Jan Sale_4 of 4: Longdog Audio 300B SET Amp
#4
Nick Gorham designed and built Directly heated, Single Ended Triode 300B power amp
Yup...up for sale.
Things can change, and that's ok.
£1750 Collection only (Price is as seen, including valves)
Not your typical 300B SET power amp, designed and built by Nick Gorham of Longdog Audio.
Nick knows a thing or two about valve amp design, it's the best 300B valve amp I've been fortunate to hear, never mind own.
The amp is interesting in that its almost a "hybrid", in that its a directly heated triode amp, but has solid state regulation.
Particular attention and some very clever design work has been paid to this, I've heard from a few people its voltage regulation is said to be "better than commercial".
This, along with Nick's design and build, the high quality Iron and components means it doesn't sound like what you'd expect a 300B amp to sound like.
Ok Some specific Info:
Owned since late 2015, valves changed every 12-14 months, recently serviced by Nick and all A-ok.
Amp in excellent cosmetic condition, no chips or scratches in woodwork or metalwork
8 and 4 ohm speaker taps
VALVES
Shown with currently fitted and supplied valves as part of sale
POWER: Matched pair PSvane 1:1 Western Electric replica 300B
DRIVER: TungSol NOS 5678 black plates
Driver valves replaced about 6 months ago
300Bs a bit older, light use for just under a year, mixed these and a set of Electro Harmonix Gold Grid for movies, casual listening.
All valves within good performance envelope...think Western Electrics and how long they last.
When I got the amp it was supplied with Electro Harmonix 300Bs, even with those it was great out the box.
The PSvane 300Bs were £850 a pair on their own.
TRANSFORMERS
Hand wound AE transformers - BOM cost over £600 just for these (A SET amp needs good heavy iron)
OUTPUT
Between 5 -9 watts depending on how its measured, so efficient speakers required.
Worked really well with my Edingdale speakers at 94dB.
This is an extremely heavy amp given the massive transformers, so collection preferred from near Glasgow.
Can meet in car up to 150 miles for petrol cost...or Courier it out at buyers cost/risk.
Valves will be packed up tight and the amp will of course be double boxed and securely packed.
I'm looking for for £1750
A month ago I'd have been surprised to see ever myself selling this.
As good and amp as I'd ever need, only selling as going forward I'm simplifying my systems and moving on from valves.
This is a very special sounding amp, I've really enjoyed my time with it, and valves in general.
Just looking for the simpler stuff nowadays so I hope to find a good home for this.
Thanks.
Last edited by Gazjam; 04-01-2020 at 22:43.
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables