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Why is it that 300B amps are more expensive than 2A3 amps?

129.49.12.13

Posted on April 19, 2000 at 12:45:03

caa

even without the tubes. This is of course not true for the AES SE-1
which could use both tubes, but other than that 300B amps seem to be
more expensive. Better parts? more convenient for the users?

On the same note, why are 300B tubes are more expensive than 2A3s?

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Re: Why is it that 300B amps are more expensive than 2A3 amps?

10:24:43 04/25/00

Price is depend on market not on cost ! Business is business !

Joseph

08:13:45 04/26/00

Sans Nom

14:33:03 04/26/00

...

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Re: Why is it that 300B amps are more expensive than 2A3 amps?

10:24:43 04/25/00

Price is depend on market not on cost ! Business is business !

Joseph

08:13:45 04/26/00

Sans Nom

14:33:03 04/26/00

No ! I'm Tube amplifiers manufacturer ...

Joseph

06:11:45 04/27/00

Please go and re-read Gord and my posting ...

Sans Nom

11:47:53 04/27/00

thanks for clearing that up! (nt)

11:15:24 04/23/00

Re: Why is it that 300B amps are more expensive than 2A3 amps?

23:10:57 04/20/00

Jack G

15:26:13 04/19/00

more iron, posted on April 19, 2000 at 15:26:13
Jack G	they have bigger and more epensive output transformers. Same with power supplies. Jack

Re: Why is it that 300B amps are more expensive than 2A3 amps?, posted on April 20, 2000 at 23:10:57

Paul Joppa

A cheap 300B amp is certainly possible. There is a strong habit of top-grade amps left over from the days when "real" 300Bs were NOS WE tubes at $500 each, and there was no point in an amp cheaper than the tubes it needed. But now that there are several options under $100, is there a market? I'm sure one could build something for $500 on a roll-your-own basis, possibly a stereo amp to hold down the power supply cost.

... OK, lets see ... a 300B with a 400v power supply and a 750 ohm cathode resistor will draw about 90mA, well-suited for the Hammond 2500-ohm SE output transformer. A simple 6SN7 for the driver, one section per channel, resistor loaded, drawing say 8mA/section. Output transformers and stereo power transformer $100 each or less. Yes, it can be done.

As a commercial product, you'd have to figure about $2000 though - I think a ratio of 4 or 5 to one is typical of most products.

thanks for clearing that up! (nt), posted on April 23, 2000 at 11:15:24
caa	.

Re: Why is it that 300B amps are more expensive than 2A3 amps?, posted on April 25, 2000 at 10:24:43

There are many reason's first of which is the 300B is more involved. In general a 2A3 or 45 requires less parts and the power supply runs at a lower voltage.

See most 300B amplifiers run about 450-500V on the power supply. Most 2A3's require 300V's. Better capacitors are available at less cost in the 350V range as compared to 500-630V's.

Also the 300B requires more voltage gain and DC heater supply.

All this plus the dealer mark up makes the amps more expensive.

Gordon

Price is depend on market not on cost ! Business is business !, posted on April 26, 2000 at 08:13:45
Joseph	It is not true ! The cost is not so far away even higher voltage capacitor but if it cost on E-cap is not so far away on 350V to 450V.

Wrong Joseph!, posted on April 26, 2000 at 14:33:03

Sans Nom

While all things being equal it's so much simpler and easier to drive 2A3 or 45 (2 to 3 driver stages)to provide good performance and gives good sound, 300B is much more difficult to drive properly...

Yes, everybody claimed to be an expert in the subject of 300B designs but I have yet to come across one that uses minimal parts and minimal gain stages (1 voltage amplifier stage before driving 300B is the minimum)yet sounds good. Suffice to say that the more driving stages added to the circuit the more parts required, while all other things being equal, disregarding it's sonic outcome and subsequently the total cost.

HINT: you need to do some homework my friend.

Jacques.

No ! I'm Tube amplifiers manufacturer ..., posted on April 27, 2000 at 06:11:45
Joseph	No ! I'm sure it is correct ! Actually 300B cost is higher than 2A3 amplifiers but not so far away. It is less than 30% in Cost.

Please go and re-read Gord and my posting ..., posted on April 27, 2000 at 11:47:53

Sans Nom

Gordon R.: "... first of which is the 300B is more involved. In general a 2A3 or 45 requires less parts and the power supply runs at a lower voltage...."

Sans Nom: "... I have yet to come across one that uses minimal parts and minimal gain stages (1 voltage amplifier stage before driving 300B is the minimum)yet sounds good. Suffice to say that the more driving stages added to the circuit the more parts required, while all other things being equal, disregarding it's sonic outcome and subsequently the total cost."

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To Joseph> I didn't say it "cannot" be done. In fact it can be done with the same cost like a 2A3 amp. Unfortunately being a "manufacturer" youself you failed to perceive our needs in terms of an audio gear's basic functionality: to provide the best aural experience based on an often subjective electrical-mechanical reproduction of music.

In other words: shitty-sounding amps can be made cheaply. Good sounding 300B oftentimes cost more to implement than a good sounding 2A3.

Jacques.

Focus of the Day: make machine that "reproduce" music, not just a machine that "makes" music...

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