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Recommendations on stuff to look at for upgrading a 300B SET amp

I built an Elekit 300B SET amp with tons of upgrades (e.g. Mudorf caps, Takman resistors, Lundhaul power supplies and output transformers, etc.).  I love the amp but I wanted to increase power from 8w a side to 16-25 while staying in the SET camp.  I'm just starting the process of brainstorming. I was thinking of 300B monoblocks,
845 tube integrated or similar.  I want to stay under $5k and would need to sell some stuff--I have a wonderful Primaluna HP integrated with a good chunk of tubes to sell if I did this. I love that amp too but I don't need the power with horn loudspeakers and found the 300B a better match.  

Here are some off the head thoughts:
Manley 300B monoblocks (have to be used to make budget)
Cayin
Line Magnetic 
Bottlehead 300B monoblock kit

I can do an integrated (but if it's an integrated I prefer a remote) or standalone amps and run them with a Schitt Freya I have for now.  Any advice will be appreciated in my research!  

jbhiller

Showing 7 responses by jbhiller

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jbhiller OP
1,446 posts
 
@atmasphere , I know you to be super knowledgeable and I really appreciate what you are saying--so much so that it’s making me rethink the tube world, even if just for today. My speakers are 99dB efficient by specs. Maybe I’m just better off staying put.

I loved the push pull Primaluna with my PSB T2s (89dB) but I ventured into the 300B world and loved its intoxicating recreation of vocals. Maybe the solution is just to run two systems?

I almost know you have to be right about the 20-25% rule just by what I hear, which is nothing compared to your experience level as a builder of fine amps.


jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,446 posts
 
It may come down to living with what I have. At lower volumes the 300b SET is lovely. 

I’m curious to hear this as it is 4x my current output but still SET.  I’m not familiar with the power tube though. Drivers look to be 300bs though. https://www.line-magnetic.eu/en/products-line-magnetic-en/integrated-tube-amplifier-line-magnetic-en...

jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,446 posts
 
@cal3713 

I'm going to hear several of the Line Magnetic products Monday morning.  I have to hear them 250 miles from home so I can't bring my loudspeakers but I will put them through the paces and check back in. 
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,446 posts
 
@almarg Interesting Al!  I may ping Mr. Waltersals!
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,446 posts
 

15 responses Add your responsejbhiller OP417 posts02-08-2019 4:05pmWhat do you folks think of this option?

The Schitt Freya has two single ended RCA line level output pairs, which sends the same output signal to two sets of RCS. I could just build a second 300B and send left and right signals to each amp, then use one amp to power the high level inputs of my loudspeakers and one to power the low end.  

I forget the technical term for this mode of bi-amping. It's not monoblock style but rather using one amp to power both left and right high level speaker inputs and another for the lows. Thoughts?

I'm sure Atmasphere or others who could do the math could explain the effect on power. What seems like must be true is that I'd have more power and could stay outside of the distortion window of the 300Bs.  
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,446 posts
 
@oldtech0,  who is building those Parallel Single Ended amps for you?  I'd love to check them out.
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,446 posts
 
@cal3713   I took sick the day before my appointment to hear the LM stuff.  I have to reschedule it because I have to drive 4 hours to hear them--even though I'm in the third largest city in the US.  
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