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In Reply to: RE: 300B tube offering depressing? posted by Gordon Rankin on March 04, 2014 at 07:04:16
It is crazy. Maybe it is because of the skyrocketing price of WE 300B's. They never did much for me, but I am glad I kept a pair for investment purposes. My favorite 300B's have not been made for years - AVVT 300B C37 Glass and a pair of prototype VAIC VV30B's. I don't understand why the legacy firms can't get it right. Maybe its like the car business, they feel the need to highlight the look and technology side, rather than focusing on the sound.
I don't get why they can't do a new 300B that is really an improvement. I admit to not hearing the much of latest Chinese tubes. Maybe the entry level tubes are a good deal on a cost/sound quality basis. I'm just glad to have a few of my favorite oldies.
Follow Ups:
Agreed on the AVVT. I have a few pairs of those, and have had more in the past, of all their various 300B iterations. Really, a top-shelf tube and better than the WE in my experiences. (the WE's I had were the 1980s-90s versions). EML would be the closest thing to the AVVT that is easily available.
Yes !I have 2 pairs of AVVT 300M, that to my ears are wonderful. Nothing else I have heard can touch these. I purchased a new pair of WE 300B about 11 years ago. Still with less than 200 hours on them, but I return to the AVVT after a few days of listening to the WE. The amp I use them in puts out about 5 watts. WiWi in Hong Kong sold me the AVVT 300M. Perhaps the mesh is what makes them special.If still available contact Hong Kong.
Reading the responses here convinces me more than ever that the amplifier itself is a significant variable for tube compatibility/preferences. I own the Coincident Frankenstein MK II and found the WE reissue 300b disappointing and underwhelming. It was clearly bettered by the Takatsuki -TA, Sophia Royal Princess, EML XLS and also their mesh plate, AVVT 32b SL. The EMLs have no metallic character in my system and in fact are very natural and organic in presentation. Next level below was the Shuguang Black Treasure and further down the Sophia carbon plate and their mesh (perforated plate actually). So it appears that certain amps mate with certain 300bs.I happily rotate between the Takatsuki, AVVT and EML XLS.
Edits: 03/04/14
From the various descriptions and opinions I have digested, the amp seems to play a most significant role.It seems that if one runs a high-gain, high-GM driver then some of the cuddlier 300B tubes will ameliorate a somewhat SS-type sonic signature; EML might be too forthright. OTOH, perhaps if you are running a nice pentode or DHT an EML or JJ would be ideal. Maybe not, but that is how I read it for now.
Of course, there are other myriad factors beyond general driver types - I just used them as an example.
Cheers.
“As long as we have any intention to be right… we should be wary. So long as words have the slightest ego attachment, they are dishonest.” Charlotte Joko Beck
Edits: 03/08/14
I agree. If your can't get the sound from the tube then adjust the amp to give you the sound you are looking for. I'm very happy with the EML 300B mesh in my power amps and the solid plates in the pre.
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