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Does it make sense to use 6k$ Nos tube with 5K$ tube amplifier?

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=VjN1SHRiUWYxUGd0dk5qWTVQOEJNNXdMaEZ0RGZB

Yesterday I inserted original Western Electric 300B made in 1930’s to Line Magnetic 508 amplifier.

After I got LM 508 on Aug 2018 and I had done lot of tube rolling.

Now I have Psavne Acme 805, 1944 Sylvania vt231(6SN7), Mullard ECC85(6SL7) and Synergistic Blue power cable and fuse with it.

Isoacoustics Orea Bordeaux foot is also under LM 508.


I had been hesitant to try my original Western Electric 300B with LM 508 amplifier.

After paying 3k$ for pair 17 years ago, I had run 10K hours on the tube with Silbatone 300B 8W SET amplifier.

It still sound fine with 5K - 10K hours more remaining.



But it is hard to get good NOS Western Electric 300B tube anymore and it get more expensive ( more than 6K for pair now).


I had tried Sophia Carbon Plate 300B and Shuguang Treasure 300B on LM 508.

With Sophia Carbon Plate, I got slightly deeper bass with more refined treble.

With Shuguang Treasure, I got more details and tight and deeper bass with wider soundstage.


Now with original Western Electric 300B, I got much more and cleaner details and tighter bass with transparent and wider and deeper soundstage.


The most notable difference is more details and transparent soundstage.

I had not expected that much improvement with original Western Electric 300B.

After going back to Sophia Carbon Plate, it sound warm but boring with less details and less transparent sound.

Thus I had to go back to original Western Electric 300B.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51X0iE0RA7L.jpg
When I play " Songbird" of Eva Cassidy with original Western Electric 300B, she appears to sing in front of me with spooky presence.

Now I got into trouble.

I do not want to put valuable original Western Electric 300B into LM 508.


20 years ago, replica of Western Electric had been made and I compared it with original Western Electric 300B.

It turned out that replica was no match to original Western Electric 300B.

Replica had crude and less details and narrower soundstage.


Although they claim to make another replica of Western Electric 300B, I do not have much expectation from my previous experience.

I placed order of Psavne Acme 300B tube yesterday which cost me 900$.

Psavne Acme 805 is the best new production tube with natural details and transparent soundstage.

I do not expect Acme 300B to be better than original Western Electric 300B.

But if Acme 300B is 90% as good as original Western Electric 300B, then I will use it with LM 508.

Replica of Western Electric 300B made 20 years ago was only 70% as good as original Western Electric 300B
128x128shkong78
larryi
4,079 posts
 
Yes, it is the astounding dynamics of horn systems that instantly hooked me.  They sound so alive even when playing at very modest levels.  To me, the other significant advantage of these systems is their high efficiency which allows one to use the very best sounding amplifiers; to me the best amplifiers are low-powered amps, particularly low-powered tube single-ended and pushpull amps.  

You don't have to spend $300k to get great horn system sound.  There are much cheaper alternatives that might still deliver enough of what you are looking for in a system.  

As for your LM amp, I would use whatever tube combination sounds the best, and not worry about whether the tubes are "too good" for the amp.  Why shouldn't you treat yourself to the best sound with what you got?  I've heard many "modest" amps transformed into something else by replacing the manufacturer-supplied tubes with something better.  For example, the Cary 300b SEI amp is something quite special with the reissue Western Electric 300b tube.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=VjN1SHRiUWYxUGd0dk5qWTVQOEJNNXdMaEZ0RGZB

I received Psavne Acme 300B tube around noon today(Thursday).

It had been shipped from China on Tuesday using DHL express.

It took only two days to get here in Washington State US.

I bought it from here.

Psvane Acme Serie 300B Hi-end Vacuum Tube Replace

I inserted it into LM508 and played some music.

Without burn in, it sounds refined with clean details and transparent sound.

Acme 300B remind me of Acme 805.


With Acme 805 and 300B in LM508, it sound musical with transparent window.

They seems to have synergy in my LM 508.


After running Acme 300B for 100 hours in LM 508, I will compare Acme 300B and NOS WE 300B in Silbatone 300B SET amplifier.

I may not need to use 6K$ NOS WE 300 in 5K$ Line Magnetic Amplifier.

I will keep it updated

Thomas
larryi
4,079 posts
 
Thomas, 

Do you have any idea about how the Acme 300B's differ from the Psvane 300B's that Audio Note (uk) will be selling?  My understanding is that the Audio Note tubes have molybdenum plates.  I don't know if they are Audio Note exclusives.  What I do know is that Peter Qvortrop, the head of Audio Note is a tube expert and a collector of tubes; if he likes something, they are probably very good.  
ranjan
35 posts
 
Thomas, I also ordered  tubes from that website. I ordered a pair of Shuguang WE845 and a quad of Black Treasure CV-131-Z. I had reservations about ordering them directly from China but the website was very responsive with sending an order confirmation and invoice. I ordered them last Friday and they arrived Wednesday from Hong Kong. Well packed and in good shape. I have no affiliation with the company except as a customer. Was pleasantly surprised with the experience and the price was right. Just want to let people know incase they are hesitant to order. Regards, Randy
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
Psavne is selling more than 5 kinds of 300B tubes.

I have no information about Audio Note ones.

I have Psavne Acme and  Psavne Cossor Valve 805 tubes.

Although latter is one third price of Acme, it is quite good for the price.

But Acme series is special with transparency and natural details.

After running Acme 300B for 100 hours in LM 508, I will compare Acme 300B and NOS WE 300B in Silbatone 300B SET amplifier. which is a premium 20K amplifier with silver foil output transformer.

Then I can tell how good Acme 300B is.

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