This is a followup to my response of 08-11-2017 on my Softone 300B Amp. I use it daily for at least an hour; most of the time two hours. No mechanical issues with the amp. Still using the same tubes.I'M WRITING THIS IN BOLDFACE BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE IT. MORAL OF THE STORY-STOP LETTING THE SO CALL GURU'S TELL YOU WHAT WORKS. NOW-I AM CURRENTLY USING THIS AMP TO POWER MY MAGNEPAN LRS SPEAKERS. PREAMP IS THE SP10 FROM TUBES4HIFI.COM ($480.00 PLUS $30.00 SHIPPING). Preamp is not required but you can play louder with a preamp. MAX VOLUME BEFORE NOTICEABLE DISTORTION IS 91DB. ROOM SIZE: 13 X 13X 8. IT'S A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN. ABSOLUTELY NO HIGH FREQUENCY HARSHNESS. MIDRANGE TO DIE FOR AND BASS YOU WON'T BELIEVE. I MUST ADMIT THAT I AM SURPRISED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE "GURU'S"-BUT NO MORE. ONLY LIMITATION IS LOUDNESS. I TOO LIKE TO PLAY VERY LOUD FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME ON OCCASIONS. SOFTONE HAS A REMEDY FOR THIS. IT'S CALLED THE "SOFTONE 300B/205D PUSH-PULL MONOAURAL AMPS. This amp produces 20watts with the 300b tube and 12watts with the 205D tube. I WILL BE PURCHASING A PAIR SO I CAN PLAY LOUDER WITHOUT LOOSING THE SOUND SIGNATURE THAT I HAVE WITH THE 300B. The cost of this solution is $2300.00 plus $390.00 shipping by air. Sounds like another bargain. I do still have my own open baffle speakers. I use Commonsense Audio fullrange speakers on top and Eminence or Goldwood woofers on the bottom for bass augmentation. No complicated crossovers, run the fullrange without or cut it off @ 100-200db with a single capacitor and controll the woofer with a subwoofer amp. Another way is to use an active crossover, it's very precise and much cheaper and easier than trial and error for a passive crossover. Lastly, if you have a pair of Magnepan speakers and a 300b amp you have to give it a try. STOP LISTENING TO THE SO CALLED GURU'S. Nobody knows what sounds best to you- BUT YOU.
