Which 300b tubes should I get?

BossaNova31 · « **on:** 17 Nov 2007, 03:41 am »

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to get some opinions about which 300b tube would go best with my new Manley Neoclassic 300b monoblocks. I currently have a set of TJ mesh plates (gold pin) in my 300b integrated, but those are the only ones I have heard other than the lower end Valve Arts that came with that amp. The monoblocks take two 300b tubes each, so retubing won't be cheap. I could always just buy another matching set of TJs and save myself some money, but I'm honestly more interested in getting the best sounding tubes (within reason - 4 vintage WEs are too much $$$). I want a 300b that does the whole frequency range well (especially bass - the weak point of many 300b tubes).

I am trying to decide between TJ, Sophia Princess Mesh Plate, Sophia Princess Carbon Plate, Western Electric (newer production), and whatever other high quality tubes I should consider.

SET Man · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 07:02 am »

Hey!

Hmmm... I may sound a bit biased here but as a KR Audio tubes users. 842HVDs in my case for 5 years now! And they still going strong!

If you could afford them... KR Audio 300B. Seriously!

Do a search on it and you'll see why. Expensive? Yes. But worth it. aa

But there is one important thing I could tell you. If you are buying Chinese tube especially power tubes make sure they are from reputable dealer and tested!

Take care,
Buddy

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 07:11 am »

Quote from: SET Man on 17 Nov 2007, 07:02 am

Hey!

Hmmm... I may sound a bit biased here but as a KR Audio tubes users. 842HVDs in my case for 5 years now! And they still going strong!

If you could afford them... KR Audio 300B. Seriously!

Do a search on it and you'll see why. Expensive? Yes. But worth it. aa

But there is one important thing I could tell you. If you are buying Chinese tube especially power tubes make sure they are from reputable dealer and tested!

Take care,
Buddy

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/kr300b/kr300b.html

Jon L · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 08:11 am »

Quote from: BossaNova31 on 17 Nov 2007, 03:41 am

I want a 300b that does the whole frequency range well (especially bass - the weak point of many 300b tubes).

If you can find them, AVVT AV32B is a drop-in replacement for 300B and does everything you mentioned.

goldlizsts · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 11:10 am »

Quote from: BossaNova31 on 17 Nov 2007, 03:41 am

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to get some opinions about which 300b tube ......................................

I am trying to decide between TJ, Sophia Princess Mesh Plate, Sophia Princess Carbon Plate, Western Electric (newer production), and whatever other high quality tubes I should consider.

Congrats! The best tube is whatever pleases your ears. Several years ago, in one of the Chinese Fat Siu (for Audiophile) magazines, they had an article on several 300Bs compared. According to them, TJ was the best value "overall", for the sound, and the money. While the WE had a slight edge (somewhere I forgot), it's tooooooo$$$$$. KR is also an excellent brand. It's what $$ you want to spend probably when you get into that club. I'm sure you know what your taste dictates.

mark funk · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 02:13 pm »

Hay all, In my book there is only one, Wastern Electric and they are made in the good old USA!

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 03:44 pm »

WE, if you can afford them. The disadvantage of initial cost is offset up SOTA sound, as well as a very long life span...10,000 hours or so. That will be pretty much like 7 years, playing 4 hours a day.

Of course, the re tubing in your case will be almost like buying a new low end tube amp cost wise.

2bigears · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 03:53 pm »

WE's are 850.00 for a pair,1750 for four.That's getting up there!!!! They gotta sound real good for that!!!!!

KR's are 525.00 a pair....

BossaNova31 · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 04:54 pm »

Hi goldlizsts: The TJs sound very good to my ears, they certainly made an enormous difference in my ASL integrated. The bass still isnt quite what I want, but that is likely more a function of the amp.

Thanks everyone else for the input. The review on the KRs suggest that they are very well made, but the reviewer noted that they are not the best he'd heard in the bass department, nor did he compare them directly to the WEs.

Has anyone here heard the Sophia Princess Carbon plates? There was a fascinating review that I read (where the reviewer incidentally was using a Manley Neoclassic 300b as his testing rig) that enthusiastically recommended the Sophias (and even had the newer WEs in the comparison). Art Audio also recommends the Sophias.

http://www.sophiaelectric.com/reviews/princess_carbon_300b/hifiplus.pdf

My Manley rep said that he personally favors the WEs and has them in his own Neoclassic 300b. He cited the WEs strong bass as one of their many strengths. But $1750 for 4!!!

Decisions, decision.....Wish I had about $5k to be able to do my own personal shootout between the TJs, KRs, Sophias and WEs.

aerius · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 05:04 pm »

Western Electric, good for about 40,000 hours if you run them within spec. If you listen for 10 hours a day that's nearly 11 years. Even if you left them on 24/7 it still works out to around 4.5 years.

BossaNova31 · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 05:07 pm »

If I amortize the cost over 11 years I suppose I could justify the WEs

TONEPUB · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 05:11 pm »

aerius is right, the we tubes go 40 thousand hours and they used to be 1250 a pair, now just 850.
granted that is a lot of dough, but the chinese tubes only last about 4000 hours and most of them are
in the 200-500 a pair range. So it really depends on what makes sense for your system and budget.

When I still had a couple of 300B amps, I tried about four variations on the theme,, but liked the
WE the best. Unfortunately, you can't test drive em!!

2bigears · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 05:12 pm »

that's the beauty of too much thinkin'.You can justify most anything!!!!

BossaNova31 · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 05:18 pm »

Looks like I'll be saving up for some WEs.

woodsyi · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 05:21 pm »

I would ask Manley what they recommend. I was told that certain mesh plate tubes weren't good with my Wavelength 300b amp. Gordon gave me a great deal on WE tubes. I like them quite a bit. Perhaps Manley can also get you tubes of their recommendation at a good price.

BossaNova31 · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 05:27 pm »

Hi Woodsyi. The Manley rep recommended the WEs but I kind of balked at the price. But its becoming obvious that the WEs are the top dog.

Anyone have a lightly used matched quad of WEs they wanna sell?

JoshK · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 06:09 pm »

mesh plates derates their dissipation, so instead of 40watts, its more like 25 watts, which translates into ~5 watts (of output power) instead of ~8 watts. They do it because it lowers the miller capacitance making them easier to drive, which typically improves HF response but it can also trade off the bass response because of less current capability.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 10:26 pm »

Quote from: aerius on 17 Nov 2007, 05:04 pm

Western Electric, good for about 40,000 hours if you run them within spec. If you listen for 10 hours a day that's nearly 11 years. Even if you left them on 24/7 it still works out to around 4.5 years.

40K hours? Wow. That might mean that I can run my pair until eternity. Geez. Even a better bargain that I have imagined. Now, only if other amplifier components ran as long.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 10:28 pm »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 17 Nov 2007, 05:11 pm

but the chinese tubes only last about 4000 hours and most of them are
in the 200-500 a pair range.

That 200 a pair is rather optimistic....I hope they do not take other components with them when they fail!

JoshK · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Nov 2007, 10:30 pm »

I'd still rather have KR's than WE's.