cut.
From the soldering onwards, our engineers put the tubes under a microscope — literally. We know how frustrating it is when a tube doesn’t behave as expected or fails outright, and we’re committed to making frustration a thing of the past. That’s what peace of mind is all about.
More Details
The Ray Tubes One Year Warranty
Most vacuum tubes are notoriously fickle. That’s why warranties are rare. But we trust our products and we’re proud to offer our One Year Warranty against manufacturing defects. Click here for details.
Compatible Amps
Click here to explore Ray Tubes' Tube Amp Compatibility List.
Package Contents
- Set of four, two, or single vacuum tube
- User handbook featuring burn-in guidelines
- Certificate of authenticity and warranty
Technical Specifications
Tube Type: KT88
Tube Socket: 8-pin
Max Anode Dissipation Power: 42 W
Max Screen Dissipation Power: 8 W
Max Anode + Screen Dissipation Power: 46 W
Max Anode Voltage: 800 V
Max Screen Voltage: 600 V
Max Grid Voltage: ~200 V
Max Cathode Current: 230 mA
Heater Voltage: 6.3 V
Heater Current: 1.6 A
Transconductance: 12 mA/V
Amplification Factor: 8
Tetrode Connection
Screen Voltage: 250 V
Anode Voltage: 250 V
Anode Current: 140 mA
Grid Voltage: 15 V
Grid Current: 3 mA
Internal Resistance: 12 kΩ
Amplification Factor: 8
Triode Connection
Anode Voltage: 250 V
Anode Current: 143 mA
Grid Voltage: 15 V
Internal Resistance: 670 Ω
Amplification Factor: 8
Specs
Dimensions
About Ray Tubes
Warranty
The Ray Tubes One Year Warranty
This warranty covers manufacturing defects for twelve months after purchase. We believe that everyone who buys our tubes deserves at least a year of quality, hassle-free sound, and if our tubes get in the way of your bliss, we'll make it right. Click here for more details.
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