Favorite 300B: Sophia vs KR

Maxmad,
I think you`re correct about the Airtight connection(good IMO). I won`t be able to evaluate or listen for the next few days(other obligations). I will post initial RP impressions and of course Takasuki once I receive them, I`ll be patient until then.I hope you`re right about the "audio orgasms".
Regards,

Charles1dad, like I wrote, I do expect you to like RP's more than BT's

Takatsuki, on the other hand, I expect to be the top of the line, combining the refinement, preciseness, balance, richness/warmth, deepest bass and musicality, which makes the product the best out there. I heard from someone who owns many top of the line tubes, NOS and present production, and his opinion is that Takatsuki are the best and only AVVT Mesh dont loose their reference first place. Also he found EML 300XLS to be closer to Takatsuki than any of his collection or those he tried, but not the same of course. They seems to share deep&powerfull bass with huge stage, but than Takatsuki's ( and now I post his writings, cos I cant do that ) tonality is very rich, but not overly warm - that, IMO, obscures tonality and detail. It IS warm - organic is perhaps a better word. Supremely musical.
So, I dont doubt you made the right choice to buy them after all, congtrats by the way:-)

THX

Maxmad,
Thanks for your comments and encouragement. I never would have believed I`d spend 1400 USD for a pair of 300b tubes.The Shuguang BT have been excellent for me the past 30 months (and shoud be for 600 USD at the time).But when I get a 'strong gut feeling' about a product it usally turns out well for me.Examples, going the SET route with the Frankenstein amplifier, then getting the DHT tube based Coincident linestage(to match). Buying the little known Yamamoto DAC and Ocellia Silver Reference cables.

These choices were 'profoundly right' for me, I hope this string continues with the Takatsuki tubes. Time will tell.
Regards,

Maxmad, regarding the person with all the tubes to whom you refer... what is his amp and speaker pairing? TIA

Will keep it simple

Digital front - 47 labs Flatfish CD transport

Progression DAC

Custome 300B amp build by James Burgess

Tannoy Turnberry 10 dual concentric drivers

And everything in between:-)