300b Tube Compendium

Discussion in 'Modifications and Tweaks' started by rhythmdevils, Jan 16, 2023.

  1. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    300b Tube Compendium

    [​IMG]


    There are so many kinds of new production 300b tubes on the market now, with most companies having multiple models, sometimes updating them over time. I thought it would be really useful for us to join forces and compile not only a list of all the new production 300b tubes available, but also info and impressions of every tube (that we’ve heard)

    These tubes are way too expensive to just “buy a bunch and try them out” like I often do with amps. So anyone with a 300b tube amp could use this as a resource for which tubes to try.

    I will update this first post with at least a list of all available tubes, and if I can, impressions of each of them too but no guarantees that’s kind of a big commitment. :(

    Please contrubute!

    New Production 300b Tubes

    WE new Production 300b Tubes
    See this link for impressions​

    Linlai Global Elites
    Linlai Cossor
    You can buy them by contacting Victor here (will update when I here back from him)​

    Genelex Gold Lion PX300b

    JJ 300b

    PS Vane 300B Treasure
    Psvane ACME
    Audio Note UK 4300E

    Electro-Harmonics Gold Grid

    Shuguang 300B-Z Black Treasure
    Shuguang 300BC Sold Graphite Plate
    Shuguang WE-300B

    Centron 300B
    I’ve read pretty bad things about these​

    Sophia Electric mesh plate
    Sophia Electric Carbon plate
    Sophia Electric “Classic 300B Tubes with Vintage WE 300B Soul Inside and Out” (blue glass)
    Sophia Electric “Royal Princess II Metal Plate”

    TJ Full Music 300b
    TJ Full Music 300b SE
    TJ Full Music 300b C Plus Version

    KR Audio 300B
    KR Audio 300B Baloon (boob shape)


    EML 300b XLS

    Euro Audio Team

    Valve Art 300B-C60
    Valve Art 6300B (I’ve read bad things)

    Takatsuki TA-300B

    Elrog ER-300B
    Elrog ER-300B MO
    $3,380 per pair! The only 300B equivalent with thoriated tungsten filament and Molybdenum Plate​
    Elrog TM300 (Thomas Mayer custom, only available to customers of Thomas Mayer amps :rolleyes:)

    ———————————

    I’m personally looking for the wettest, most liquid sounding 300b tubes on the market and would love any ideas, but I’d like this to be a thread everyone can use so anything you know of or have heard should go on the list.
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2023
  2. internethandle

    internethandle Almost "Made"

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    Great thread idea, thought of doing it myself since we have a few popular 300B amps in use among members right now and the info is spread across threads.

    I’m working on Windows stuff today but I’ll gather quotes from other threads (namely Studio B and Studio Jr. threads but I think there’s an old Elekit thread kicking around around here too) and quote them in a post when I get a break, hopefully folks won’t mind. Will try and include what amp and if available what cans/speakers are being used in the impressions.
     
  3. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,
    not a complaint, but a request, alphabetical order, please?
    my librarian mind just works that way.
    thanks!
     
  4. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

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    Off-topic, but my dream job! like Georges Bataille.
     
  5. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    I know your list isn't exhaustive, though it is pretty close, but one tube that was on my radar was the Audio Note 4300E and the closely related Psvane ACME. This was a joint project between AN UK and Psvane (i've read that AN essentially bankrolled the development, and the 4300E's are essentially tighter tolerance ACMEs, but who knows...), and going off of the tube structure/design it is likely very, very close to the LinLai Global Elites. Which makes some sense as the LinLai folk probably worked on this tube last before leaving Psvane to start LinLai. I've been curious about the 4300E, although I have read sprinkled reports on SHF that the reliability leaves some to be desired.
     
  6. sfoclt

    sfoclt Friend

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    Elrog also has Thomas' signature version: TM300B

    [​IMG]
     
  7. joch

    joch Friend

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    There is also the Linlai (not Linlai Global) E-300B which is the China market version (that caters to a more tubey and vocal-centric tastes?) that you see on Ali or Taobao. They come in an orange box and the tubes have Chinese scripts instead of "Linlai" down the side of the bulb.
     
  8. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    From the ones I have personally tried (EH, EML, JJ, PSvane, Shuguang, TJ) I would probably pick the Gold Lions as the best all-round performer. The Chinese tubes are all over the place in terms of consistency. TJ was very disappointing but old reviews swear by them. In Japan the modest amp builders tend to use the cheap PSvane with a white or black base and 'peacock' logo on the glass as a baseline. The Svetlana 300B from the 90s are good but difficult to obtain and without warranty. I did not try any new stuff like acme, etc.

    In general I recommend against using this tube, it is very expensive, very overrated and most of the accolades of its sound come from marketing and fetishism (like anything WE). Even the real article 1950s WE300B is nothing special when compared to dozens of triodes and pentodes from the 1920s and 1930s, many of which sell for pennies in comparison. So I can't really fathom paying upwards of $1500US for a modern replica, unless you have to have the name and look.
     
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  9. Lickumms

    Lickumms Acquaintance

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    I own the Gold Lions PX-300B and a cheap pair of Psvane white base 300B. Running both on the Kaiju.

    The PSvane has a super lean bass response. It is almost like some turned the bass on an equalizer nearly all the way down. The highs are very clean, sparkly, and precise with a great air about them. The mids also have a decent air and aaren't quite as forward as the highs.

    The PX-300B has a lot more bass than the Psvane but not to the point where it is bloated or over powering. It's highs aren't quite as sparkly or airy as the Psvane. The mids are much more forward on the PX and have a great weight and warmth to them.

    It is immediately noticeable that the gold lion is quite a bit better and a more balanced tube than the Psvane.
     
  10. Lickumms

    Lickumms Acquaintance

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    Guess I should only post reviews. So I will delete this than post my review here instead.

    Will post review of Linlai 300B-H here once I get them.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2023
  11. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

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    ppl not gonna like this kinna post lol, just post impressions once you get 'em, my friend :)
     
  12. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Come on people, post some impressions of 300b tubes and let's make this a useful thread. :)
     
  13. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Added both! My list will be exhaustive with all of your input!
     
  14. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    I recently got our batch of Elrog 300b's in stock and compared to the WE300b's. I also had for a short period of time the EML 300b's (I believe non mesh plate).

    Here's some short thoughts:

    EML: Most solid state sounding and definitely the quietest. Transients are weirdly not as exciting but seems a little more compressed than the other two - almost sounds like a transformer based tube amp type thing vs a higher impedance OTL, mids seems like they lack a tiny bit of open-ness.

    WE: VERY wide open sounding and VERY euphonic. I really love this sound as it's what makes music sound alive to me. Also seems to have the greatest dynamic range of the three. BUT - it's the noisiest of the three, I got a 4 pack of these at a discount, and there's one set that's louder and one that's a little quieter, but they're both louder than the other sets. I don't mind it as when music's playing it doesn't bother me.

    ELROG: These are sweet! Tonality sits between the two, these are definitely not burned in yet like the other two, but they have just enough sweetness, and are quiet and linear but less compressed than the EML's. I really want to get these burned in as if they open up a little they will undoubtedly be the easiest to recommend of the three as a middle ground. They aren't quite as quiet as the EML's but they get pretty close.

    I also got one set of the Mb version of these tubes, and the top end extension is noticeably great while keeping the sweetness. I need to spend more time checking between the two versions, and need to burn them in - but I'll post more later.

    Will update as the burn in and I try them on more amps - so far I have done all listening on the Feliks Envy, but I have the Cayin 300b and the Glenn 300b around as well and will try them on all three!

    I was tempted by the EC Studio that was listed, but one man can only have so many 300b amps! Oye!
     
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  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I almost marked your post “respectfully disagree” because of this sentence. :D
     
  16. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    Ha I wouldn't blame you!
     
  17. Taguro

    Taguro Almost "Made"

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    Hi Zach! Thank you for the impressions. This is very helpful. I just have a few questions:

    1. Is the difference between the standard Elrog and the Mb version a huge one? Would there be scenarios where the standard version actually be a better match for certain headphones?

    2. Which ZMF headphones are you using with your 300b tube amps?
     
  18. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Anyone have any recommendations for the "wettest" sounding 300b tubes that are still technically good and not a big sloppy mess? I have @Josh Schor 's highly modded Studio B here and it really helps the dry tonality of the stock amp, but I sill find it dry and lifeless with Linlai Cossor and even PX300b Gold Lion tubes. It gets pretty close to greatness with Electro Harmonic 300b's though, but I''d still like more wetness. I may buy the amp and try some other 300b tubes if anyone has any recommendations.

    Thanks!
     
  19. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    I mean those 300b WE would be my rec, the gold lions are the only other ones I have that are a little wet. I don't have a ton of experience with the Shugyangs and Linlai ones.
     
  20. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    Have you considered swapping OPTs? Also my friends and I have found using Nichicon Muse ES caps for cathode bypass helps add some wetness.
     

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