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Ray Tubes
Ray Tubes KT88 RESERVE Vacuum Tube
Note: Matching quad tubes have an estimated ship date of December 31st, 2024. Matching pair tubes have an estimated ship date of January 10th, 2025.
The Best of the Best
The RESERVE Collection of Ray vacuum tubes are artfully designed and carefully manufactured solely for hifi audiophile devices. With the RESERVE, vocals are a revelation: smooth, lifelike, and beautifully present. They convey a sense of realism and immediacy without any bloat, offering a gentle yet compelling delivery with superior decay. The treble is crisp yet laid-back, carefully balanced to avoid sibilance or harshness. This balanced sound signature extends to the low-end as well: full and commanding, contributing to an overall superbly realistic imaging that is brain-scratchingly good.
Engineered Exclusively for Audiophile Systems
Explicitly engineered for audiophile applications, the RESERVE Collection of vacuum tubes are crafted through a unique process that targets the specific needs of audiophiles, focusing on critical sound characteristics such as vocal realism, texture, and extended bass. Every aspect of their design and manufacture is aimed at enhancing the listening experience in high-fidelity systems.
Ensuring Excellence
Every vacuum tube in the RESERVE Collection is subjected to a stringent quality assurance process. An audio engineer personally assesses each vacuum tube against a detailed checklist that includes sound profile, dynamics, microphonics, gain, conductance, and noise levels, along with overall performance. This ensures not only that the vacuum tubes align with audiophile expectations for sound quality but also that they meet our rigorous standards for reliability and consistency.
Gold Pins: Excellence in Every Detail
Gold pins not only add a touch of elegance but also serve a significant purpose. Gold's superior conductivity enhances signal transmission for crystal-clear sound, while its resistance to oxidation ensures long-term performance and durability. These qualities, combined with the secure contact gold provides within the socket, mean your vacuum tubes aren't just top-notch—they're built to last.
Magic Coating
Some things are better left unseen. You can’t see inside the RESERVE tube because it’s coated with something called monocrystalline carbon. This layer allows for quicker electron transmission, keeps the glass cool, and blocks out noise. If you’ve got an engineering background, you might find the science fascinating. For the rest of us, it’s basically magic. The coating is delicate and tough to apply, which complicates production. That’s why Ray only uses it for their RESERVE tubes—and why it costs more. When all’s said and done, it just means one thing—the sound is amazing.
Superior Sound, Secured
An exceptional 12-month warranty—a rarity in the world of vacuum tubes, especially NOS vacuum tubes—reflects Ray Tubes’ confidence in their vacuum tubes’ performance and durability. This warranty is your safeguard against any manufacturing defects, making sure that your investment is protected.
Ray Tubes Quality Control
From extensive burn-in to expert listening sessions, Ray Tubes goes above and beyond to guarantee each tube they sell is ready for your high-end system. Read more about the process on their blog.
Product highlights
- Hand-selected and tested
- Gold pins for corrosion resistance and excellent conduction
- A substantial upgrade from standard NOS tubes
- Low noise and microphonics
- Fewer than 5% of the tubes commissioned for production meet our voltage, current, and sound signature standards
- 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects
Specs
- Tube type: KT88
- Socket: 8-pin
Compatible Amps
Explore Ray Tubes' Tube Amp Compatibility List
What’s included
- Ray Tubes KT88 RESERVE Vacuum Tube
- Manual booklet
Help Shape Our Vacuum Tube Legacy
With the launch of our Ray Vacuum Tubes, we embark on an exciting mission to create a comprehensive lineup of tubes that cater to the discerning audiophile. We view this as a collaborative journey with the audiophile community and value your feedback and support to shape our future tube lineup. Let us know what other tubes you'd like us to create.
Explore More
- What Tube Amps Are Compatible with Ray Tubes?
- How Do You Maintain Your Vacuum Tubes?
- How Do I Roll the Tubes of My Tube Amp?
- Why Upgrade Your Tubes?
- FAQ