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300B Tubes - Which is Best?

Can't find anything addressing this on site so, here we go! What is your favorite 300B SET tube and why? What source do you use for these little treasures? What experience has anyone had with the Sophias, sound and company who sells them? Any thoughts on Western Electrics and that strange blue glow? Maybe they aren't as vacated of gases as some others? Anything new out there? Thanks, people.
tomryan
tomryan OP
796 posts
 
Aren't the TJs a Sofia product? Aren't they one of their versions of s 300B?

Also, I noticed Gjgoldy has Cary 805s. I'm still interested in anyone who has tried someone they like better than W.E.s as power tubes. Mine are still chugging along after three years and half years with no noticable deterioration.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,788 posts
 
I thought Cary used the 300B up to a threshold (10-12 watts?) then the "big gun" (845/211) kicks in up to the rated maximum (50 watts?).
ed_sawyer
588 posts
 
Dweller - no. it's a 3-stage amp.

-Ed
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,788 posts
 
O.K. What does that mean?
ed_sawyer
588 posts
 
3 gain stages. No amp (save for a couple DIY ones I know of) have multiple choices for output tubes, with one acting as a mid-stage booster amp in the manner you described.

input->driver->output or driver->driver->output is how the Cary is set up, as is any 3-stage amp (in the most general terms). each stage adds gain.

-Ed
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