LinLai WE 300B or the LinLai Global Elite Permaloy 300B tubes ?


I presently am using Sophia Electric 300B mesh-plates and find them to sound good in general.  I originally used the Sophia Royal Princess 300B's and really loved the sound, however in my experience, reliability was really poor and for the price, it wasn't any fun trying to get replacements.  I'm getting ready to order new 300B's however would like to know if any of you have had experience with their WE 300B or their flagship Elite Permaloy 300B.
Thanks... John
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xliquidsound
Charles1dad, Joel's 6moon review of Linlai Elite Mesh was polar opposite of what I hear, he claims it sounds bright, no way in my setup. Israel at Coincident also mentioned to me he dislikes any mesh plate tube, claims of high frequency anomalies. I've also had no problems with microphonic from the mesh plates. Joel much preferred the solid plate Linlai Elite, I intend trying that one as well. By the way, Rachel at Grant Audio was the person who recommended the mesh plate to me.
Liquidsound, I'll take a look. I do wonder if Linlai is sending you US spec tubes if shipping directly from China. According to 6moons, Linlai manufactures or sends (questionable they would set up separate runs of tubes for different markets) only it's best quality tubes to US, lower quality sold only in domestic market/Asia. I think I recall it being mentioned in article large quantity orders from North America ensures one gets US quality tubes, perhaps that isn't exactly correct as the article was also tie in to Rachel and Grant Audio. Perhaps marketing hype? I presume US purchasers from Linlai direct would get the US spec. tubes.
I did just go over to Linlai US website, it does appear they only ship gobal spec tubes here.
The tube VIP program is in fact Grant Fidelity, the website named Premium Vacuum Tubes. Wonder how long club has been in existence? $30-$40 year membership.
@sns,
Thanks, I will read the 6Moons review. I would not be at all surprised if the mesh plate versus solid plate Linlai Elite 101D preference is tied to particular audio systems and components in use, simply synergy factors. Interesting in this instance you, Joel and I use the Coincident Statement Line Stage .
Charles
I've had a pair of Sophia Royal Princess 300B's in my Woo Audio WA5-LE on-and-off for ~7years (more on than off), with no reliability problems whatsoever, maybe the luck of the draw, but so far so good. In fact I tried to by a second pair of the RP 300's, but they had all sold out  by then.

My other pairs of 300B's (all new or NOS) are:
  • Emission Labs 300BM - Mesh
  • AVVT 32B-SL
  • Takatsuki 300B
  • KR Audio 300B Riccardo Kron Limited Series
  • EAT 300B
  • Svetlana 300B (1995)
  • STC 4300A (1962), direct WE equivalents
Trying new 300B's is always interesting!