Favorite 300B: Sophia vs KR

Third pair is the charm... so far. I can't comment on the sound at this time because I'm still sorting out which music server to use.

I think the first pair may have been fine but I can't be certain. I replaced another tube along with the Sophia 300B pair and everything sounds stable now. But the second pair definitely had an issue with one tube being at a much lower volume (stayed with tube when swapped between mono blocks).

I just noticed that $1200 Royal Princess. Everyone wants in on the high-priced 300B tube market. Each brand trying to out do the other. The EAT 300B is also $1200. Wasn't the VIAC AVVT also?

Good to hear Sakahara, hopefully you will be pleased with them for a long time.

Its difficult to say the last about the 300B market, but from USD599 for top of the line pair to USD1200 is a huge jump to me. You know, not every person on earth owns USD10k+ SET amp, but a lot of folks appreciate music, where the most are simply like we are, trying to complete our systems with acceptable demage, if you know what I mean. And at this price range, at least for me, it simply ends, no matter how good these babies are.

EAT was not cheap from the start, but others, like KR, AVVT and EML were and still are on the acceptable side. We can get EAT's for EUR 700-750 a pair here, but like EUR500-550 for a pair of AVVT's, KR's or EML's. So, basicaly they are, almost, at the same price level, where EAT still step ahead.
Not sure, but from the info I could find so far, they were not that expensive back in the 1997 when all that modern production were starting, but their quality was also less from the start. After couple of years some were gone, AVVT, but some came in the market, EML, and some just keep going, KR and EAT, so, the stronger survies, I guess.

The huge problem is the mega influence from Asia, mass production, which been suported by many high end manufactures, they just dont suport own brands, like WE and all others I mentioned. The only amp maker I know that were selling their 300B amps with WE's was Air Tight, but even they are not US or EU based. Another amp maker, such as Leben, which is also Japanese, sold their models with NOS Mullards at the time. Maybe there were more, but I dont know that, but I hope you get it what I am trying to say. When original TESLA factory were making their tubes, which cost nothing compared to so called NOS from US or EU, nobody, simply nobody wanted them. After the German wall failed, they couldnt make it in the market, were broken in parts and there you go, EAT were born plus others, who trying to do their possible best, using what left or re-building new.

Anyway, thats how I see things and they may change in the future, but I am definitely done with some brands.

THX

I am currently using the new Sophia Royal Princess 300B tubes in my Woo Audio WA5LE. Wow, what a tube. I have compared it to WE, Sophia Mesh, Sophia Carbonplate, Shuguang Treasure, and EML Mesh. It tops all of them. Yes, it is pricey. I think it is the best currently available.

Rgurney, Would you elaborate a bit on the Royal Princesse's improvement over the Carbon Princess? The Carbon Princesse's have so thoroughly trounced my Golden Dragons that comparison seems silly. In addition to the improvements that I was expecting in detail, dynamics and extension, there is better separation of instruments in a more believable space. Voices are striking in their naturalness. I live within walking distance of a small club that regularly features Patricia Barber, so I always use her CDs as a reference. Until now, I've been convinced that her CD's were on the dark side of neutral. Now, they sound so much closer to the real Patricia. Same for Keith Jarrett, who I try to hear whenever he's in town. There are many great 300b tubes that I haven't heard, so I'm really intrigued by the new Royals.

Phaelon - The Sophia Electric website posts some helpful User Reviews/Feedback for each type of Princess. I agree with their assessments. Depending on your system and your musical tastes, a particular kind of 300B(mesh vs. carbon plate) may be used to better advantage than the other. The new Royal Princess somehow seems to magically combine the strengths of each kind of Princess - Mesh and Carbon.I say 'magically' because from outward appearances, the tube looks like a Carbon. Yet it has more of the air and extension of the Mesh, while keeping the dynamics and naturalness of the Carbon, with perhaps an intermediate seating position in the hall.
I've tried all the 300B tubes except EAT and this is the best for me.