300b valves: what are the current favourites?

Audiocrack

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Aug 10, 2012
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I have been using Western Electric reissue 300b valves for my Kondo Gakuoh push pull amps as well as for my Kondo Gakuoh single ended amps for the last 5-6 years. However, the two quods need replacement. I am not willing to pay the outrageous prices they demand for the Western Electric reissue 300b tubes, let alone the totally crazy prices that are being asked for original Western Electric 300b valves.

After some serious consideration I believe the following three options might be interesting:
a. Elrog 300b tubes
b. Takatsuki 300b tubes
c. Living Voice 300b tubes. These tubes are the result of the cooperation between Kevin Scott of Definitive Audio in the UK and KR audio.

What do you think of the afore mentioned three options? And did I forgot to include any other brand such as for example Emission Labs?
 
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BruceD

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I use a Quad of Takatsukis--with the Yen/US$ favourable and can be bought direct from Amtrans Jp--They have sensational Sonic presentation equal to the original series WE 300Bs in a friend's System

Superior relief for your wallet as well:D

My choice--YVMV

BruceD
 

Audiocrack

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Aug 10, 2012
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I use a Quad of Takatsukis--with the Yen/US$ favourable and can be bought direct from Amtrans Jp--They have sensational Sonic presentation equal to the original series WE 300Bs in a friend's System

Superior relief for your wallet as well:D

My choice--YVMV

BruceD

Thanks BruceD. May I ask which poweramps you are using and whether you or your friend compared the Takatsuki 300b valves with any of the other available 300b tubes?

I got feedback on the Takatsuki's that their midrange is not as lovely as that of the Western Electric 300b. Do you or does your friend agree with this observation?
 

Audiocrack

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Did any of our WBF members visit the Living Voice demo room at the Munich high end show this year and gave the new Definitive / Kron Audio 300b valves a (serious) listen? Any opinion on those valves?
 

BruceD

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Thanks BruceD. May I ask which poweramps you are using and whether you or your friend compared the Takatsuki 300b valves with any of the other available 300b tubes?

I got feedback on the Takatsuki's that their midrange is not as lovely as that of the Western Electric 300b. Do you or does your friend agree with this observation?

No worries--The Taka's are installed on a small local made Japanese Amp not sold in the US--but work better than the Gold Lions/EH/s /etc compared--was tempted with the Elrogs but they had reliability problems then--since rectified I gather.

The WE's are still the jewel in the crown--if you can find a properly tested and performing set --I'd go for those-but there are poor versions sold --so be wary and check thoroughly the Certification/documentation/etc accompanying before laying out the $$$'s.

With the listening the WE's are smoother--the Taka's more detailed and fuller bass--but the WE's Mids yes warmer and more rounded--I could live with both--( with the Taka's DEF' easier on the Wallet!)

Good Luck,

BruceD
 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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I use a Quad of Takatsukis--with the Yen/US$ favourable and can be bought direct from Amtrans Jp--They have sensational Sonic presentation equal to the original series WE 300Bs in a friend's System

Superior relief for your wallet as well:D

My choice--YVMV

BruceD

Hi Bruce, which year are the WE in your friend's system from? Are they pre 1970s?
 

BruceD

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Dec 13, 2013
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Hi Bruce, which year are the WE in your friend's system from? Are they pre 1970s?

No I asked him --and according to the Date code "formula" they would be mid /late 80's--also the notation is in Italics

BruceD
 

JackD201

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Over here the KR 300B Classic is our best seller. To put this in context, we are a WE 300B diehard country. The KR is the tube of choice for those wanting to prolong our dwindled WE hoards.
 

Audiocrack

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Aug 10, 2012
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No worries--The Taka's are installed on a small local made Japanese Amp not sold in the US--but work better than the Gold Lions/EH/s /etc compared--was tempted with the Elrogs but they had reliability problems then--since rectified I gather.

The WE's are still the jewel in the crown--if you can find a properly tested and performing set --I'd go for those-but there are poor versions sold --so be wary and check thoroughly the Certification/documentation/etc accompanying before laying out the $$$'s.

With the listening the WE's are smoother--the Taka's more detailed and fuller bass--but the WE's Mids yes warmer and more rounded--I could live with both--( with the Taka's DEF' easier on the Wallet!)

Good Luck,

BruceD

Thanks Bruce for your info. And as you mentioned: original Western Electric 300b tubes are very difficult to find, priced outrageously and you never know in which condition they are till you try them. For these reasons I do not see myself go the original Western Electric route.
 
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Audiocrack

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Over here the KR 300B Classic is our best seller. To put this in context, we are a WE 300B diehard country. The KR is the tube of choice for those wanting to prolong our dwindled WE hoards.

Thanks Jack, interesting to hear. I spoke intensively with Kevin of Definitive Audio last week and he is pretty outspoken on the Definitive / KR Audio 300b valves: they better the WE reissue 300b valves in various aspects while they still possess the midrange splendour of the WE reissue tubes. So I am very tempted to try them out as I have only experience with those reissue 300B tubes, never heard the original Western Electric 300b tubes and Kevin's new valves were developed in particular for his Kondo Gakuoh amps.

As regards the the original Wetern electric valves: I understand Bonzo's question as apparany the original Western Electric 300B tubes of older vintage are soubding clearly superior to later versions of these originals.
 

Audiocrack

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Over here the KR 300B Classic is our best seller. To put this in context, we are a WE 300B diehard country. The KR is the tube of choice for those wanting to prolong our dwindled WE hoards.

Did you ever compare the KR 300b tubes under controlled circumstances to the original en reissue WE valves, Jack? If so, any comments on the differences between these valves?
 

JackD201

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I have actually. The WEs are softer up top and looser in the bottom but have a slightly sweeter upper midrange. If I'm not mistaken in the early days of KR, Ricardo and Kondo-san were quite close.
 

Audiocrack

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I have actually. The WEs are softer up top and looser in the bottom but have a slightly sweeter upper midrange. If I'm not mistaken in the early days of KR, Ricardo and Kondo-san were quite close.

Thanks Jack. Do you have a preference? I am using the 300b valves in my Tidal La Assoluta set up so I am looking for tubes with not only midrange splendour but also good highs and good (tube) bass. Very pleasantly surprised how my WE reissue 300b tubes handled the bass.
 

JackD201

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If you reading this, I love you and Marek Eunice but.....

Preference wise it is difficult if not impossible to forget what has and has always been what all else are measured against, the original WE 300Bs. That said, I also have (original not the most recent) reissues and my vote here goes to the KR Classics which I find a little more refined overall.

I've never heard of Takatsukis before. I would love to try them. You can never have enough tubes anyway right? :)
 

Audiocrack

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If you reading this, I love you and Marek Eunice but.....

Preference wise it is difficult if not impossible to forget what has and has always been what all else are measured against, the original WE 300Bs. That said, I also have (original not the most recent) reissues and my vote here goes to the KR Classics which I find a little more refined overall.

I've never heard of Takatsukis before. I would love to try them. You can never have enough tubes anyway right? :)

Fair enough. Appreciate your feedback. And you are right: never enough (good) 300b valves.
 

Audiocrack

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Aug 10, 2012
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I have decided to try out the new Living Voice 300b valve, a tube that is the result of a cooperation between Definitive Audio UK and KR Audio. This 300b was specially developed for the Kondo Gakuoh power amps, amps for which Kevin Scott of Definitive Audio (he is the Kondo distributor in the UK) has developed a special fondness. As I own both the push pull and singled ended versions of the Gakuohs you will not be surprised that I share his enthusiasm for these 300b Kondo amps.

Will share my listening impressions once I have installed these 300b tubes and have learned how they perform. Also bought some Tungsol 5687 input tubes for my Gakuoh amps.
 

JackD201

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It's great to see that Kevin and Eunice are starting again from where Ricardo and Kondo-san left off. Happy listening my friend and I hope your stones will forever be things of the past!
 

Audiocrack

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It's great to see that Kevin and Eunice are starting again from where Ricardo and Kondo-san left off. Happy listening my friend and I hope your stones will forever be things of the past!

Thanks Jack for your kind words, appreciated.
 

Ozzi

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Nov 27, 2015
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I have decided to try out the new Living Voice 300b valve, a tube that is the result of a cooperation between Definitive Audio UK and KR Audio. This 300b was specially developed for the Kondo Gakuoh power amps, amps for which Kevin Scott of Definitive Audio (he is the Kondo distributor in the UK) has developed a special fondness. As I own both the push pull and singled ended versions of the Gakuohs you will not be surprised that I share his enthusiasm for these 300b Kondo amps.

Will share my listening impressions once I have installed these 300b tubes and have learned how they perform. Also bought some Tungsol 5687 input tubes for my Gakuoh amps.

No it is not - KR Audio ??? This 300b was specially developed for the Kondo Gakuoh power amps!
It was in those days, that a young engineer, by the name of Alesa Vaic started his studies of Vacuum Technologies at the Prague university.
 

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