Need recommendation for 300B (SET) Stereo amplifier
Hi All,
My Willsenton R300 Plus (14 months old) just started to burn through rectifier tubes. Not sure what to do about that? However I did collect some very nice 300B tubes and would like to invest in an heirloom quality 300B amplifier (SET, Stereo, power or integrated, ideally with balanced XLR inputs). There are hundreds of threads on Audiogon on this topic, but some of the amps recommended seem to be hard to find/buy. I have been looking at Cary (mixed reviews), Manley (fairly expensive), Decware Sarah (long wait times) and the Western Electric 91E. The 91E seems to be an interesting blend of old and new technologies. I'm tempted. Any recommendations?
@ditusa : Thanks Mike: I've been on the Coincident website a few times but I could not find a way to order on-line (and they have no Dealers according to the website). @doyle3433 : Thank you very much for the recommendations, currently checking those out! @glennewdick : Thanks also, checking out the offerings! |
SETs tend to have problems playing bass due to how the output transformer is built. Western Electric sorted out a way around that using a circuit known as 'parafeed' (parallel feed). They are rare, as best I can make out because explaining how they work is tricky. But there is an excellent kit: This amp can make full power at 20Hz; most SETs can't make full power even an octave above that. Distortion is lower too, since bass causes most SETs to make excess distortion (for them the simple solution is don't let bass into them in the first place). Since the parafeed amp doesn't present the power tube with any weird loads like regular SETs do, its distortion in the bass region is lower. They can be just as musical as regular SETs. It should not be that hard to find someone who can built the kit for you if you can't do it yourself.
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Bro, the Elekit TU-8600. I used to have some Sophia Electric 300B mono blocks before I built mine... night and friggin' day. The Elekit has this incredible strength about it. When I first heard it, it conjured an image of a strongman competitor performing effortless ballet. Design wise, it's very different from so many of those WE91A clones. It captures the romance of a 300B without it sounding at all sluggish or syrupy. Just buy one. |
@medium_grade Thanks for the recommendation and the eloquent description. I was imagining a Sumo wrestler in a tutu doing classical ballet! ;-) As to the Elekit TU-8600, stereophile had a raving review about it as well. As I was looking, I could only find these amps on eBay (either built or as kit) but they all seemed to be located in Japan and require 100V mains?
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