The Psvane Summit KT88 vacuum tubes were kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links.
The price for a single Summit KT88 tube is $139.99 or $279.99 and $559.99 respectively for matched pairs or quads. They are directly available from Psvane’s online shop.
Psvane
Psvane is a leading Chinese manufacturer of vacuum tubes for both high-end and hi-fi audio applications. Founded in 2011, the company was born when a group of engineers and designers split from the long-standing tube maker Shuguang to start their own business.
Psvane produces a wide range of tubes (over 50 types), from small-signal preamplifier tubes to large power triodes/pentodes, covering both affordable and reference-class models.
The Psvane factory currently produces tubes under four different series:
The Horizon series (read the review) is part of the select series of products that focuses on high-quality sound without the premium price of high-end offerings.
The Art series is a premium vacuum tube product line designed specifically for audiophiles who pursue ultimate sound quality. With a focus on innovative technologies and exceptional craftsmanship, the Art series pushes the limits of vacuum tube audio performance.
The Acme series once stood at the forefront of vacuum tube excellence as a high-end line proven by years of market recognition. Acme tubes have been celebrated by audiophiles and professionals alike for their outstanding sound performance.
The Summit series, launched in 2025 as Psvane’s new flagship line, embodies the brand’s deepest understanding of vacuum tube manufacturing.
Psvane Summit Vacuum Tubes
With the launch of the Summit series, Psvane have pushed the boundaries of audio performance and tube engineering to an entirely new level.
The Summit series tubes feature Psvane’s innovative HPC Coating, a technique that was first introduced in the Horizon series. It is a proprietary multi-layer composite coating technology developed exclusively by the brand to enhance vacuum tube performance.
Utilizing high-temperature stable materials, this coating substantially increases cathode electron emission efficiency, extends tube lifespan, and ensures consistent gain performance.
The tubes also feature a new base made from an innovative material while they undergo at least 24 hours of burn-in test under precise voltage and temperature control before leaving the factory.
Additionally, each tube in the Summit series represents the finest quality from among all Psvane vacuum tubes. Only the top 2-3% of tubes from each production batch, those that exhibit superior electrical performance and consistency, are selected for the Summit designation.
Currently the Summit series comprises four models: 6SN7, 845, 300B and KT88 vacuum tubes.
Psvane Summit KT88 Vacuum Tubes
The KT88 is a beam-power tetrode (also considered as pentode) vacuum tube renowned for its high power capability and rich, dynamic sound. Introduced in 1956 by Marconi/Osram Valve in the United Kingdom, the KT88 was developed as an uprated successor to earlier beam tetrodes like the KT66.
Designed to compete with American tubes such as the 6550, it offered greater power handling, improved linearity, and higher plate dissipation. Over the decades, the KT88 has become one of the most iconic and enduring power tubes in audio history.
Building on the rich heritage of the KT88 tube, the Psvane Summit model integrates a high-precision symmetrical internal structure, a dual-side grid support system, and extensive application of the HPC coating technology.
These innovations significantly improve electron flow uniformity and anti-vibration stability, ensuring extremely low noise and harmonic distortion even under high voltage and high current operating conditions.
Closer inspection and build quality
On closer inspection, the Psvane Summit KT88 tubes look exceptionally well made and inspire confidence that their mechanical endurance is going to outlast their estimated 5000 hours lifespan.
The tubes arrived carefully secured to survive the long journey from the factory. Each pair is packed in a high quality cardboard box with thick foam inserts that can double as a long term storage solution when not in use.
The test system set-up
The Psvane Summit KT88 vacuum tubes were tested in a 2-channel speaker system that resides in a dedicated and acoustically treated listening room.
The system comprises the Lab12 Integre4 MK2 (Toroid Version) integrated amplifier, the Lab12 Dac1 reference DAC, the Audio Physic Spark speakers and the Volumio Rivo Plus network streamer.
This is a long term review as I have been using this audio system for more than three months continuously, also swapping various power tubes to compare their performance. Other tubes on rotation include the Tung Sol KT170, Psvane Horizon KT88 and Psvane EL34-PH variants. The Summit KT88 tubes were burned for about 200 hours before critical listening tests.
Listening impressions
The overall sonic performance of the Psvane Summit KT88 tubes retains the core characteristics of the Horizon KT88, yet surpasses them in all aspects.
At this stage, it may be helpful to read the Psvane Horizon KT88 review to gain a general sense of their shared sound signature.
For those who may not have the time, I’ve have compiled a handy summary below:
“The Psvane Horizon KT88 delivers a balanced sonic signature that blends the technical authority and power of the KT170 tubes with the musical warmth and liquidity of the EL34. It offers clear, transparent sound, excellent linearity for a tube and exceptional resolution.
The bass is deep, tight, and controlled, outperforming the EL34 in technicalities while retaining more warmth and density than the KT170. The midrange is expressive and lush, though less euphonic than the EL34, and the treble is extended and energetic without brightness. The timbre is exceptionally natural and organic with great harmonic richness yet not too colored or old-school.
A major strength of the Horizon KT88 tubes is their holographic soundstage, which is more immersive than the KT170, creating a lifelike music presentation. While the KT170 excels in imaging precision and separation, the KT88 achieves the best overall sense of realism.
The Horizon KT88 handles a wide range of genres effortlessly, making it a highly versatile and musically satisfying tube that is not afraid to compete in transparency and fidelity not only with the KT170 but also with solid-state amplifiers.”
From the above, it gets pretty clear that the Horizon KT88 is an excellent sounding tube and a very affordable one too. So the question that must be answered is if it is worth paying $67 more per Summit tube.
Summit-Fi
The Psvane Summit KT88 tubes sound like the Horizon on steroids. They preserve the same balanced core character, yet deliver noticeably superior performance, both technically and musically.
On a technical level, the Summit tubes perform at least on par with the KT170 or even high quality solid-state amplifiers. The Summit KT88 is a modern sounding tube that offers great transparency, excellent clarity and unquestionable fidelity throughout the whole frequency range.
Their low-end is more tight and controlled than the Horizon, also slightly faster, without losing its pace, and with a considerably stronger physical impact. The bass is delivered fuller and more visceral and at the same time it outperforms the Horizon in texture definition. The bass produced by the Summit KT88 is among the best you can hear from a power tube. It successfully combines the impressive technicalities of the KT170 tubes with the liquidity and elasticity of the EL34.
The mid-range is marvelous, the Summit KT88 manages to sound even more melodic and expressive than the Horizon KT88, all while retaining class-leading precision and articulation. A major difference lies in their timbre quality which is more organic and realistic with the Summit tubes that exhibit greater harmonic richness. They sound exceptionally colorful and lifelike without coloring (sic) or bloating the sound.
The Summit is simply the better tube because it offers higher quality sound without losing in definition and resolution. These tubes sound close (but not the same) to the EL34, which are exceptionally melodic and expressive, but with the benefit that they outperform them in technicalities and can handle much more difficult loads.
More to read
Rising higher, the Summit KT88 handles this frequency range with confidence, improved resolution and more grip than the EL34 (or the Horizon to a lesser extent) but with less technical sterility than the KT170. The treble is not as refined and smooth as with the EL34 tubes but it still manages to stay polite and docile while outperforming them in transparency. It is crisp and energetic, luminous and clean but not bright or sharp. The textures are full bodied and rounded without any dryness or synthetic/metallic timbre.
The soundstage is impressively holographic and immersive, the Summit tubes sound as atmospheric and grand as the EL34 but with a layering and imaging that can only be rivaled by the KT170. The Summit tubes will make your speakers disappear (no matter how big they are) and fill the room with music that stretches outside the physical boundaries of the audio system.
Large symphonic works sound as if you’re seated in a concert hall, smaller ensembles feel as though they’re inviting you to make music with them, and solo singers rise in full, vivid presence, reaching out as if to touch you.
The Psvane Summit KT88 power tubes feel at home with any type of music and can drive a wide range of speakers as long as they are paired with a high-quality amplifier. They deliver the power to rock, the energy to get you up and dancing , and the realism to leave you stunned during classical performances.
In the end
Do you remember elementary school mathematics? A fundamental math rule is that if A = B and B = C then it logically follows that A = C. Let’s see if we can apply this rule to tubes.
A = the KT88 is generally accepted as the best power tube ever made. B = the Psvane Horizon KT88 is considered as the best current production KT88 tube. C = the Psvane Summit KT88 tube is much better sounding than the Horizon. Then it logically follows that the Psvane Summit KT88 tube is the best KT88 ever made.
OK, I admit that this is a little exaggerated as I haven’t heard of all NOS KT88 tubes, so it is a little bold to call the Psvane Summit KT88 as the best ever made. However, I can confidently say that it is the best sounding current production KT88, at least for my ears and for my audio system. I have tried all of them and none can match the sonic qualities of the Psvane Summit.
The Psvane Summit KT88 stands as a revolution in tube manufacturing, pairing class-leading technical performance with deep musicality. It is a tube that justifies its asking price and it could even be considered as a bargain when you compare it to some NOS tubes that cost an arm and a leg. Plain and simple, it’s the best KT88 you can buy without tumbling down the NOS rabbit hole.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2025.
+ Deeply expressive and musical sound
+ Class-leading technical performance
+ Exceptionally rich and organic timbre
+ Excellent transparency and fidelity
+ Flat frequency response
+ Immersive and holographic soundstage with sharp imaging
+ Ideally blends the sonic qualities of the EL34 and KT170 tubes
+ Doesn't produce any microphonic or background noise
+ Very well made and durably constructed
- May sound too “solid-state” for those that appreciate old-school tube sound
- The Summit series has limited selection of tube types
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