EL34 in triode vs 300B/845 SET

thanks trelja for the first hand feedback on Consonance amps!

thanks for everyone else's continual feedbacks, so many choices... so little money... sob sob

Suggest you reach out to @aricaudio and see if he can be of help. All the best.

@hifinubee thank you for the kind words.

As a suggestion, you may want to seek out a Consonance Cyber 10 Signature.  It's an integrated amplifier, using 2A3 triode output tubes in push-pull configuration, and a Mullard long tail pair driver stage.  Not a huge number exist, as the amplifier looks all wrong on paper.  It's a product I had to work harder than any other to sell, as everyone (including myself) dismisses it out of hand without even a listen, but I believed in it that much after hearing it and living with it.  I imported enough of them that they come up here and there on Audiogon, USA Audio Mart, and eBay.  Typical pricing ranges from $500 - $900.  It's a deceptively wonderful amplifier, and in my experience, one of their best products across board.  I realize most find it hard to believe, but at just 11 watts per channel, it can drive the typical loudspeaker with authority, excellent low-end output, and a seductively sweet tone.  They also produced a more or less identical, more expensive version using the 300B tube producing 22 watts per channel, called the Cyber 100S Signature. It lacked the seat of the pants power, bass response, and magic of the 2A3 amplifier. The Cyber 10 Signature 2A3 ran just about stride for stride in terms of loudness, power, and oomph with the 35 watt EL34 / 40 watt KT88 Cyber 100 Signature amps

As others have said, you need to choose which component to keep—-the 300B SET or the B&W—-and then move from there.  I would just add that if you keep the speakers you don’t have to go to a Levinson behemoth.  You can stay with tubes with the B&Ws, you just need to try a higher-powered push-pull Tube amp.  A p-p 300B amp like a VAC might be an ideal way to get (nearly) the best of both worlds.  But I would also recommend p-p EL-34 amps.

thanks trelja and salectric

@trelja, I've also actually been eyeing Consonance Cyber880A with 2A3x8 in pp.  But doesn't going to pp design automatically cancel out the crystal clear clarify signature of SET?  I have no experience with triode tube in pp, can you share your experience?  I read that there's a newer 2A3C tube that's a tuned down 300B with lower 2.5V plate watt but still makes 8watt.  Do you know if 2A3C can be drop in replacement for 2A3?

@salectric, I've also contemplating El34x8 pp as meaning next step up.  Do you know what's the sonic difference between a 300B in parallel SET PSET and pp?  300B makes about similar 18-22watt in these configuration.  PSET is very rare vs PP is much easier to find.

thanks both