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Western Electric 300b Tubes - Differences

So, sometimes I see these current production tubes for about $900/pair. Then I occasionally see some for around $400/pair. The less expensive ones come in the older style boxes. Was there a period where WE made crappy tubes? If so, when was that? How can you tell by looking at the tubes themselves.

Cheap:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1150737895

Expensive:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstube&1149506422
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bander's avatar
bander
504 posts
 
Pawlowski6123

I didn't have anything to compare them with. They didn't exhibit any sonic distortion or anything like that. The man at WE told me that the tubes in question do not sound as good as the bonafide 300B's.
bander's avatar
bander
504 posts
 
Clarification: The Blue and White boxes alone do not translate into inferior tubes. These boxes are indicative of bulk packaging.
pawlowski6132's avatar
pawlowski6132 OP
592 posts
 
Aha. So, if it comes in a blue and white box AND has no serial number. Or, I guess, any tube without a serial number huh? Thanx
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