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300B, 2A3 experiances wanted

I took the plunge and bought an Elekit 8900 which I plan to assemble later this year when the weather here in the Northeast starts to get too nasty to be outdoors. I have not bought the tubes yet and would greatly appreciate hearing from any of you who have direct experiance with this amp and the tubes it takes. It will be played into, at different times, Klipsch Heresy 1's, homemade open baffles featuring Lii Audio F15 full range speakers with no crossovers and maybe even my KEF LS50s on occasion.

I like detail, texture and tone as well as a sense of space and air. Generally listen to acoustic instruments in the jazz and classical traditions, 80-85 db being plenty loud for me. I'm interested in what you think are the best bang for the buck tubes as well as some that might be on the aspirational side.

My prior tube experiance included a Dynakit ST-35 amp i build last winter and a Decware Zkit SE84 I put together the year before that. I find the Deware strangely enchanting but a bit noisy, and the ST-35 is clean and clear but, perhaps because it is a push-pull design and and not a SET, sometimes not as magical as the SE84. Kind of hoping that the third tube amp, Elekit TU8900,  with the right tubes might be the charm. I might mention that I plan to build it stock initally but might consider investing in alternate caps and output transformers if the vaunted 300B/2a3 lives up to it's legend.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Ag insider logo xs@2xbruce19
jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,204 posts
 

I also have a Sanei 260A SET amp from Japan. In it I have a pair of gold-pin Electro Harmonix 2A3’s.

jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,204 posts
 

A good source of knowledge about offbeat tube circuits/amps is Sound Practices magazine. Joe Boyd was editor. He liked flea-power amps (45, 2A3, 300B) with horn speakers like the Altec VOTT.

glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,690 posts
 

Friend had, prior to his death, the Elekit 300b amp not sure if its the same model. I will say it was a stunning little amp for the money. He used it on his Cornwall (new). He had a local builder assemble the amp he also go the upgrades with it. fantastic little amp if I do say. As for 300b tubes and 2A3's I agree with another poster that the 2A3 is to me a nicer sounding tube but at half the power of the 300b. that said both are some of the best tubes made so its close.

From my experience, after owning Triode-labs 300b and 2A3 amps, the 300b has a better midrange then the 2A3 but the 2A3 has better bass and top end then the 300b.  Granted your speakers are efficient enough that the power rating of both is not a concern. 

In the end I kept the 2A3 amps and sold the 300b amp. I found the 2A3 was just a more fun tube to listen to, were the 300b was the late night jazz session tube. 

I've used both NOS tubes and new production tube, for 300b's the new production Gold lions are really excellent for the money. for 2A3's find a set of RCA black or grey plate NOS those are the ones you'll want, dam nice tube if I do say. I can't afford NOS 300b's  anymore lol. 

jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,204 posts
 

The 45 is from 1928. Earlier than the 2A3. It was designed for home radio receivers/consoles. It has half the output power of the 2A3. Two pairs push-pull in a console will give 8 watts.

jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,204 posts
 

Joe Boyd of Sound Practices liked the 45 better than the 2A3. He also liked the half-power sibling of the 45 - the 71A - good for a mere 3/4 of a watt! I have some in my tube collection.

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