Preamp help please!

@dekay

Years ago I ran Reynaud Twins MKII with an Audion 300B amp (great system) and would like to get back to something like that, but with SS.

I can appreciate the desire to achieve this type of sound presentation with transistor components. Much easier said than accomplished.

Tactile palpability, true 3 dimensional soundstage presentation and organic tone quality are true challenges for many SS components despite their own strengths they bring to the table. Your prior Audion 300b will be hard to equal in those critical areas. You described it as "great system " for a very good reason. 😊

Best wishes to you.

Charles

@sns I can only say my setup with Khorns, 300b or 845 SET's and Statement doesn't lack a single bit in traits you're seeking

I am very familiar with the 6SN7 tube and like it a lot,  however it is simply has quite a different sonic signature from the 101D.  Really two distinct characters  and presentation. Based on my own listening the 101d is the epitome of a linear, transparent very high resolution tube.

In my system paired with a very high quality 300b SET,  tonal body and timbre of instruments and human voice is superb. The 101D will beautifully preserve natural tone richness and color but will not gratuitously  contribute. So depending on the matching components and speakers in the signal chain one may or may not need some additional warmth or fullness. 

There are far more 6SN7 line stages/preamplifiers  available than there are 101D. Definitely excellent 6SN7 choices amongst them as well. 101D offers brilliant and pure  sound quality but it won't sound like a 6SN7, just 2 distinct sonic animals. 

Charles 

the Psvane W.E. Replica 101D are a substantial upgrade in sound quality compared to the entry level standard Shuguang 101D in my Statement line stage. Others have reported excellent sound quality  the Linlai 101D tubes. If the original NOS W.E. are anywhere close to these two then you should be very  pleased.

Charles