Favorite 300B: Sophia vs KR



Which do you prefer; S.E.T. Princess 300B Carbon Plate or KR 300B WE Clone?

I've only experienced NOS 40's/50's WE so my expectations are pretty high. Which do you think captures the essence of the WE most closely? I'm trying to keep the cost down as much as possible so EAT is not an option, as much as I was blown away by their KT88. I considered current WE but they're not in production until Spring 2011.

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sakahara
I would also like to thank you for all your learning experiences and want to thank those who commented on my two cents. I will mention I like a lot of various female jazz such as Jennifer Warnes, Hollie Cole, Diana Krall, Melody Gardot, and Patricia Barber among others. On the male side I listen to many of the stunning recordings on the German Stockfisch label. To really find the soundstage I listen to classical and live recorded Russian choral music that are well recorded.

For the past 3-4 years I have been listening to 45 tube amps. (Jeff Korneff and Yamamoto A08S) because I firmly believed that a 45 tube (on the proper matched speakers) had the most natural tone and timbral accuracy of any of the triodes and in ways they are king at low listening volumes with limited power reserves.

However I am happy to conclude that the RP and Takasuki tubes sound much the same as a good 45 only on steroids. This is as high of complement as you can pay IMO.

What you get here is pure music and no areas to really criticize. In a properly designed amplifier these tubes are very tonally accurate and simply make the speakers disappear with ease. Not much else I can add except I wished they were not so darn expensive as my entire stash of 45's (7 pairs of NOS) were about the price of one pair of these 300b's. Whoever said being on steroids was cheap!
Gwalt,
I agree with every thing you you wrote above 100%. An excellent and clear summation of these two tubes.Well done!
I agree with your findings also Charles1dad and thanks for all of the time you have put into this thread. Now that we have praised both of these tubes (and the truth be known) I wonder how the sales will drive the prices?
I received my Takatsuki's late yesterday and they are warming up in my Frankenstein amps now. Right out of the box, I,m hearing profound differences from the previous Black Bottles. I can tell that they take the Franks to a new level. I'll report more as things progress. I was able to purchase a lightly used pair of Black Bottles to go with the 2 from the Franks and I will install them in the VAC 30/30. Should be interesting
Hi Markus,
Congratulations!Profound differences,I believe you my brother,the Frankenstein with the Takatsuki becomes insanely good. I really look forward to your impressions with that combo and also the VAC REN 30/30 with the BT tubes.Marcus, you`re living good right now.
Regards,