Sweep tube vs Kt88
This I like to hear. Comparing a tv sweep tube to Kt88 one of the greatest audio tubes ever made in most cases would be unfair but the McIntosh Unity Coupled circuit is unique and special in that the output tubes are mainly used for current while the smaller tubes handle all voltage amplification and drive. But McIntosh had to add an extra feedback loop on Mc3500 MK2 to get the linearity they wanted. TV sweep tubes are usually cheap but the JJ el509s tube is about as expensive as most Kt88 variants. So unless you really need all this tube power I would probably stick with Mc2301 or mc1502 or mc275 and call it a day. As an audio purist I'll take the Kt88 over the sweep tube any day of week if power is not factor.
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