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Kit1 2A3 experience (vs 300B if useful)

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Posted on October 8, 2009 at 06:05:53
Felice
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: Milan
Joined: October 8, 2009
 Hi, greetings to everybody in this forum

does anybody has experienced switching between 300B to 2A3 configuration using a Kit1? which 2A3 did you try? did somebody compared 2A3 tubes from different manufacturers? how much is Kit1 amplifier sensitive to tube replacement by other brands (this can apply to 300B also)?

Output power is not an issue at all for me, this question is mainly about sonic balance of different brands and models of tubes.

As a reference for you, I can judge my Kit1 PQ signature with Sovtek/Reflector 300B tubes as 'slightly dark sided sound balanced'.
This completely matches some reviews about those tubes sound behaviour.

thanks a lot in advance
RE: Kit1 2A3 experience (vs 300B if useful), posted on October 21, 2009 at 16:56:28
GTCharlie
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: Philippines
Joined: December 9, 2004
 Hi Felice. Difficult to compare 300H and 2A3 using the same circuit. Different voltage, big difference in current, and different primary impedance for OPT.

RE: Kit1 2A3 experience (vs 300B if useful), posted on October 21, 2009 at 16:57:23
GTCharlie
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: Philippines
Joined: December 9, 2004
 am sorry. error of the clerics. 300B. Not 300H

RE: Kit1 2A3 experience (vs 300B if useful), posted on October 21, 2009 at 19:23:08
Wojciech
Audiophile

Posts: 45
Joined: June 23, 2009
 Well ,the impedance of kit 1 OPT is 2.5 or 2.7K perfect for 2A3.If you use choke input PSU (PQ doesn't like it) the B+ should be in a ball park (one can always use a different PT)My guess is that comparison should be quite trivial to achieve. Unfortunately (or not) most (if not all) AN users trust Peter more than their own pair of ears (and what's behind;) so ask him directly and you'll have (mostly correct;) your answer.

RE: Kit1 2A3 experience (vs 300B if useful), posted on October 21, 2009 at 21:23:22
GTCharlie
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: Philippines
Joined: December 9, 2004
 Hi W. My "ears" prefer primary Z for 300B OPT around 5k4 - 6k. That's what I use. For 2A3, the same ears prefer 2k5 primary. This is just a conjecture : but I suspect a 2A3 plugged into the Kit One should do very good (after assuring proper current and voltages that is). The 2A3 does not demand as much drive as the 300B and the SRPP 5687 might fare better.

question for PQ (and for whom wants to contribute), posted on October 22, 2009 at 03:05:06
Felice
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: Milan
Joined: October 8, 2009
 thanks you for your interest.

I have a very recent Kit1 (signature version + TKD + ELMA upgrades) with AN Improved HiB OPTs (you can find it's picture on ANK site), so 2K7 on primary.
Switching to 2A3 would simply require to:
- change 4 resistors on the same heater board you see in monoblocks
- change mains HT voltages (different wires for 2A3 and 300B operation, 5687 and 6SN7 voltages will be reduced a little too...)
- buy and change power triode

in my experience 300B focus is on instruments against voice (Kit1 with Sovtek 300B 90hrs burn in), 2A3 has the opposite behavior with tighter bass and some roll off on highs (other brand amplifier). I have 102db speakers (down to 34Hz), power is not an issue at all.

the questions are:
- does Kit 1 performs equally better in 2A3 or in 300B mode?
- which power triode would be the most accurate according to comparison by contrast method in Kit1 circuit with Tantalum, black gates, AN copper Caps and HiB OT components?

I have to choose between buying a better 300B tube that has more focus on mids and less bass related to Sovtek, or to switch to a very good 2A3.

thanks a lot in advance.
RE: question for PQ (and for whom wants to contribute), posted on October 22, 2009 at 10:22:20
Frank E
Audiophile

Posts: 643
Joined: May 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: September 8, 2000
 You seem to have answered your own question. As it is a simple matter to change the Kit1 to 2A3 operation and Sovtek 2A3's are cheap, why not try it yourself and see which is better to you. Then you can decide whether to move on to something else. Let us know what you find out. When I find some time I would like to do the same with my basic Kit1.

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