Anyone try the NEW 300B Tubes from Western Electric? Worth the Money? Better or Different than older Ones?

AudioHR

VIP/Donor
Feb 11, 2023
216
199
90
71
High River, Alberta Canada
I

I once blew a Takatsuki 300B and then realized that one of the grid bias resistors had a loose connection. When the amp was moved, the bias got disconnected and the anode current surged, blowing the tube. A painful lesson.
I replaced the Tak with the new WE300B. The WE are definitely much quieter, since my amps drive my 112dB sensitive midrange horns directly. In fact, the noise voltage does not get below about 3mV using the hum dinger with the Tak, but can get to unmeasurable level with the WE. The bias is also much more stable and I hardly ever need to adjust the bias current. This shows the quality of the construction.
I am not sure what your lesson was. How would you know the grid bias resistor had a loose connection? You were just unlucky.

I am not debating the audio quality or the construction of the WE300b merely pointing out that they did not honour their warranty in my case.
 

kodomo

Well-Known Member
Apr 26, 2017
1,002
1,612
330
Ok, let's see if they honor mine. I have a pair, one on each monoblock and one of them has stopped working. There is no distributor in Turkey and I bought it at the end of Munich fair in 2022
 
  • Like
Reactions: the sound of Tao

adrianywu

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2021
564
670
108
57
I am not sure what your lesson was. How would you know the grid bias resistor had a loose connection? You were just unlucky.

I am not debating the audio quality or the construction of the WE300b merely pointing out that they did not honour their warranty in my case.
When I examined the amp after it has happened. It was a poor solder joint. A lesson because I built the amp.........
 
  • Like
Reactions: AudioHR

AudioHR

VIP/Donor
Feb 11, 2023
216
199
90
71
High River, Alberta Canada
Ok, let's see if they honor mine. I have a pair, one on each monoblock and one of them has stopped working. There is no distributor in Turkey and I bought it at the end of Munich fair in 2022
I for one will be interested to see if they honour the warranty!
 

the sound of Tao

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2014
3,620
4,839
940
What mA bias are people using with these?
(Used as a driver tube in an LM805) they run at 70 mA… love them completely.
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing