[jriggy]

I’d say (and have read a shootout) that the EH Gold Lion 300b is the best sounding ‘budget’/normal priced 300b out there.

[peckjed]

I do know that Psvane makes some of the best new tubes around, their carbon coated grey glass tubes have all been first rate that I've tried, the 6CA7, CV-181, KT-88, but I've not tried their 300b.  I do have a Gold Lion 300b that I'm going to use once my new Elekit 300b amp arrives.  I might order a Psvane 300b grey glass and do some comparisons.  I know Psvane also has a Western Electric 300b replica but it's too rich for my blood at the moment.

I've heard good things about the Psvane WE300B replica, but similarly to you - its a bit too pricey.

[bboyblaster]

Western Electric take pre-orders for their new lamps. I wonder what they will be compared to the original

[RPM123]

Sophia Electric has a half dozen 300B types at varying prices.

[peckjed]

Sophia Electric has a half dozen 300B types at varying prices.

I use a Sophia mesh plate 300B's and enjoy them very much!

[Triode Pete]

I've tried many, many brands of 300B's... Here is my personal preference...
1. Western Electric - the standard on which all 300B's are judged.
2. Takatsuki 300B - fantastic, does not do anything wrong.
3. Living Voice 300B - very close to the Western Electric 300B but with a bit more bass response (slam). The LV 300B's are made by Eunice Kron at KR.
4. Emission Labs 300B solid plate - Very good, but not as good as the Top 3.
5. Electroharmonix Gold Grid 300B - an absolute bargain and a real 300B that can take 450V plate voltage.

In my experience, there are many, I repeat MANY, tubes out there that claim to be 300B's but cannot take 450V plate voltage and will fail. Many do not come close to these specs... https://www.westernelectric.com/products/images/300b/300b-technical-specifications.pdf

My $0.02,
Pete

[Emil]

5. Electroharmonix Gold Grid 300B - an absolute bargain and a real 300B that can take 450V plate voltage.

Another reasonably priced 300B
https://www.thetubestore.com/genalex-gold-lion-px-300b

anyone compare the two?

[Tyson]

5. Electroharmonix Gold Grid 300B - an absolute bargain and a real 300B that can take 450V plate voltage.

Another reasonably priced 300B
https://www.thetubestore.com/genalex-gold-lion-px-300b

anyone compare the two?

Multiple people in the link you provided said the GL was better than the EH.  I'd take that as a pretty solid indicator.  And the GL is only $50 more than the EH.

[dminches]

I have been using a pair of Tak 300Bs in my Lampizator for a couple years.  I just bought a pair of Shuguang 300B-98Bs for $200 and so far I really like them.

[thyself]

If you are curious you might read the article in Stereophille Magazine: In Search of the Perfect 300B Tube.
Or check the 300B comparisons at Enjoythemusic.com.
As well the "Seven common man 300B's compared" at the Tubestore.com.

[kimgg]

Hi, can see below link for some 300b we compared on elekit 8600 a few months ago.

http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/the-quick-and-dirty-300b-tube-shootout/

[E55l2]

I do not trust emission labs because they have very weird operating points on there site and the transformers they recommend with the operating point s are also weird. Many many mistakes on the site. I spoke to mr van der Walle and he didn't have a clue of what a good operating point is (he was just saying that it was coppied from the WE operating points but that is not the case...)

[Jon L]

Matched pair for $1500... Sure makes me glad I got out of the 300B amp game.  In fact, looking around at NOS prices for 6922, EL34, 6SN7, etc, I am glad there are very viable non-tube alternatives out there these days

I guess I jinx'd myself for saying such a thing since I bought another 300B tube amp and a bunch of 300B tubes.

It's always interesting to read other people's preferences on certain tubes' sound. 
For me, it's about what combination of tubes I can string together to arrive at a final sound I want.  For example, I can string together  certain 12AU7->12AX7->300B combo's from my boxes of tubes to reach what I seek, and in Elekit 300B amp, I can get closer to a sound signature I want with Genalex 300B tube than Takatsuki 300B.  Then again, I haven't tried all the dozens of possible combo's with Takatsuki, which will take weeks, so other people may have different results, etc...

[jostber]

These new 300Bs from AudioNote have been highly recommended. These also have the more exclusive Molybdenum anodes:

https://audionote.shop/valves/rohren/power-tubes-triodes-audionote-audio-note-4300e-300b

I bought the new 211s from them earlier this year and I am mightily satisfied with these. Steve Hoffman gave high praise for these when they were released:

https://audionote.shop/valves/rohren/power-tubes-triodes-audionote-audio-note-4242e-211-vt4c
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/joint-effort-between-audio-note-uk-and-psvane-amazing-new-211-and-300b-tubes.776283/

[Jon L]

These new 300Bs from AudioNote have been highly recommended. These also have the more exclusive Molybdenum anodes:

https://audionote.shop/valves/rohren/power-tubes-triodes-audionote-audio-note-4300e-300b

I bought the new 211s from them earlier this year and I am mightily satisfied with these. Steve Hoffman gave high praise for these when they were released:

https://audionote.shop/valves/rohren/power-tubes-triodes-audionote-audio-note-4242e-211-vt4c
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/joint-effort-between-audio-note-uk-and-psvane-amazing-new-211-and-300b-tubes.776283/

It's funny how Steve Hoffman was so excited when they came out:
"Audio Note UK will be offering these for sale at around $ 280.00 each or $ 560.00 for a matched pair. That's the deal of a lifetime."
But they are priced at $1,079.95/pair. 
I realize that may still appear relatively "cheap" in this crazy world of 300B exotica prices 

[FullRangeMan]

In some msg with a AC member manufatur from the GoGo Áudio amps he told me the 811 DHT ($40each) have better SQ than the 300B.