What are some great 300B SET amps $5-7K?

[Dimfer]

He had a 45 here that wasn’t that good though there weren’t any upgraded parts, only the basic

The one I heard is the copy of the Luxman MX300 I think.. he also has a copy of the schematic for the Kondo Ongaku, so you can order one if so desired

 

[DasguteOhr]

9-10 watt silvaweld swa 20s 300b arround 2k€ used amazing amp with tj 300b globe shape

 

[morricab]

9-10 watt silvaweld swa 20s 300b arround 2k€ used amazing amp with tj 300b globe shape
View attachment 106173

I still love and use my Silvaweld SWH-650 phonostage...all tube design, including tube regulated power supply.

 

[ahb3u]

I recently took delivery of a Toolshed Amp that's 300b. Sound is incredible with my Spatial Audio X3s (97db efficient). Mine was fully tricked out and came in around 10k but Matt can build it for less.

Hey deadhead

what did you move to the 300b from. I am thinking about the same amp or trying a Toolshed preamp, keeping my Decware SE84ufo25. I too am digital with high sensitivity speakers.

 

[Gregadd]

There is an actual Western Electric 300B Integrated amp in current production.
Circa $15k I posted it in the amp section

 

[oldvinyl]

I use the Cary 300 SEI for office speakers and headphones (Sennheiser).

 

[SVS]

I recommend SE monoblocks with 6C33C output tubes. 20 watts of output power and the absence of general feedback greatly contribute to good sound.

 

[morricab]

I recommend SE monoblocks with 6C33C output tubes. 20 watts of output power and the absence of general feedback greatly contribute to good sound.

I have owned or currently own the following 6C33c based amps:
Silvaweld OTL Reference monos (not SET)
Wall Audio M50 monos
Ayon Helios
Ayon Spark (still own in 2nd system)

While I love the rich tonality (except the OTL) I ultimately found them a bit too rich and editorializing the tone too much .

 

[SVS]

While I love the rich tonality (except the OTL) I ultimately found them a bit too rich and editorializing the tone too much .

It all depends on the implementation. 6C33C does not have "its" voice, unlike GM70, for example. The sound of the amplifier depends entirely on the driver.

 

[Argonaut]

It all depends on the implementation. 6C33C does not have "its" voice, unlike GM70, for example. The sound of the amplifier depends entirely on the driver.

I concur in that the 6C33C being quite the chameleon of a valve that can be set up from relatively harmonically lush to relatively linear depending on associated circuit , whilst remaining a relatively affordable option.

 

[christoph]

It all depends on the implementation. 6C33C does not have "its" voice, unlike GM70, for example. The sound of the amplifier depends entirely on the driver.

What IS the "voice" of the GM70, then?

 

[Kingrex]

Are Shiney Eyes really that good. Do you have to pay for serious iton?

 

[Fishfood]

There

Are Shiney Eyes really that good. Do you have to pay for serious iton?

There was a gorgeous 300B of theirs on USAudioMart earlier in the week. Couldn't fit it in my limited space because of an external power supply. Killed me to let it get by me.

 

[djsina2]

I posted this in a different thread. Has a toggle to switch between PX25 or 300B. $2500, no tubes. Otomon from Japan.

 

[jeff1225]

I concur in that the 6C33C being quite the chameleon of a valve that can be set up from relatively harmonically lush to relatively linear depending on associated circuit , whilst remaining a relatively affordable option.

But when they blow up (and they do frequently) they do a lot of damage.

 

[Cellcbern]

I was very impressed with the new 300B amp that Alexus Audio brought to Capital Audiofest 2022 to use with my favorite speakers (Bache Audio):

Bache Audio & Alexus Audio from Brooklyn

I have to admit, at past shows, Bache Audio's Greg Belman has urged me to visit his and Alex Choren's shared Alexus Audio room, and I've begged off, "too busy" the usual lame excuse. But this time I didn't and damn! I was glad I made it into this small oasis of good music and excellent...

www.stereophile.com

Alexus makes some incredible gear:

alexusaudio

suono perfetto

alexusaudio.com

 

[Argonaut]

But when they blow up (and they do frequently) they do a lot of damage.

Dependant on how hard they were being driven perhaps Jeff ?

 

[SVS]

What IS the "voice" of the GM70, then?

In my opinion, the sound of GM70 seems "grainy", a bit brutal and lacks sophistication. I have heard more than a dozen different amplifiers with the GM70 and they all have these characteristics. My friends experimented with drivers for GM70 and could not overcome these features. Unlike the 6?33?, the sound of which can be assembled like Lego.

 

[DasguteOhr]

But when they blow up (and they do frequently) they do a lot of damage.

Most times dirty contacts, or high end teflon tube sockets crap. Buy old russian ceramic sockets clean in the pins and sockets regulary .that beast is hot running tube(heater current).

 

[acousticsguru]

In my opinion, the sound of GM70 seems "grainy", a bit brutal and lacks sophistication. I have heard more than a dozen different amplifiers with the GM70 and they all have these characteristics. My friends experimented with drivers for GM70 and could not overcome these features. Unlike the 6?33?, the sound of which can be assembled like Lego.

I have only heard two GM70 SETs, Amplifon and the top model Lamm, neither of which sound anything like what you're describing, regardless of the specific type of GM70 (copper, graphite etc.) used. Quite on the contrary, those are amps that take the sound of the jumbo transmission tube family (211, 845, 805, GM70) to another level. I'd be curious what brands you're referring to.

Admittedly I've heard 845 amps that sound as you're describing, always ones with an output wattage over ca. 20 Watts Class A, later found out that this appears to be a result of overdriving them (attaching a link to the JAC Music article):

http://www.jacmusic.com/nos/GM70/

In a similar vein, I've heard 211 amps that sound strained (max 19.7 Watts Class A according to spec sheet), but not GM70 (max 43 Watts Class A according to spec sheet), quite on the contrary, I happen to find GM70 is one of my favorite sounding tubes, combining macro and micro dynamics with spot-on tonality. Having said that, same as 211, another of my favorites (on average a slightly more elegant, less lively sounding tube), a lot (if not everything) depends on the quality of the output transformer.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.