I have purchased Living Voice 300B tubes through Border Patrol. Below are my impressions so far on them and my take on the etherRegen I also have added to my system. I am using a microRendu to DAC 2.0 on my L2 Signature.
The majority of the week days I have worked from home and have been playing music in the background with the LV-300B tubes. Besides getting some playing hours on the tubes, that also allowed me to get playing time on the etherRegen as well as more hours on the L2 Signature.
I have the EH 300-B tubes included with the L2, Svetlana 811’s, KR Audio PX4 tubes, and the LV-300B tubes. I initially listened to the EH 300Bs after receiving the L2, and then went back to the PX4s prior to getting the LV-300Bs.
I am sure I have lost ability to hear higher frequencies with my older age, but I also suspect my perception of musical presentation would be affected if higher frequencies were not available in one setting, yet present in another.
My preference for equipment and presentation has continued to evolve. I think what I may have thought at times were music detail and emphasis actually could actually been influenced by noise that covered other information and emphasized a more edgy sound. I feel the L2 Signature is presenting more and distinctly separated information than I recall from the LIO. That leads into my still early read on the LV300B tubes.
I have been listening a good deal to Americana, including hybrid bluegrass, female and male vocals, blended vocals dipped in folk, jazz, and country, older well recorded rock, ensemble jazz as well as more easy listening jazz, blues, and a little classical—still learning to appreciate it.
I have liked and continue to like the PX4’s. The LV300B tubes seem to me to be more even across the highs, mids, and bass region. The PX4s come across more emphasized to me in the bass and some of the mid regions. PX4s seem much tighter in the bass than the EH-300Bs. The LV300Bs are not bloated nor bass shy, but do not seem as lit up there as the PX4s. My impressions are the LV-300Bs are more balanced in emphasis across the spectrum with possibly some slight emphasis in the bass region. The PX4s present more forward than the LV300 tubes. The 300B tubes give the impression of more space and better to me for imaging and distinct singers and instruments. Vocals are a bit more recessed, and seemingly more intimate to me. String instruments seem a bit sweeter, slightly more rounded than the PX4s. Perceived dynamics seem to me to be stronger with PX4 tubes, but that is probably my perception of more forward, immediate presentation and more mid and bass emphasis. The PX4s also seem a bit louder than the LV-300B tubes by about 1 volume setting on the L2 Signature. For now i have a preference for the PX4s for rock, and over the 811’s for that as well.
Staging is wider now than I recall with the LIO. I think that is a combination of changes, including the L2 Signature, the etherRegen, and possibly these tubes. The LV300Bs seem more cohesive, integrated sound across the wider perceived staging, while the PX4s seems to present more individual sound instrument placement, which is very wide on some music. I have not moved my speaker toe in, but probably would if just listening to PX4s. Some of this may be influenced by the etherRegen. When I first received the etherRegen and before the LV300Bs, this very wide and sudden distinct instrument staging was very noticeable and somewhat distracting. It doesn’t seem to be nearly as noticeable now, but picked up on it again as I changed to PX4s to listen to some same music selections I had recently done with the LV300B tubes. My opinion though is the tubes settle in better after playing for a least an hour or more compared to soon after swapping in.
The LV300B tubes are too large to accommodate the tube covers. I initially compared the sound of the PX4s with covers off as well, but I believe they do benefit from having them installed. The presentation is not as edgy and more revealing of softer sounds with the covers on. The LV300B tubes even without the covers still seem superior to me than the PX4s in these areas.
I find the etherRegen has been beneficial. There is some similarity in presentation to me as having the tube covers on the PX4 tubes—seemingly smoother with more available music information. I do think this device has also contributed to wider staging presentation.
