The tube Don, myself, and many other manufacturers would like to see go back in production would be a 45.
@lynn_olson As best I can make out, Sophia and EML both make a type 45.
300b lovers
I have been an owner of Don Sachs gear since he began, and he modified all my HK Citation gear before he came out with his own creations. I bought a Willsenton 300b integrated amp and was smitten with the sound of it, inexpensive as it is. Don told me that he was designing a 300b amp with the legendary Lynn Olson and lo and behold, I got one of his early pair of pre-production mono-blocks recently, driving Spatial Audio M5 Triode Masters.
Now with a week on the amp, I am eager to say that these 300b amps are simply sensational, creating a sound that brings the musicians right into my listening room with a palpable presence. They create the most open vidid presentation to the music -- they are neither warm nor cool, just uncannily true to the source of the music. They replace his excellent Kootai KT88 which I was dubious about being bettered by anything, but these amps are just outstanding. Don is nearing production of a successor to his highly regard DS2 preamp, which also will have a unique circuitry to mate with his 300b monos via XLR connections. Don explained the sonic benefits of this design and it went over my head, but clearly these designs are well though out.. my ears confirm it.
I have been an audiophile for nearly 50 years having had a boatload of electronics during that time, but I personally have never heard such a realistic presentation to my music as I am hearing with these 300b monos in my system. 300b tubes lend themselves to realistic music reproduction as my Willsenton 300b integrated amps informed me, but Don's 300b amps are in a entirely different realm. Of course, 300b amps favor efficient speakers so carefully component matching is paramount.
Don is working out a business arrangement to have his electronics built by an American audio firm so they will soon be more widely available to the public. Don will be attending the Seattle Audio Show in June in the Spatial Audio room where the speakers will be driven by his 300b monos and his preamp, with digital conversion with the outstanding Lampizator Pacific tube DAC. I will be there to hear what I expect to be an outstanding sonic presentation.
To allay any questions about the cost of Don's 300b mono, I do not have an answer.
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I thoroughly understand your rationale with preference for current production tubes. The 6EM7 is inexpensive and lasts me 10-12 years with heavy usage. As mentioned before, I was just picking the brains of you and Lynn. I have zero doubt that the new 300b push-pull amplifier you two have developed sounds magnificent! Charles |
@lynn_olson As best I can make out, Sophia and EML both make a type 45. Good news (though not exactly affordable) From the EML website; 45 years after the last American tubes of ’Type 45’ were made, EML was the first company, to take this tube back in production again, in the year 2001 |
Yes there are current production 45 tubes, but they are ridiculously expensive. As soon as Linlai decides to make one it will be much more reasonable and quite good I am sure. You can still get some of the TJ full music ones at about $350 a pair if you know where to look. I am sure they sound pretty good. There is no reason you cannot buy a quad of modern production for $700 or less if there was another source. Even so, if a 6V6 will sound pretty much as good for $50-100 per quad as a driver, then I would probably stay there. For a preamp tube... then maybe I would run a quad of 45 tubes, but I hesitate to design a preamp around tubes that are $700+ per set. |
Hi @donsachs , I have a question. I bought and received a power transformer for the driver tube's power supply. This transformer has a central tap for the rectifier. I also bought 4 schottky diodes. What type of rectifier will sound better: a central tapped full wave rectifier or a bridge rectifier?
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