300B Advice

300B amps tend to be very sensitive to the 300B tubes in them. I was quite shocked at the improvement I got when I replaced my stock tubes with Takatsuki. Wow, what a difference in warmth, musicality and details. But then for the $1K each  they should. I did extensive research and concluded these were the best for my tastes and have often enough tried to buy something for 1/3rd the price, then 2/3rds the price… and finally the best and wasting more money than had I just bought what I determined were the best in the first place.

I have been really well rewarded for this purchase every time turn it on and listen.

markusthenaimnut---very good comments!!!!

For anyone who has the time, click on the link below.  A classic 300B Shootout.  IMO, they are all very good tubes.

Direct comparisons are difficult to come by, and seems most reviewers enjoy the tubes they purchased. This could mean all are pretty nice, been my assumption. After much research over at least a year, I found it pretty much a crapshoot on which of the nicer 300B to purchase. EML and WE are the only boutique 300B's I've not seen a single failure of, but may not be voiced for everyone. I've seen failures on every single one of the others, tube construction may not always be responsible, some of these amp manufacturers run higher plate voltages than some of these tubes can endure over the long term. So, due diligence is required here, both on voicing front and reliability.

@willgolf Thanks for that link. That's the evening sorted. 

@ghdprentice You're right. The Takatsuki is splendid. The warmth and lushness you ascribed to it is there but not in a mushy way at all. It's the long sustain being captured that fills the room.

What you are missing could  very well be a pair of speakers that produce a beautiful, lush midrange when fed by wonderful 300B amplifier.