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Current Best Value In A Pair of Quality 300B's?

I am in a unique situation and could use some of your experience and expertise on currently available 300B tubes. I've read some excellent discussions here, but many are somewhat out of date. And availability of some tubes seems to change, over time too. 

My DAC has the capability of using a number of primary tubes. For several  reasons I "suspect" that a pair of good quality 300B's might be exactly what I need. 

Some other owners of the DAC have found 300B's to be just the ticket, others have not, all of which is, of course, system dependent. My issue is that in trying them out to see IF they work for me, I'm hesitant to spend as much as many of the better tubes cost. If they don't work out, I will only be able to sell them, used (if barely) for possibly half of what I paid, if that. For that reason, I am trying to determine what the best value is in a "sleeper" or otherwise overachieving 300B tube to use to test out my potential solution. . 

Of course, things, in the end, are not really even that simple, because IF the 300B's do provide the sound I am looking for, from my DAC, at that point, I will want to upgrade to something in the $850-$1200.00 range for a pair. 

Any thoughts, recommendations and experiences that you have had with 300B's would be appreciated. Thanks. 

nightfall
nightfall OP
188 posts
 

I appreciate everyone's perspective. However, as I noted before, once I have tried a pair of 300B's in my DAC and IF they provide the sound I want, I'll willingly pay $1000, or a bit more for a pair. However, initially, when I am simply trying them out,  I'm not interested in spending anywhere near that much. Everything that's been mentioned has been in the $1000.00 per pair and up pricing. 

 

There must be some solid values for less money? 

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 

There is a break between handmade and machine made.  So it is in essence Inexpensive Russian, Chinese and Czech (JJ) vs much more expensive hand made tubes like KR, EML, Elrog, etc…

the best value at the low end is probably the Electro Harmonix 300B.  These are not cheap and will give you a good idea of what a 300B will do in your amp.  

I would expect Tube Depot to have these in-stock.  

nightfall OP
188 posts
 

Thanks for the recommendation for the Electro Harmonix. There clearly appears to be  a large gap in pricing between the handmade and machine made. And nothing, really, in the middle. 

I've seen a few comments that the Cossors, which are very affordable, may outclass the other machine made tubes? Does anyone have any thoughts on that? A forum member here said they were clearly better than the Gold Lions, and several others. 

vinylvalet
902 posts
 

The Psvane Acme WE300B are in the middle of the price range and highly regarded by many. Probably the best bet in your price range.

Psvane Acme WE300B Pair

If it was me, I'd spend an extra $300 on the US made WE300B.

Western Electric 300B Pair

I haven't heard either but have read that the US made WE300Bs sound slightly better. In addition, unlike all others, they come with a five year warranty, something I value.

I did have a pair of Kansas made 300Bs many years ago and they sounded fabulous in my application.

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