2. amps-preamps
  3. 193748-121025

Western Electric 300B Tube Problems

I purchased a pair of Western Electric 300B tubes a few months ago. Installed the tubes in an Air Tight ATM-300 amplifier. Before the even initial 90 days was up one of the tubes shorted and destroyed a capacitor and resistor in the amplifier to the tune of $1000 in repairs.

I returned the tubes (within the 90 day warranty period) to the store from which originally purchased. The store promptly sent me a replacement pair of new Western Electric 300B tubes. I installed the replacement tubes in another amplifier (Elekit 8600S, since my Air Tight was in for repair) and one of the replacement tubes was faulty! No music in the channel with the faulty tube, just some crackling and popping noise.

(Yes, the Elekit amplifier worked perfectly with other 300B tubes, and the problem moved channels when the tubes were switched)

I have now returned the replacement tubes for a full refund. I had heard rumors of quality control problems at Western Electric. I will not be buying ANY Western Electric tubes after this experience. Very sad since I really wanted to support an US manufacturer.

   -GAR

gareents

Showing 1 response by sns

sns
3,600 posts
 

I had a newly purchased WE300B go bad at aprox 5 hours, loss of vacuum. I caught it immediately, watching closely when powering up amp for the second time since tube installation, lost rectifier tube with this. Replacement now at something over 20 hours, no issues thus far.

Very nice sound quality with these, superior transparency, resolution, harmonic development vs my Psvane Acme which are also top notch. Hopefully the WE prove to be reliable since SQ so nice. No issues with Psvane, I'd judge build quality of Psvane superior to WE, thicker glass, gold plated pins, internal structure appears to be more substantial.

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