300B reccy's?

[Gazjam]

Getting the 300B itch and wondering what folks have used and liked?

Currently using the Electro Harmonix Gold Grids, but thinking to upgrade.
The 300B "magic" is there, but more to come Im sure with a better tube, which from reading around is quite do-able.
The amps a good'un (Transformers, power supply etc) so should give me the benefit of a better valve.
Not looking at WE's at silly money, thinking something more real world but a step up from the EH Golds.

Looked at Black Treasures, KR's, EAT's or a more expensive curveball... the Elrogs.
Any thoughts or comments?

Thanks.

[lurcher]

I know someone with a pair of 300A's.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3x-Western-E...3D110992150717

But more sensibly, the psvane 300b's are good.

As you were talking about them at the time, I intentionally built that amp to be kind on the 300b's, so you may want to consider mesh plate's as well.

[Gazjam]

Heh.
I'd go for those Nick in a heartbeat, but I only need 2
Good to know about the mesh plates, opens up the options.

Soecifically,
would these play nice with the amp?

http://www.europeanaudioteam.com/en/...ve-000010.html

https://www.tubedepot.com/products/k...o-300b-balloon

or the curveball,
perhaps not QUITE a 300B direct drop in replacement as it varys slightly from WE spec
http://www.audionote.com.au/Audio_No..._Datasheet.pdf

more infor on the Elrog valve, wrt its deviating slightly from the WE 300B standard.
http://www.audionote.com.au/Audio_No...ation_note.pdf


thanks.

[Clive]

I'm a bit out of date with the current crop of 300Bs. I have a number of pairs from around 14 years ago. The ones from my stash I really like are:

WE - sometimes I think I should sell these as they are still good and last a long time but I like them, they have that mid-range magic
JJ - more "etched" sounding than WE, detailed rather than magical but still good depending on the sound you want
TJ mesh - not so different in sound from the WE character, more subtle perhaps but more similar to WE than JJ

Out of these 3 I'd plump for the meshes as WE are crazy prices.

[lurcher]

Heh.
I'd go for those Nick in a heartbeat, but I only need 2
Good to know about the mesh plates, opens up the options.

Soecifically,
would these play nice with the amp?

http://www.europeanaudioteam.com/en/...ve-000010.html

https://www.tubedepot.com/products/k...o-300b-balloon

or the curveball,
perhaps not QUITE a 300B direct drop in replacement as it varys slightly from WE spec
http://www.audionote.com.au/Audio_No..._Datasheet.pdf

more infor on the Elrog valve, wrt its deviating slightly from the WE 300B standard.
http://www.audionote.com.au/Audio_No...ation_note.pdf


thanks.

Electrically, yes, they should all be fine.

[Gazjam]

Electrically, yes, they should all be fine.

Cool, thanks for looking Nick.
The last one is a bit of different design but "on paper" is a 300B replacement.
Difference is this (according to the blurb..)



The thoriated tungsten filament
--------------------------------------
The filament of the ER300B has been designed such that it is compatible to theoriginal 300B specification.
In order to be able to use thoriated tungsten, some parameters needed to bedeviated from the 300B specs. These are plate resistance and amplificationfactor. Plate resistance is slightly taller. While the 300B specifies 700 Ohms, theER300B plate resistance is 950 Ohms. The amplification factor has been reducedto 3.3 from the 3.8 of the 300B specification. Since transconductance is directlyrelated to these two parameters the ER300B has a transconductance of 3300micromhos.
This compromise was necessary to keep the original 5V @1.2A s

reccommend DC filament voltage over AC.

seem ok? No idea what it means!

[Marco]

Yo daftee,

Why has this thread been posted in Blank Canvas?

Can you see from the room descriptions where it should've gone instead......... If you get the answer right, you'll receive a 'special prize' next time I come up

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

I would say TJ Mesh plates too. I am not a big 300B fan, but the Mesh Plates I liked the sound off, back in the days I was in the retail trade and they were on Opera amps.

These guys are worth a ring as they often have valves in stock but not always on their site http://www.aa-acoustics.com/index.html at least that is how it used to be.

[Marco]

Did you move the thread, Daphne?

Marco.

[lurcher]

Cool, thanks for looking Nick.
The last one is a bit of different design but "on paper" is a 300B replacement.
Difference is this (according to the blurb..)



The thoriated tungsten filament
--------------------------------------
The filament of the ER300B has been designed such that it is compatible to theoriginal 300B specification.
In order to be able to use thoriated tungsten, some parameters needed to bedeviated from the 300B specs. These are plate resistance and amplificationfactor. Plate resistance is slightly taller. While the 300B specifies 700 Ohms, theER300B plate resistance is 950 Ohms. The amplification factor has been reducedto 3.3 from the 3.8 of the 300B specification. Since transconductance is directlyrelated to these two parameters the ER300B has a transconductance of 3300micromhos.
This compromise was necessary to keep the original 5V @1.2A s

reccommend DC filament voltage over AC.

seem ok? No idea what it means!

Looks fine, The transformers are 3k5 so should be fine with that ra.