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I wouldn't mind trying a 300B integrated someday, and I like the looks of the Cary SEI-300 but not the $5000+ price tag. I know pretty much nothing about 300B amplifiers.
Are most 300B amps going to be in the 15wpc range? That power might be border line for my Tannoy Definition D500 speakers 6 Ohm nom. 91db sens. I do know that these speakers really come alive with some power behind them but they're not exactly difficult loads.
Are there any reasonably priced 300B integrated amps out there of decent quality for less than $5000, preferably much less w/o buying junk?
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Take a look at this Abe.
Dick Olsher (TAS) gave extremely high marks.
Meat; It's the right thing to do. Romans 14:2
Interesting thought since my speakers might not be sensitive enough to take full advantage of a low power 300B SET amp. Thanks.
15wpc: 4 good sounding output tubes alone will cost $1200-$2000. High quality output xfmrs are in the $500 - $1000 range. $2000 is the manufactures starting point before the cost of chassis, power supply, circuit design... This is a tall order, quality/$.
The usual tactics apply here; audition a lot of amps, buy used, come to grips with acceptable tradeoffs.
Consider also, a PP 2A3 amp can deliver 15wpc and will have similar sound to 300Bs. A savvy buyer can pick up good tubes for much lower cost.
I owned a Cary SEI 300 and used it for a headphone amp for a time in 2007-08 - it was nothing but trouble - went back to Cary multiple times with issues such as hum and channel imbalance. The 300B tube is a very nice tube and I did use a pair of the famed Western Electric's which were insanely expensive. It only puts out about 15W but when it worked it did have the liquid, lush, and romantic sound those tubes are know for. I sold it on Agon and never looked back. It was a real head scratcher for Dennis and his crew.
I wonder if it was a lemon or typical for this Cary model. Overall, I've been pretty happy with the Cary gear I have owned over the years.
I too have had very good luck with other Cary gear but this one had everyone scratching their head, so indeed, a lemon! Too bad really as I really like the 300B tube liquidity and warmth.
Researching to purchase a quality 300B amp is difficult. Reviews may or may not give much useful info. No matter how much tube rolling or changing out to higher quality coupling capacitors, the unknown quality of the audio transformers plays a large role in the sonics.
Paying $5K is no guarantee either. I suspect as cost goes up a better chance for high performance does come forth.
I used an 8W three stage 300B integrated amp for a year using the Tannoy D500 and then the D700 as speakers in a large room. The sound was good: clear with nice imaging, but polite and lacked dynamics. I went back to my 100dB speakers and never looked back. For me the dynamics are what really makes the music come alive; I want to feel the impact of a kick drum or a piano crescendo on my chest. Adding another 300B for single ended parallel won't do it. Those speakers need some power to really sing as they should.
That's great information considering your experience driving the D500s with 8wpc. Lack of dynamics is one of my fears. I listen mostly to rock music (but I suppose classical would be at least as demanding).
Since I'm not going to swap out my speakers, I may need to look at an amp with more power and maybe go with a 300B p-p design instead of SET.
geezerrocket mentioned the Audio Space Reference 3.1, which puts out about 20wpc.
I listened to Tannoy Stirling TW's for a number of years with very good SE 300b amps, and I also found that they lacked dynamics and "crispiness." They were great speakers, however, and I wish I kept them. Many speakers sound better with more power even if they get loud with little. I think my more sensitive Tonian/Phy-hp speakers are the same, and I prefer a Mcshaned Citation II with pp KT88's. However, the SE 300B amps are more than dynamic enough with my Lowther Acoustas. Try to check what will work first, to avoid following a path that will be frustrating in the long run. I love SET's but have sold out on my purism.... David
Edits: 01/06/15
One 300B tube in SET - say 4-10W, with most mfrs in the 8-9W range. Different operating points and OPTs will give you different power out-distortion trade-offs. Double the power out for parallel SET.
There are not too many integrated 300B SET amps out there. Look at Triode Corp. from Japan. There are many chinese amps in your price range, but I can't add (or contradict) anything that hasn't already been said.
If you want good value in a 300B PP amp (22W), look at the Audiogon URL below and ask RGA what he knows. He's in China, now < and may have some good suggestions about amps made there that will fit your budget.
Observe, before you think. Think before you open your yap. Act on the basis of experience.
Commonsenseaudio.com sells an integrated 300B amp for $1550. I've never heard or seen one in person, so this is just a suggestion, not an endorsement.
Aren't transistors alien technology?
Yes, speak with David Dicks over at Commonsense Audio. I was interested in that amp and spoke to him about it a couple of times. I have no idea how good it really is, but if it's as good as he says it is, it's the bargain of the millennium.You might also look at this thread that I started over on Audiogon. Lots of good info on SET amps in general there...
I eventually decided to build an Audio Note Kit 1. It's not a "bargain" amp in the sense of being cheap, but I'm enjoying building it and it's supposed to sound pretty glorious. I'm blogging the build process at http://www.stevefolberg.com , if you're interested.
Edits: 01/03/15
NT
Observe, before you think. Think before you open your yap. Act on the basis of experience.
It was the thought that counts. Thanks!
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