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Best 300B tube

Hi! I have an Audion Silver Night MKII with Tannoy Turnberry SE and a Chord 2Qute connected to a Macbook Pro with Audirvana 3.5. The Audion mounts JJ 300B tubes. I replaced with TJ Full Music Solid Plate matched pair. The middle and highs expanded, all very clear, but the sound now it's so bright that a in less than an hour a get auditive fatigue. So I got back to the JJs, thinking what's next. Gold Lion or it would be similar? Raise money for KR Audio or stop curiosity and just conform with JJs, that are not bad of course? Thanks a lot.
hectorruiz
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,828 posts
 
OK:

My favorite power tubes were (by far) the St. Petersburg Svetlana's (however they rarely lasted for more than 3-5 hundred hours in the amp).

JJ's were my least favorite tried (SS sounding).

The original Chinese 300B's were similar in sound to later (70's?) production WE's -w- screened Yellow graphics on the base, though the WE's were better. 

I ended up using similar (to you) signal tubes...

-late production Blackburn Mullard 6922 with dimpled disc getter
-Sylvania GB 5687

If I were to obtain another Silver Night I would probably go with the PX300 GL's (that you already came up with) along with the Mullard/Sylvania signal tubes.

My opinion of the GL's is based upon the online reviews that you most likely based your pick on, so no big whoop there.

Anyway, looks like you are aiming for the same warm/rich sound that I was.

I paired the Audion with a pair of Reynaud Twin MkII's and it was a very nice organic/3D sounding setup.

DeKay

shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
Top grade 300B will sound more bright due to expanded details.

I am using Dave and HMS which could sound analytical.

But I managed to tame the bright sound, but it was  not easy.

I believe you had better replace  Chord 2Qute with other r2r Dac, then it will help.

Thomas
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,182 posts
 
https://blog.thetubestore.com/300b-tubes-review/

The Genelex and Shuguang Black do well here. Reverb $125.
hectorruiz OP
5 posts
 
DeKay: Thanks a lot. Same as you, I'm looking for rich and warm sound. I'll analize your suggestions.
Thomas: As you say, the 2Qute synergy would be part of the problem too. Thank you!
Noromance: I read that review and thougth the Genelex was best buy. Thanks.
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
625 posts
 
I replaced Genelex PX300b's with JJ 300b's in my system. I have Charney Audio Companion Horns with Omega RS7 drivers. The Omega's are a little on the dark side and the hardness of the JJ mates well with them.

A while back I went to Charney Audio to listen to a new speaker design. We took some time to compare different 300b's. He has a vintage pair of Western Electric and the one that came very close was the Psvane WE300b Replica Plus version. The Plus is their latest version since they had sustainability issues with the first run. If I were to upgrade to a Lowther, Voxativ or AER driver I would seriously consider the Psvane WE300b Replica plus if I couldn't score/afford Westerns. Do a search and read a few posts about them.
Chris

System Sparkler Audio S503>Upgraded ANK L3 Pre>ANK 300b Interstage Mono Blocks>Charney Audio Companions...All cabling is Jena Labs...P.I. Uberbuss and DigiBuss

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