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tubes and current

hi all, I current use a 300B SET with a pair of B&W805 D3 sounds good but with obviously drawback that the B&Ws love high current and the 300B SET can only do so much.  I've been saving up for a second tube amp for large orchestral music and when I want lush full body sound.

I've been looking between EL34/KT88 amps with 4 tubes vs 8 tubes.  I have borrowed a 4x EL34 tube amp before and there was more than enough volume for me, so I don't need 8x tubes for more volume.  What I'm wondering is if 8x tubes would produce 1.5x-2x the current produced or is that really just a design of the amplifier not directly related to number of tubes.

Otherwise, any high current tube amp you guys like below $2500 used or new?  
Is it worth trying 300B push pull or 845 SET?

Thanks.
hifineubee

Showing 4 responses by hifineubee

hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
thanks for feedback so far.  @phreder, how does 300B push pull compare to El34 push pull?  Once it loses the 'SET' magic, how do the two compare given the huge price difference in tubes?  thx
hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
I use a Dared VP-300B.  Not sure we're getting to my original answer.  Hope to clarify here my original question is 'does adding more tubes increase high current of amp (not just watts) or is high current mainly determined by amp design and transformer used and not directly related to amount of tubes used'.  I'm trying to understand the age old wisdom with solid state amplifier that a 1000watt amp. doesn't automatically equate to high current amp, in tube world does having lots of tubes also does not automatically equate to high current amp?  Again, I don't need higher volume, I need higher current for dynamics and fuller body sound.  Thanks all.
hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
hifineubee OP
56 posts
 
Excellent explanation Al, thank you!
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