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Takayuki 300B vs Western Electric NEW Production 300B

Hi everyone,

Has anyone had the good fortune to audition or own both of these fine 300b tubes?

I am particular in the "New Production"  Western Electric 300b, which seems to be heading in the right direction, vs the Takayuki 300B, which mimics the original Western Electric, and many have stated is a very good 300b.

Both are approximately the same price, with the Western Electric coming with a 5 year warranty.

I'll be using a matched pair in my Vinnie Rossi L2iSE integrated preamp section. Just which brand?

Any comments would be appreciated in sound quality choices.

J.
xsparky
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
willgolf in about 15 more years start looking for new valves.. That is the ONLY reason to use that valve.

Longevity!

I had 97-A Western Electric amps.. They were nice amps. No body knew what they were back then.

They came out of an old theater. I never had to buy a single valve in the 12 years I had them.

They last for EVER. What they really don’t like. Vibration.

Regards
xsparky OP
10 posts
 
Ooops.....Yes Takatsuki. I missed that one.

I am leaning towards the Takatsuki in my preamp/Integrated. It should perform well.

I just feel the new issue Western Electric 300b's would be quite good too.
But of course hearing is believing, and I will not purchase two pairs of different brand high end 300b's.

I may hold back on the purchase of 300b's for my Vinnie Rossi L2iSE as Vinnie is about to release a newer higher end amp line very soon. Just curious to see if he is keeping the 300b's in his design, which I suspect he will.
gsm18439
895 posts
 
Wouldn't it be great if there was a lending library/rental service for high end tubes? I count 23 companies making 300b, with 1-4 varieties each. I have a pair of Takatsuki that have been superseded in my SET by KR globes.
ghdprentice
6,471 posts
 
I have a couple Takatsuki 300B tubes in my Woo head amp. They replaced the stock tubes. No comparison in sound with original tubes, the Takatsuki are way better. But I have not tried new WEs. I think my research pointed without fail to the Takatsuki as being better sounding. They put a lot of work into their development, and after all they are Japanese… masters of taking a good design and incrementally improving to perfection. 
lsmith42
14 posts
 
The new production WE 300b tubes arrived this last week… will start running them sometime over the weekend (enjoying the Takatsuki tubes immensely ATM)… will update here I guess?
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