Hi all - longtime lurker and first-time poster here, with an "urgent question": I've been living with the EML XLS 300 for a few years now. Owned and liked the Elrogs under the original manufacturer until one of them blew up. Also owned the Takatsukis but found them a bit overly delicate and wispy with a small soundstage and just not enough power. Not long ago, I A/B'd the EMLs with a pair of Sophia Princess - not Royal. The latter were rougher sounding than the EMLs, which is what ultimately made them inferior. But they also had punchier dynamics, such that in many ways they were a more involving, toe-tapping presentation that I found extremely involving. I've been bugged about this ever since. I keep reading that the Royal Princess have reliability problems so am a bit scared of another Elrog-type situation. So I am wondering whether somebody could tell me whether the ACMEs or the Psvane WEs, or something else, would be eminently recommendable for those dynamics I crave? Should I not fear the Royal Princess, do they solve the rough edges of the cheaper Sophia models? Any comments/wisdom much appreciated, thx!
I had used Sophia Princess ( not Royal)300b as driver tube of Line Magnetic 508 amp before switching to Acme 300b.
The difference is drastic. Acme is much more transparent with more details, more bass slam, wider and deeper soundstage.
They give one year warranty and my Acme 300b had been working well for more than 1500 hours so far for 18 months.
No experience of EML.
If you want serious dynamics, you shall go for Nos We 300b made in 40's that will cost you 10k$ and up for pair.
Acme is pretty good for the money overall.
If you want serious dynamics, you shall go for Nos We 300b made in 40's that will cost you 10k$ and up for pair.
Acme is pretty good for the money overall.
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Saleh84...Great looking system..I am sure it sounds amazing..I will be buy two matched pairs of Psvane ACME 845s very soon. I have the ACME 300B already. I liked them better than the Elrog 300Bs...by a slight margin though.Hi Everyone,
In an earlier post on this thread, I mentioned that I have managed to try my friend's Elrog 845 in my Line magnetic 845 premium integrated amplifier, vs the ACME 845. at that time I was impressed, and even though I thought ACME full set (845, 300b) was fabulous, I ended up getting an Elrog full set as well. they sound different for sure, and there is nothing wrong with tube rolling (except the damage done to your wallet!).
my own feeling, Elrogs are a better tube over all, but at a premium price as well. better highs, deeper bass, separation is superior, they sound "bigger" and livelier, they are certainly quieter. I'm not an expert in musical instruments to say which has better timbrel/tonality accuracy thou. however, since at such high end level tubes, it could be very much a matter of personal taste, and since its really hard to convey sound into words, and since one man's detailed sound could be another's bright/ harsh sound, I decided - since I have extra time with this quarantine situation - to record few tracks (All streamed from Qobuz) using my ZOOM H6 recorder (stereo mic cartridge), with full set of each. 12ax7 input tubes were my NOS telefunkan, 310a tubes were Psvane WE replicas, fixed. only changes were 845s and 300bs
quick idea about components of my setup:
LM845 premium integrated amp, Singapore edition modified by Robert lai,
Rockna wavedream Signature Balanced DAC (fresh out of oven with less than 50 hours on it), first impression; absolutely a magical DAC by the way. will put against AC Kassandra when I get the chance! for now let it break in.
temporarily using my Laptop with Singxer SU-1 for source, as I've sold my Aurender N10.
speakers are Cube Audio Nenuphar single drivers + dual Cube Sub 12, connected via high level input.
All Cabling is Audioquest, PSS or PSC+
ifi power stations for AC power and Ifi ipower DC bricks for Etherregen switch and Ubiquity Edge router SFP.
SR orange fuses and SR HFTs
I've attached few pictures below as well, since I was lazy to make a video. just FLAC files recorded.
please find Sample recordings by copy/paste this Dropbox link.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/80fr4d4ysjgrnjv/AABOm0yYaVqXOHyVoT8pbN71a?dl=0
I will try my best to keep them uploaded there permanently!
hope that my selection of tracks would give a good idea about differences. please note, I was hand holding the ZOOM H6, didn't go through extreme measures by any means rather than attempting to keep db level same for each different set of tubes, during same tracks. and, by giving each set like an hour to warm up.
very slight changes in db might be still present, or occasionally you might hear my fingers slide on the recorder chassis - I apologize, but an idea of how each of these tubes sound like is better than no idea I guess, just trying to help curious people out thereplease use headphones or in ears, this is a stereo recorder and will get you closest possible to being in my actual room.
I'm gladly keeping both sets by the way, there is something I still like about ACME!
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thanks for your comments. i would love to hear your thoughts on the ACMEs. I have an updated picture of my system with my 2 new REL 212 SE subs but can't seem to upload the pic...
I believe they should be a direct substitute for the RCAs. Feel free to reach out to Rachel of Grant Fidelity for confirmation.
Short update: Got a new pair of the ACME and they work now dead silent
That's good news.Short update: Got a new pair of the ACME and they work now dead silent
I hope you like them
I have their ACME 300B tubes ..one in each of my SET mono blocks and will be buying 2 matched pairs of the ACME 845s soon..They are great tubes.
Psvane WE 300B and the Elrog 300B..very close with both but liked the ACME best.
Sorry for OT:
No more Line Magnetic 508ia amplifier?
I have two sets of Acme 300Bs. One has always been used in my amp (LM 508ia) and the other was used for some time in my Golden Gate DAC. After AD1n tubes were discovered for the GG, the Acme 300B hasn't been my preferred tube so it's been sitting collecting dust.
I'm loving what a pair of RCA 805s are doing in the Line Magnetic so I am leaning towards exploring other NOS 805s. I don't believe in sitting on spare current production tubes unlike NOS classics that gain value over time and you may not be able to find in the future.
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