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EL34 in triode vs 300B/845 SET

Hi All,

    I thank you ahead if some of you already helped out with my previously related post.  Quick story, I currently use a Dared VP-300B SET and just loving the sound but since I'm using B&W805 D3 I keep wondering if better higher current/watt amp would further impress me.  The best SET in the market seems to be 805B driven by 300B, very very expensive (thinking Line Magnetic 219ia).  I've been reading that EL34 due to it's design gets very close to 300B SET when wired in triode mode.  It seems far more economical to get the romantic lush sound and lots more power (relative to SET) with EL34B in triode then going 845/805 tubes (especially considering high heat).  Any anyone can share experience with above since there're lot of EL34 triode/UL amp out there these days?

    I'm also wondering since Dared VP-300B is a very entry level 300B SET, if upgrading to more expensive ones like Line Magnetic or AudioSpace or Cary...etc would make big difference with fuller body sound?  Or maybe SET is SET and won't get too huge leap of a difference.

Thanks.

hifineubee

Showing 8 responses by hifineubee

hifineubee OP
56 posts
 

Thanks glenn for info.  Yeah, I've been pleasantly surprised with 300B SET, seems that many people have the false assumption that 300B SET is automatically bad for anything non-flat 8ohm and less than 92db sensitivity.  I started with NuPrime ID8, then B&K EX442, then Parasound Halo Integrated then Marantz HD-AMP1.  So far my SET amp is the best performer among above (though no where nearly perfect).  The biggest deficiency for 20% of my music recorded in full dynamic range 'classical/orchestral' is lack of power.  Hence I'm looking for economy way to get more power for comparison.

Thanks to mboldda1 and several others who've been recommending Mastesound, I'm just not quite ready to shell out $3000+tax without a great demo first hence still doing my research

hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
hi mboldda1, i'm located around Seattle area.

trelja, how would you describe EL34 vs 300B?  I listened to a Primaluna Dialouge Premium HP at local dealer through a pair of Living Voices Auditorium.  Honestly while it was very good I wasn't completely floored, maybe my expectations too high.  I've listened to other higher sensitivity speakers like Reference 3A and some giant single driver speaker (forget brand), still have yet to find something to steering me away from B&W 800 series yet... =(
hifineubee OP
56 posts
 

Thank you all for your thoughts so far.  I love the clarity and transparency of 300B SET, guess this is the famous addiction.  I'm holding off on moving to a used large Class A SS like Mark Levinson for now.  Couple clarification I have for anyone who can help,

- Based on my research, my next best option up would be to get a 300Bx4 parallel SET like Consonance Reference 5.5 MkII or a bigger triode like 845/805.  Anyone with experience with sound quality of parallel SET or 845?  Do 845 really give out space heater like heat?

- Lots of people happy with 845 w/ only around 25watts claiming a good 845SET can drive most speaker, can anyone concur with such statement?

- I've started pairing up my 300B SET with a subwoofer to help with 40hz and below base, I'm wondering if this is as good as it gets so I should just save my money and not further go down on another tube amp.

- Do bigger and heavier tube amp transformer directly improve sound quality?  Should I entertain more expensive 300B amps with heavier transformers like those from Sophia Electric?

Thanks all.


hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
Thanks my current budget is $2500 but willing to save up more and get something that makes sense down the road vs keep buying and selling.  I'm just a regular white collar Joe so naturally I'm trying to spend as little as possible.  If I'm to abandon SET, then I would be going to some tube amp with 8x output tubes making 100watt or a used Mark Levinson Class A or Classe CAP2100 in Class AB or PS Audio M700 and similar Class D equivalent.  I love clear, transparent but warm sound (hate neutral).  Only few people may agree but I firmly believe good sound comes from high current not high watts even though inter-related to some degree.  High watt doesn't automatically means high quality sound, driving the B&W805 with a 160watt Marantz AV amp vs 35watt Marantz HD-AMP1 vs 8watt 300B SET is my real life example of how sound quality comes out inversely proportional to wattage rating.  


Again thanks to all who's helping me on my quest to higher current!  =)
hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
Thanks Kalali and atmasphere, good tips.
hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
thanks trelja for the first hand feedback on Consonance amps!

thanks for everyone else's continual feedbacks, so many choices... so little money... sob sob
hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
thanks trelja and salectric

@trelja, I've also actually been eyeing Consonance Cyber880A with 2A3x8 in pp.  But doesn't going to pp design automatically cancel out the crystal clear clarify signature of SET?  I have no experience with triode tube in pp, can you share your experience?  I read that there's a newer 2A3C tube that's a tuned down 300B with lower 2.5V plate watt but still makes 8watt.  Do you know if 2A3C can be drop in replacement for 2A3?

@salectric, I've also contemplating El34x8 pp as meaning next step up.  Do you know what's the sonic difference between a 300B in parallel SET PSET and pp?  300B makes about similar 18-22watt in these configuration.  PSET is very rare vs PP is much easier to find.

thanks both
hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
Thanks for everyone's continuous suggestions.  I ended up doing two things in the past two days.  I got a EL34B PP with triode / ultralinear mode capability on sale from Amazon just so I can try things out on the cheap as experiment.  My dad who got started me on hifi with his B&W 802 Matrix back in 1985 came to visit me for July 4th, he also liked the Dared VP300B SET and we've decided to take a leap of faith with the Dared VP845 SET.  I look forward to shared my experiment results later if anyone's interested.  =)

@hfaddict, I didnt look into the Line Magntic 508, as a matter of fact been ogling at a used unit on eBay.  But I feel price is a bit too high.  Someday I may try a 805 tube if 845 turns out a good experience.   If you have the budget, PSVANE besides making tubes also makes a pair of 805 monoblocks that weigth 100lbs each.  Seems very tempting for a try...
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