300b lovers

Not to tread on any designers toes in any way, more a testimonial to the impression a well thought out 300b design can have. 

I have heard 300b Valve Amp's over the years, mainly SET with low Watt Output.

I have liked the vocal and simple acoustic music when replayed through them, but in general have not got too attached to these types of design.

Recently I have been auditioned a Tim De Paravicini design PP 300b that was in production 30ish years ago. 

A friend has purchased it, who has a system I know very well and have been used to hearting Neurochrome SS Amplification and VAC Valve Amplification. The Amp' was given a pre-heat prior to my arrival, the impact the the TDP design 300b Amp has made on the presentation was quite instant. I was aware something quite special was being used and become very contented with hearing a 300b Amp' in use that were really worth making a reference to, hence I am producing this post.

The Amp's owner has informed me the Neurochrome and VAC Amp were now most likely to be sold, as they do not foresee the need for them any longer.

There is in my opinion a a new satisfaction in place. This is so far achieved without a Tube Roll, or a swap out of some very old Cap's. 

A PP 300b Amp can really work for those who have struggled with the Tubes used as a SET dsign.

@dz13

I am seriously thinking of coming to Seattle for the audio show in June. Are you going to be there every day? I’ve never been to one of these shows before. Meeting you in person (finally) and seeing your 300b mono blocks is a main motivator.

As someone who has done this on numerous occasions I strongly encourage you to do so. It’s worth the time and effort. You can speak directly with Don , gain valuable insights and actually see and hear his new 300b amplifier. This can be a very rewarding encounter. Meeting the folks behind the products has  certainly worked out that way for me.

Charles

The post from @pindac above is spot on.  Most people think a 300b is a fuzzy rolled off tube.  That is because they heard it in a single ended amp with a mediocre power supply, and most likely an inadequate driver section, and possibly mediocre output transformers.  Such as all the entry level Chinese 300b amps.  They still are pleasant to listen to, but if you use a really good driver section that never clips before the 300b tubes do and is capable of driving the capacitive load of the 300b, a really killer power supply, actually multiple ones, and really good transformers, the 300b will walk all over any of the normal output tubes such as kt88, el34, etc....   That is what @whitestix heard....  A PP 300b amp done right is very special.  I really had no idea how good they were until I spent a year working on one.  See some of you in Seattle.

Most people think a 300b is a fuzzy rolled off tube.  That is because they heard it in a single ended amp with a mediocre power supply, and most likely an inadequate driver section, and possibly mediocre output transformers.

@donsachs I made this point on another thread just a day or two ago. People get so hung up on the tube, whether a plus or minus, while the circuit design, which is far more important, gets ignored.

Absolutely. I read a great quote somewhere about a million years ago, that a great tube amp was the sum of three things. How good is the circuit? How good is the power supply? How good are the transformers? If you take care of all three of those things you get a great amp with most any tubes. Most commercial designs that are built to low price points make serious compromises in one or more of those areas. If you take care of business, you generally get a great amp.