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300b INTEGRATED AMP Suggestions

This will be my first post here but I have enjoyed advice from this site for quite some time.  

After living for many years with the Rogue Cronus Magnum I am interested in downsizing a bit to a smaller, more finessed system built around a 300B integrated amp.  I am intrigued by what I have read about SET amps and given my small room and musical preferences I think this could be a fun switch.  I have been looking at the Cary CAD-300sei amp and am leaning that direction but wanted to put this out there to see what comes back before I jump.  (I like the reviews and the positivity around Line Magnetic as well, however I'd like to stay away from the 845 tubes for heat reasons)  My musical preference is generally around folk, singer/songwriter, jazz etc but not limited to.  My budget is around 5k new or used.

I know speakers are a huge part of this equation as well.  I currently have some KEF r5 speakers that I would likely be looking to replace with something from Zu's line depending on where I end up with an amp decision. 

I'd love to get any recommendations.
dholmes189
jond's avatar
jond
5,886 posts
 
@oldhvymec I am glad to hear your son got over his medical troubles and is excelling! And trust me I know what you mean about that WE gear the prices are just staggering!


@oddiofyl I was looking around the Toolshed website recently that’s excellent gear I would love a full report when that amp arrives and of course pics on your system page.


@dholmes189 as my friend Charles said you are doing the right thing, researching, gathering suggestions and you are going to find the right 300B amp I am sure. Remember to enjoy the hunt as well as your amp when you finally decide!


And for all you SET guys I should say right now I’m listening to Claude Hopkins "Lowdown" on a 2a3 amp, but a pushpull 2a3 amp. It sounds fantastic and there are many ways to skin a cat in audio. If you need more power parallel SETs and well designed pushpull amps can also sound great.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
"And for all you SET guys I should say right now I’m listening to Claude Hopkins "Lowdown" on a 2a3 amp, but a pushpull 2a3 amp. It sounds fantastic and there are many ways to skin a cat in audio. If you need more power parallel SETs and well designed pushpull amps can also sound great"

@jond +1, many roads lead to Rome.
Charles
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
And for all you SET guys I should say right now I’m listening to Claude Hopkins "Lowdown" on a 2a3 amp, but a pushpull 2a3 amp. It sounds fantastic and there are many ways to skin a cat in audio.

I have heard accounts of many others who report the same! I enjoy running both a LM805ia SET and a Luxman MQ-88uC push-pull. Always wanted to try a quality 2a3.  And I'm still hunting for a 300b as well!
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,974 posts
 
Thanks Charlesdad....I will definitely post pics  Stay tuned
ghdprentice
7,225 posts
 
I went looking for a 300b amplifier for my headphone system. I am a big fan of Woo Amps and have owned two. After a lot of research I bought a WA-5LE and upgraded all the tubes to highest level. I was very happy what amp did for my headphone system. So much so that it triggered a huge upgrade to my main system and finally had me purchase a tube amp (ARC Reference 160s). This gave my main system the natural musical sound of tubes without having to go crazy on buying incredibly efficient speakers. Honestly, my headphone and main system have a very similar sound character. This worked well for me to actually own a 300b system without the compromises in a main system.
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