New Western Electric 91E 300B Tube Integrated Amp REVIEW !
Besides the high distortion and low power and lousy frequency response into reactive loads(speakers) SET amps are inherently non-linear due to single ended topology. They compress the negative portion of a wave form relative to the positive side. And this can't be cured. It's due to single ended topology. Then again it's what produces the high second harmonics in an SET that many people love. |
Yes, if it sounds anything like Prima Luna, it would be a major disappointment. But, until I hear one, I will withhold judgment. There is a lot of things being said by Western Electric that is suspicious. They talk about the single ended 300b “sound” of the amp, but do not declare that it “is” a SET. The circuit, which someone posted looks more like a shunt regulated pushpull variant than single ended. There is a cap blocking dc current from flowing through the primary. This accounts for why it can make do with puny transformers. But in the end, it doesn’t matter what is the topology if does sound good. On that front, I expect it to sound good because Western Electric, whose primary investment is in tube making, is staking a share of their reputation on this amp. |
These are going to need an insanely efficient speaker--I don't run any 300b amps but the Lamm ML2 which can make more than enough power for my needs and sounds great at around 18 watts per chassis. I'm running a horn/hybrid that is nominally 104db efficient. Based on Atkinson's measurements this produces very little power at 8 ohms. What do other implementations of the 300b tube normally produce in terms of power? |
@jasonbourne52 you own the western electric 91E? |
@invalid that @jasonbourne52 just like to crap on anything he cannot afford or is over $1500.00 he has never even listened to it. |
How can you possibly know without having the WE91? Have you listened to it?
If you base your proclamation based on measurements, please provide a link to those measurements for both units.
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The specifications for the WE 91 are in the linked stereophile review. To me, the biggest concern is the 3 ohm source impedance of the amp which would mean frequency response effects based on the impedance of the speaker at each frequency (i.e. the response will vary because the speaker impedance changes with frequency). The somewhat high harmonic distortion, even at low output is not that big a deal because it is common to a lot of tube amps and is primarily second order, which is harmless (maybe even part of the “rich” sound of tubes). |
@jerryg123 I figured it was a drive by post |
The classic Dennis Had-designed Cary 300B SETs, from back in the day, were capable of 9, 10, 11 watts; the one I owned drove my ProAc Response 2.5s to volumes I would never listen at. So the JA measurements of output of the WE did give me some pause. OTOH, I don't remember the reviewer reporting any problems. |
It would be great if the only ones able to comment in this thread were those that have actually HEARD the WE91 amp... I did- in fact auditioned it- for an hour- and yes, it was well warmed up beforehand. The looks are controversial, but ease of use was very good, and I thought the amp to be reasonably attractive in a 'modern' sort of way. As for the sonics, positives first- I was quite surprised by how tight the bass was for a 300B amp- very impressive; detail retrieval also quite good. *However, it just didn't bring the magic I was hoping for. I can't 'fault' it per se, but it just didn't bowl me over in any way. I have heard much larger billowing staging from other top notch 300B amps, along with better depth and note decay. In summary, I walked away thinking it was a nice 'lifestyle' piece. Someone might have this amp in their living room for dinner parties and guests would compliment the looks of it. But as a serious take no prisoners performance piece? No- just not enough there for me- maybe a solid '7', but at the asking price, there are many others I would choose instead. |
It is refreshing and very useful to get input from an actual listening experience of the Western Electric 300b amplifier. What speakers were paired with this amplifier? You are familiar with the Coincident Frankenstein 300b SET. With it as a reference point, how is the relative sound quality comparison between these two SETs? Comparison with a familiar component is useful to me for meaningful context. Charles |
Western Electric is coming out with ALL NEW SPEAKERS TOO ! This could be the HOLY GRAIL OF SPEAKERS !😍🤩😃 https://www.westernelectric.com/blog/777-midrange-loudspeaker-driver-announcement
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@rick2000 There can only be one holy grail and on multiple occasions you have anointed the Grandinote Mach 36 as that speaker in no uncertain terms and quite recently to boot. |
He said the Western Electric 91E 300B blew this mind.. at any price ! 😃 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1uOx04GhRs Here’s how this system sounds with the Triangle Audio speakers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKB27zhzk4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT86LT3nCu0
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The Western Electric 91E 300B will drive hard-to-drive speakers TOO and some do say this amp is ONE of the BEST...AT ANY PRICE 😃 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ_pylrxglk&t=9s Another review here.. 4 page review Really AMAZING REVIEW !😍 |
