2. amps-preamps
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300b lovers

I have been an owner of Don Sachs gear since he began, and he modified all my HK Citation gear before he came out with his own creations.  I bought a Willsenton 300b integrated amp and was smitten with the sound of it, inexpensive as it is.  Don told me that he was designing a 300b amp with the legendary Lynn Olson and lo and behold, I got one of his early pair of pre-production mono-blocks recently, driving Spatial Audio M5 Triode Masters.  

Now with a week on the amp, I am eager to say that these 300b amps are simply sensational, creating a sound that brings the musicians right into my listening room with a palpable presence.  They create the most open vidid presentation to the music -- they are neither warm nor cool, just uncannily true to the source of the music.  They replace his excellent Kootai KT88 which I was dubious about being bettered by anything, but these amps are just outstanding.  Don is nearing production of a successor to his highly regard DS2 preamp, which also will have a  unique circuitry to mate with his 300b monos via XLR connections.  Don explained the sonic benefits of this design and it went over my head, but clearly these designs are well though out.. my ears confirm it. 

I have been an audiophile for nearly 50 years having had a boatload of electronics during that time, but I personally have never heard such a realistic presentation to my music as I am hearing with these 300b monos in my system.  300b tubes lend themselves to realistic music reproduction as my Willsenton 300b integrated amps informed me, but Don's 300b amps are in a entirely different realm.  Of course, 300b amps favor efficient speakers so carefully component matching is paramount.

Don is working out a business arrangement to have his electronics built by an American audio firm so they will soon be more widely available to the public.  Don will be attending the Seattle Audio Show in June in the Spatial Audio room where the speakers will be driven by his 300b monos and his preamp, with digital conversion with the outstanding Lampizator Pacific tube DAC.  I will be there to hear what I expect to be an outstanding sonic presentation.  

To allay any questions about the cost of Don's 300b mono, I do not have an answer. 

 

 

whitestix
lewinskih01
907 posts
 

Undoubtedy individual preference is paramount regarding "best" listening volume. I wonder how certain speaker designs might affect that as well. I'm into DIY speakers and I'm missing the palpable feeling with my 18" open baffle midbasses than I had with smaller sealed midbasses, until I turn up the volume. Midbass definition is better with my OB, but missing some slam/palpability. I run sealed subs below, so slam down low is there. I noticed @whitestix  uses Spatial Audio open baffles so wondering if there might be a correlation there. 

BTW, I'm running 45-type SET on my tweeters above 1 2kHz and absolutely love them. I realize 300b gets more love, though :-) 

Lovely thread. I wish it weren't the exception arou d here!

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,238 posts
 

@lewinskih01 

BTW, I'm running 45-type SET on my tweeters above 1 2kHz and absolutely love them. I realize 300b gets more love, though :-) 

Lovely thread. I wish it weren't the exception arou d here!

I believe that both the 45 and 2A3 tubes get much respect and admiration. For a lot of folks the higher power output of the 300b provides more flexibility in choosing matching speakers. I do quite well with the 8 watt 300b Whereas 1 to 3 watt may be a bit shy for my particular speakers.

I certainly don’t think any less of the 45 or the 2A3 tubes. However, they do narrow speaker choices. The 300b push pull amplifier under discussion here has the “potential “ to be an outstanding success given its design and higher power output.

Charles

lynn_olson's avatar
lynn_olson
278 posts
 

45’s are wonderful tubes. By measurement with a spectrum analyzer, possibly the best tube of all time, with a beautifully clean harmonic structure. Which is why the Mark I Karna’s used them as drivers.

But ... NOS examples are now very rare, so it’s down to a few vendors as a specialty item. I am hoping they become more broadly accepted, though. They really are something special, and are much easier to drive than a 300B or 2A3.

donsachs's avatar
donsachs
257 posts
 

Current production Chinese 45 tubes are about $350 per pair plus shipping.  I may try a quad in my Lampi Pacific DAC.  I quite like the 46 tube there with adapters.   The current production European 45 tubes are twice that price.  That said, if run at sane operating points they may well last 30,000+ hours.  So if you like them, they are really not that expensive in the long-term.

lynn_olson's avatar
lynn_olson
278 posts
 

Yes, folks that try the 46 (a direct-heated pentode that is often connected in triode) really seem to like it. By general consent, it sounds very much like a 45.

How different does a triode-connected 6V6 sound from a 45? Good question. The 6V6 was designed as a replacement for the 45 back in the mid-Thirties, and has very similar operating points (by design).

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