2. amps-preamps
  3. 1137797867

Tube Break-In sound character change

I just spent over $600 on a set (4) of Sophia Electric 300B 2.5v Princess tubes for my Wright Sound Mono 10 amps, but so far much prefer the sound of the much cheaper EH Gold 2A3 tubes. These Sophia tubes have gotten very good reviews on these pages. The question is: how much does the sound character change as the tubes break in? I have only about 4 hours on the new tubes, but so far they sound a little tizzy and less rich than the EH tubes. I'm surprised, because I thought than right out of the box they should have the EH tubes beat. Will they change just a bit, or fairly dramatically with use?
smeyers
gs5556
1,218 posts
 
You replaced 2A3's with 300B's??? I dont' think break-in is at issue here, but compatibility.
larryken
537 posts
 
50-100 Hours will do the trick...you'll give up a little slam but more than make up with transparency, better tonal coloring and texture...
Larry
eee3
214 posts
 
For tubes to fully break-in takes at least 75- 100 hrs.
Four hrs. is not nearly enough time!! I guarantee you that you'll hear a big difference after 50 hrs.
smeyers OP
181 posts
 
>>You replaced 2A3's with 300B's??? I dont' think break-in is at issue here, but compatibility<<

They are 2.5v 300B's made to replace 2A3's.

www.sophiaelectric.com/pages/se/princess_300b_25v.htm
smeyers OP
181 posts
 
Thanks Larry & Eee. I can already hear it is a bit better. As I mentioned, I just thought that out of the box they would be better than what it was replacing... I suppose not.
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