What 300B tubes are you using in your VAC amps?


Hello.....I know Kevin Hayes voices his amps for the Golden dragon tubes. I am currently using Sophia carbon plate tubes in my 70/70 and like them very much. KH says they should perform fine. But I will have a pair of VAC 140's soon and I was wondering what others are using and why.....also I have Brimar CV1988's for drivers.
wavetrader
I am interested in the KR 300B's vs Sophia carbon plates and also the Full music brand but I think there the same as the Sophia. Any feedback on these?
I also have the VAC Ren. Sig. Mk. III 140's & tried very hard to find 16 Golden Dragon 300B tubes.
After about 5 months of only finding a total of 4 NOS Golden Dragons - I opted for 2 matched octet sets of WE 300B's @ $5,800 ($10K List) & am much more than satisfied.
I think the KR 300B's should work very well & would love to hear the final results from you.
BTW - KH @ VAC now sells his own brand of 300B's @ $370 per pair.
Paladin.....even though I would like to purchase the WE's 6K is a bit much for me...more than I gave for the 140's in fact. I would like to hear thoughts on the KR's and other brands for the VAC's
I had the GD's and Cetrons in my 70/70 and the dragons were much better....I liked the Holographic soundstage and itamcy they projected. I purchased a octet of Sophia carbon plates and they were wonderful with a very lush midrange and very musical bass the plenty of punch. I have yet to hear them with my upgraded Accuphase C200 preamp and I think the transperency should improve greatly. I am sending the 7070 to kevin to upgrade....so I will use the 140's and will be looking to purchase 8 Sophia's or 16 of another brand.
BTW what do you like about the WE's and are they new production. I might be tempted.
Roger
What's the matter with using Electroharmonix Gold Grids?
Is it because they cost so much less than all the others or are they audibly inferior?
I have to tell you that I run eight of them in my Canary 339 amp (also a push pull 300B triode amp like the VAC) and I love them. Never felt the urge to upgrade them. I did find that using NOS 6sn7's as the input/driver tues did make a nice diff. over the stock EH tubes, however.
Hi Roger,
I went with the WE 300B's for the following reasons:
1) They (WE) made the original 300B tube & to my ears & system still sound better than any other 300B I've ever heard.
2) Pro-rated 5 year warrantee - Not 30 - 60 or 90 days like most others.
3) Synergy - My entire system is warm & lush.
(VAC Ren. Sig. Mk. II pre & SF Stradavari's) & the WE sounded best to my ears & everyone else's ears in my listening room.
BTW - The KR 300B's advertized here on the gon are $872.70 a pair & the 300BXLS are $976.90 per pair x 8 = $6,980/$7,815 to re-tube the 140's.
Regardless or which 300B you choose - I think the VAC Ren. Sig. One Hundred Forty Mk. III is the best piece of work Kevin has ever done & most people will never know what 130 wpc of 300BLISS can sound like.
Under $6K for the 140's? You got one hell of a deal!
ENJOY!