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
I am using WE 300B in my 805 AEs amps(using 211 Amperex output) which make the sound way better than Sophia Mesh plate or Valve Art 300B.
I've tried the JJ's (thin midrange and too aggressive), the Svetlana's (excellent midrange, laid back, slightly thin in body), and the Western Electric's. For anyone to suggest that the Svetlana's are close to the WE's is IMHO downright crazy! The Western Electric's are the most remarkable tube I've ever heard of ANY kind. They deliver unadulterated, balanced, full-bodied music, plain and simple. I find myself listening to songs that I used to skip over. With the WE's, nothing is harsh. When listening to Karen Carpenter yesterday, my wife said, "She sounds alive." Enough said.
Although there is a growing consensus that the mesh plate tube design are very appealing, they are not exactly to spec wrt max plate dissipation. This means that some amp design like VAC that operate their 300B at high plate voltage will not be compatible with offerings from Sophia or TJ. I should also note that not everyone likes the WE tube sound. Your best bet is to try if you can before buying. The latest offerings from Valve Art and EH are very good for the money, even if not the cream of the crop.
My current fave: KR or EAT offerings.
Bar none, the AVVT 300B-C37 is my favorite 300B. Others worth consideration are the Emission Labs 300B and 300BXLS as well as the Western Electric 300Bs. I like the KR 300BXLS in amps that can use it to its full potential, but I do not like it as a standard 300B.

Sophia's "mesh" tube is a Chinese relabel (from all accounts, it's a TJ/Full Music). These wannabe-meshes are decent tubes. They're grainless with good dynamic extension. My problem with these tubes it their distant and unimpressive midrange. All the pairs I've tried (whether it be Sophia or TJ) were the same. I really do believe people are so enamored with these tubes because of the pretty lights.