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In Reply to: Re: 300B recommendation for JE Labs monoblocks posted by RC Daniel on February 16, 2007 at 12:28:12:
Thanks for your suggestions, Raymond.I've been checking out various threads here and it seems like the consensus is that the JE Labs design produces a fairly "sweet" sound and may thus be benefited by a tube that's a little crisper. Here's what the designer has to say:
"Current production Western Electric 300B is the best power tube I've heard in this amp. Other good choice include ANY of the Valve Art 300B 'family' tubes I've heard. The Full Music 'mesh plate' globe shaped 300B is another winner. In my experience, Tesla 300Bs from Slovaka sound nice but are just too unreliable due to poor quality control. No, I don't recommend any Russian 300Bs, or any other tubes they make for that matter."
And there's another guy with a page devoted to the project who swears by the KR 300Bxls, which is way out of my budget.
My searches indicate that the 300B-98C might be a good match, if it can handle the dissipation (34W in this amp) and the JJ/Tesla (is reliability still a concer?). SuperTNT looks like a good option as well, and some people seem to like the Electro-Harmonix gold grid as well. All of these seem to be in roughly the same price range. I guess I'm leaning towards the Valve Art or the SuperTNT at the moment. Any more opinions?
Follow Ups:
Okay, I have got to get back to my study, but in the spirit of procrastination…I think I would opt for the SuperTNT before the 300B-98C, as I have read viable reports of the later; the new ceramic base on the 300B-98C *may* improve things - I don't really know. The SuperTNT appears to have been designed to be reliable and balanced sounding, which is not necessarily all that common in current affordable 300B tubes as far as I can tell. These two factors are most important to long-term satisfaction.
As for the JJ - I am not sure when those comments were made. I think early on, perhaps 2002-3 or thereabouts, the JJ underwent some changes for the worse (thinner glass etc.). Since then, it seems to have been steadily improved and is currently very solid, stable, and reliable as far as I know.
When reading comments, on sites or forums, take note of the dates; as I wrote in the previous post, tube designs and their manufacture change.
Wish I could help you further, but my experience is limited (though I have been following, as a lay-person, 300B developments for a while).
Anyhow, enjoy the journey.
Cheers
Raymond
Ultra-consumers: Spending money they do not have to buy things they do not need to impress people they do not like.
OK, I think I've decided on the SuperTNT. Does anyone know if it's possible to buy them in the US, or must I pay to have them shipped from China?
(not the standard version) seems a decent all-round performer / workhorse at a good price. Worth checking out.Cheers
Ultra-consumers: Spending money they do not have to buy things they do not need to impress people they do not like.
Yes, a very god sounding workhorse for sure, I have ran a quad of them in a PP amp for a solid 3 years around played hrs on end daily.with many a power up & off abuse because of testing gear..still no hint of needing changed..
Can you describe the sound characteristics of the tube a little bit? Balanced tone? Lusher? Leaner? Thanks in advance.
I can say in this PP amp it is balanced with a hint of lushness, but this is a PP amp, so I don't know how it would react in a SET. Does it sound good..OH YA...
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