The Royal Princess(RP) is really impressing me. It betters the W.E.reissue and the Shuguang BT(my base line 300b). The RP is not embarrassed by the splendid Takasuki and they have similarities though they`re not identical. Both excel at the highest level at the frequency extremes.Bass is full weight , articulate,impactful,well controlled with natural bloom but absent of bloat and flab. Both tubes are with much upper frenquency extension and quite airy,very resolved but natural(neither is analytical,edgy or harsh).
Both are excellent in the midrange and posess full-realistic tone and body,detail is top level.Voices and instruments are just convincingly realistic very organic(not artificial hifi)
How they differ, IMO these two are uber 300b tubes but I find the Takasuki is just a bit more suave,smoother and refine(I`m speaking in terms of small degrees).The Takatsuki is perceptively a bit more involving and nuanced.I feel these two are peers and in the same uppermost hierarchy of current production 300b tubes.The RP is just a little bolder and upfront(not in a negative way) both are vivid and have excellent and just beautiful color saturation and simply wonderful overtones/harmonic preservation.
Maxmad did`nt particularly care for the RP in his Cary amp but I find it a great match with the Frankenstein. The Takatsuki is just that small but noticably better in the musicality-involvement area.
On a very strict scale where 70=solid performance and 100= absolute perfection.In my system I grade the following,
W.E.reissue =70(just did`nt impress vs the others in my amplifier)
BT=85(very good all around)
RP=93(excellent!)
Takatsuki=95 (sublime experience for me)
Best Regards,
