300B Tube Amps with 15/16 Watts Per Channel?


Felix Audio makes the dual 300B amp "Lybra"--are there any other manufacturers of that gear?.Does anyone have experience using two each 300B tube amps modified to be two monoblocks with 15/16 watts output power each? If yes, did you hear any difference in the exquisite 300B sound other than more power? All experiences and thoughts appreciated. (Yes, expense is already noted)

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I have a pair of triode labs parallel  300b amps.  Made in Japan.  I love each system  I have for different  reasons.  The voice is to die for. It is quick and musical base is there but I have other systems  that are better in that department 

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Only one to buy in my mind for higher powered 300B, the Don Sachs/Lynn Olson Blackbird Monoblocks; manufactured by Spatial Audio Labs. Not cheap at $10,000 each, but it appears the culmination is Don's and Lynn's life's work. I do not own them, as they are not in my current budget, but I am lucky enough to get to hear them now and again in my friend's system. I believe they are 24 WPC?

He pairs them with the brilliant Aric Audio Motherlode XL preamp, which I also own

Ref atmasphere's post. It depends on how much distortion one is willing to tolerate. An SE amp with a pair of 300Bs will not put out 15 watts @1%thd.

Yes- if 15 Watts the distortion will be more like 10%.

Have gone through some amps, like FW SIT3, Pass X25, LTA UL and some other Class D but in all cases it seemed to lack dynamics

@debjit_g This is a very common comment about single-ended power amps! Single-ended amps (SET or PSET) seem to have more 'dynamics' because distortion on the leading edges of the transients is interacting with your ear in a particular way- the ear interprets the distortion as loudness because it uses higher ordered harmonics to sense how loud sounds are. Those amps with less 'dynamics' are that way because they are lower distortion.

This is why I mentioned that SETs only have about 20-25% usable power. Above that level (generally speaking) the distortion masquerades as 'dynamics'. So if you want to hear them at their best, the speaker needs to be more efficient. You can get around this problem if the SET (or PSET) has feedback, but then you find out that the amp is under powered! This is why I've been recommending something push-pull.  A PP 300b amplifier can make about 35 Watts which will be far more satisfying your speakers. 

 

@vthokie83 Yes, the Blackbirds measure out at about 24 wpc. I know Aric and he builds seriously good tube gear. He is a master craftsman. That said, I wish you could hear the Blackbirds with the matching Raven preamp:) It would be a different experience and I would be very interested in your take on the comparison...