Favorite 300B: Sophia vs KR

Charles1dad,

I have followed this thread with interest because I also have the Frankenstein mark II monoblocks equiped with the Black Treasure 300b tubes. I have always believed this to be a stellar pairing but I would love to hear the Takatsuki 300b tubes in these amps. I can't find the link to order them. Could you help a fellow tubeofile out here?

Charles1dad,

Thanks for the link. It's a considerable amount of money to pay for the tubes but, like you say, may be worth every penny. The Cary CAD120S was my first foray into tube amps several years ago and it's still an interesting switch off every now and then. The Frankenstein amps really opened my eyes to 300b sound. After reading many comments here on the gon and following your threads, I decided to take the plunge and purchased the Franks a few years ago. I was blown away!!! this leads me to believe that your tastes in sound and mine are pretty close so I'm going for the Takatsuki's. I also own a VAC 30/30 and recently installed 4 Psvane 181-T tubes in the front, 6SN7 positions. It's a tad more dynamic than the Franks but I'm thinking that the Takatsuki's may erase any similarities.
I want to thank you for the excellent guidelines and opinions you have ventured forth in these threads. I have found them to be most valuable.

Hello Charles1dad and Paul,

Just back from AXPONA audio show in Jacksonville,Fl. It was a very interesting experience. I'll save details for a different thread but I'll venture forth this thought. Learning and listening to new and different technologies is truely a great part of our audiofile experience.

Charles1dad, the Pure Reference speakers really respond well to the additional 24 watts the 30/30 puts out. After tube rolling the front 4 6SN7's I found that 4, Psvane 181-t's really took this amp to a different level. I have only 50 hours on the tubes but the change is uncanny and not suttle. Dynamics are expanded, soundstaging is improved and as these tubes break in, I hear suttle differences that weren't there before. On the negative side of the equation, I do hear more noise in the push pull configuration than I do with the Franks but like you said, there are always trade off's. It's an interesting comparison. I'm looking forward to the Takatsuki's, which brings up another posibility. What if I took the Black Bottles out of the Franks, bought 2 more and put them in the 30/30????

Paul, I will be forever greatful to you for selling me the 30/30. It's truely a GREAT amp that, to me, is a keeper and continues to improve. How do the Daedulus speakers sound?

Pdreher,

That's an excellent idea with the 70/70. You essentially have 2 amps in one.

I've got a pair of the Tatatsuki's on the way now...hopefully. Paul, if you do pull the trigger, let us know how they sound in your amp. I'm thinking about getting a second pair before prices go up and the base changes.

I received my Takatsuki's late yesterday and they are warming up in my Frankenstein amps now. Right out of the box, I,m hearing profound differences from the previous Black Bottles. I can tell that they take the Franks to a new level. I'll report more as things progress. I was able to purchase a lightly used pair of Black Bottles to go with the 2 from the Franks and I will install them in the VAC 30/30. Should be interesting

Charles1dad,

The one thing you didn't tell me about these tubes is that they come with couchlock!! You install the tubes, turn on the amp and the couch grabs you and you are locked in to the incredable sound these tubes make possible.

Swampwalker,

I've got 4 used BT's that I'm going to try in my REN 30 this weekend. I've only had the stock Vac tubes in the amp since purchase. The Psvane 6sn7's were a great improvement in this amp so I'm curious how the BT's will sound with the Psvane's

Charles1dad,

The new Takatsuki TA300B tubes are still breaking in. I've got 31 hours on them so far. They are truely a game changer in the Frankenstien amps. The highs are chrisp and well pronounced and the base seems much more controlled. It is uncanny how these tubes change the personality of these amps. You were right on with your observations and I want to thank you for this tip!!! I do notice improvement from session to session. I have not tried the BT's in the VAC 30/30's yet. Hopefully before weeks end I will have a chance. One set of my BT's is marked with 69ma and the other is not marked at all and worries me. The ones marked with the 69ma came from Coincident and the second unmarked pair came from an Audiogon ad and perportedly have 100 hours on them. I'm a little afraid of screwing something up. I'll keep you posted

My Takatsuki's are at the 80 hour mark and continue to improve. This tube does not behave like other power tubes I have owned. Most have a period or a break in cycle at which point the sound is not optimum until a significant amout of hours are logged. These tubes have sounded absolutely stellar right out of the box and continue to improve in my system. Absolutely worth the bucks in my opinion.

Charles1dad,

I honestly have been so taken with the Takatsuki/Frank pairing that I have not yet followed through on the Vac 30/30 pairing as of yet. The second set of Black Treasure tubes I purchased here on audiogon, purportedly from Grant Fidelity, are shorter and don't have the box markings that the ones I purchased with the Franks have so I'm a little afraid to pop them in without testing first. Unfortunately my tester doesn't do 300B's. I will find an avenue to get them tested before I try them out.
I'm currently breaking in the ASI livelines between amps and pre and the sound is just now starting to come around a little at 70 hours. Wasn't really impressed right out of the box but have the feeling they will be stellar after a few more hours
I'll keep you guys posted on the VAC/Black treasure pairing.
Markus